Short notice for tournament

Cayucos tourney info.

Overall fishing was slow - I won the jackpot with a 5lb 6 oz. ling but that doesn't matter.

We launched through a relatively large break for windmill and then things got crazy when we heard a guy screaming HELP! after he fell of his yak into the kelp.

This was a case of operator error. A guy in his mid-60s goes out solo (not part of the tourney) on a yak that was too small for him. Still not sure how he fell off - outside the break it was really calm.

In any case, he fell off and got back on by himself but compromised the front hatch and filled the yak with water. The next wave sent him over again. He panicked a bit and his legs got tangled in the kelp. Clyde and I were about 250-300 yards away when we heard HELP. As I looked over his arms were in the air and then he went under. I hauled ass over there and pulled along side then checked his condition. He was obviously scared, running out of energy and his legs were cramping. He had a wetsuit on so I tried to calm him and explain what we were going to do. I braced the side of the yak and Clyde held the stern stable. He got back up and the yak was nearly below the water level and very unstable. 2 more guys came over (Andrew and the fireman) and we started unloading his gear onto other yaks. Clyde went to get Ryan and the pump.( I am buying a pump TODAY).

Andrew volunteered to take the water filled yak in case it had a leak and the older guy would take Andrew's. We made the switch while waiting for Ryan. I used one of Andrew's booties to start scooping water from the hull. Andrew got in the water and helped keep the water towards the bow. Ryan and Curt arrived shortly thereafter with a pair of pumps - Ryan and I got the rest of the water out.

Ryan, Curt, Andrew, the fireman and the guy that went over (didn't ever get his name) went back to the beach without any further incident. Once they got on shore they determined there was not a crack in the boat - it just took on water while he did the first self rescue.

Although there was one comment made I won't go into - it really was a team effort. One of the best things about this sport is the other guys got your back. That certainly was the case in this situation.

If this guy was out there solo and nobody was around, we would be reading an obituary. He simply would not have had the strength to 1) hold on much longer or 2) swim to shore.

After all of that - Clyde rolled in an outside break on his way in and lost all his rods and tackle - one of the other guys donated a rod and reel for Clyde - I will donate my Abu baitcaster rod and get him back in swimbaits and jigs by the end of the week.
I'm glad it worked out the way it did and proud to be associated with a great group of fishermen .... JK 8.9.10