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Bay Bass Challenge is a real test
Ed Zieralski, San Diego Union-Tribune
February 9, 2003
When I took a good look at the fishermen who signed up to compete in the Phil Gallo Bay Bass Challenge, I decided to handicap the event.
As a review, Gallo, an author and former professor at San Diego State University, questioned some of the numbers turned in by local bass fishing heroes and offered a challenge: $250 to the fisherman who could catch 50 sand bass in four hours. The proviso was that he made the rules, and there are many.
Ed Howerton was the first to call, and knowing what I know of Howerton's fishing prowess and competitiveness, I installed him as a 1-2 favorite among the five challengers.
Howerton fished Tuesday with Gallo, working the channel in front of the Shelter Island Pier. He finished with 35 sand bass in the four-hour period.
"If I could do it over again, I would have started an hour later, 1 p.m. instead of noon," Howerton said. "The fishing really came on at the end."
Howerton said he started slowly, very slowly.
"I didn't catch a fish for 45 minutes," Howerton said.
So he caught 35 bass in 3 hours and 15 minutes. Wow.
Gallo analyzed the day and summed it by saying: "With the exception of a couple of little ones, most of his fish were really nice – between 11/2 pounds and 3.3 pounds. All in all, a great afternoon's catch and one anybody could be proud of, but not 50 fish."
I still believe one of the four remaining challengers will pick Gallo's pocket, but obviously the favorite, Howerton, didn't get to 50.
Howerton said two things hurt him. He was limited to two rods instead of three, and Gallo took the Everingham Brothers Bait Barge area out of play because of Navy restrictions. It's a gray area there, and many fish it, including the winning anglers in the recent San Diego Anglers Open Bay Bass Tournament, Ken Wille and Gary Brown.
"If I could have fished the bait barge and was able to use three rods, I don't know if I would have done it, but I would have gotten closer," Howerton said. "But I don't have any hard feelings. I had a lot of fun, and Gallo is a nice guy."
Gallo returned the compliment, saying Howerton is "a great fisherman, really knows his stuff, and is a really nice guy."
If Gallo gets anything out of all this, he's going to get to fish with some of the top sticks on the bay and meet some good guys in the process.
Rob Phillips, the Grossmont High baseball coach, is next.
But in terms of odds, I'm installing Tommy Gomes, a bulldog fisherman if there ever was one, as the next favorite at 2-1. Anyone who says he's been on the bay as much as Gomes has this past winter knows the fishery. That and his years working on a sport boat give him that extra edge for handling tackle and such.
Way Chen is my next pick at 3-1, and that's based on a scouting report I got from Doug Kern, his boss at Fisherman's Landing Tackle Shop. Also, I saw the stringer Chen and his buddies had at Lower Otay on Wednesday. This guy can flat out fish.
Phillips is at 4-1. He's kind of the mystery angler, but he was an outfielder in the Cincinnati Reds farm system, so we know he's competitive.
And finally, Bill Hokstad, the attorney, is the dark horse at 5-1, but not because he's a lawyer; we don't hold that against him. It's based on the fact that he said his brother is the better fisherman. And of all things, he said he's going to fish with his brother in the competition. Bill, if it gets down to you, leave your bro at home, man. What do you need with another stick in the boat catching all the fish?
There's also an alternate, Mark Freitas. He said he's a young guy who works in a tackle shop and should have a chance to beat all the old guys who signed up ahead of him.
Ah, Mark, keep your powder dry.
And one other thing. I've decided to reward the angler with the most bass if no one gets to 50.
Howerton has set the standard at 35, so he's in first place now. I'm not sure what the payout is going to be, but all the anglers will get gift certificates at a local tackle shop after I work out the details.
And, finally, I'm going to ask Gallo, a fellow outdoor writer, to compile a story to get his take on it when the challenge is over. I, for one, can't wait to read it.
Ed Zieralski, San Diego Union-Tribune
February 9, 2003
When I took a good look at the fishermen who signed up to compete in the Phil Gallo Bay Bass Challenge, I decided to handicap the event.
As a review, Gallo, an author and former professor at San Diego State University, questioned some of the numbers turned in by local bass fishing heroes and offered a challenge: $250 to the fisherman who could catch 50 sand bass in four hours. The proviso was that he made the rules, and there are many.
Ed Howerton was the first to call, and knowing what I know of Howerton's fishing prowess and competitiveness, I installed him as a 1-2 favorite among the five challengers.
Howerton fished Tuesday with Gallo, working the channel in front of the Shelter Island Pier. He finished with 35 sand bass in the four-hour period.
"If I could do it over again, I would have started an hour later, 1 p.m. instead of noon," Howerton said. "The fishing really came on at the end."
Howerton said he started slowly, very slowly.
"I didn't catch a fish for 45 minutes," Howerton said.
So he caught 35 bass in 3 hours and 15 minutes. Wow.
Gallo analyzed the day and summed it by saying: "With the exception of a couple of little ones, most of his fish were really nice – between 11/2 pounds and 3.3 pounds. All in all, a great afternoon's catch and one anybody could be proud of, but not 50 fish."
I still believe one of the four remaining challengers will pick Gallo's pocket, but obviously the favorite, Howerton, didn't get to 50.
Howerton said two things hurt him. He was limited to two rods instead of three, and Gallo took the Everingham Brothers Bait Barge area out of play because of Navy restrictions. It's a gray area there, and many fish it, including the winning anglers in the recent San Diego Anglers Open Bay Bass Tournament, Ken Wille and Gary Brown.
"If I could have fished the bait barge and was able to use three rods, I don't know if I would have done it, but I would have gotten closer," Howerton said. "But I don't have any hard feelings. I had a lot of fun, and Gallo is a nice guy."
Gallo returned the compliment, saying Howerton is "a great fisherman, really knows his stuff, and is a really nice guy."
If Gallo gets anything out of all this, he's going to get to fish with some of the top sticks on the bay and meet some good guys in the process.
Rob Phillips, the Grossmont High baseball coach, is next.
But in terms of odds, I'm installing Tommy Gomes, a bulldog fisherman if there ever was one, as the next favorite at 2-1. Anyone who says he's been on the bay as much as Gomes has this past winter knows the fishery. That and his years working on a sport boat give him that extra edge for handling tackle and such.
Way Chen is my next pick at 3-1, and that's based on a scouting report I got from Doug Kern, his boss at Fisherman's Landing Tackle Shop. Also, I saw the stringer Chen and his buddies had at Lower Otay on Wednesday. This guy can flat out fish.
Phillips is at 4-1. He's kind of the mystery angler, but he was an outfielder in the Cincinnati Reds farm system, so we know he's competitive.
And finally, Bill Hokstad, the attorney, is the dark horse at 5-1, but not because he's a lawyer; we don't hold that against him. It's based on the fact that he said his brother is the better fisherman. And of all things, he said he's going to fish with his brother in the competition. Bill, if it gets down to you, leave your bro at home, man. What do you need with another stick in the boat catching all the fish?
There's also an alternate, Mark Freitas. He said he's a young guy who works in a tackle shop and should have a chance to beat all the old guys who signed up ahead of him.
Ah, Mark, keep your powder dry.
And one other thing. I've decided to reward the angler with the most bass if no one gets to 50.
Howerton has set the standard at 35, so he's in first place now. I'm not sure what the payout is going to be, but all the anglers will get gift certificates at a local tackle shop after I work out the details.
And, finally, I'm going to ask Gallo, a fellow outdoor writer, to compile a story to get his take on it when the challenge is over. I, for one, can't wait to read it.
