Women Score Decisive Win Over Men In California Dawn Couples Challenge   By: Dan Bacher June 30, 2006 More Articles by Dan

When the final weigh-in time arrived after a long day of live bait drifting on San Francisco Bay, it was clear that the women on the Inaugural Couples Challenge on the California Dawn had scored a clear and total victory over the men.

The top two fish taken by women weighed a total of 53 pounds, 4 ounces, over twice the men’s top two weight of 25 pounds, 3 ounces. The women definitely grabbed the “ultimate bragging rights” for the day on this unique event, limited to 12 couples.

Diane Alden of Concord caught the largest fish of the day, a 28 lb. 6 oz. halibut. She won $100.00 and took home a beautiful new Fenwick saltwater rod. She also won the jackpot for the day’s biggest fish (photo at top).

Peggy Bixby took second place in the women’s division with a 20 lb. 14 oz. halibut. She won a Premier Ocean Striker OSB-7019C saltwater fishing rod for her big fish.

Daniel Hunt won first place in the men’s division of the event by capturing a 13 lb. 5 oz. halibut. He took home $100.00 and a Penn saltwater fishing rod.

Tom Transue placed second with an 11 lb. 14 oz. halibut. He also won a Premiere Ocean Striker fishing rod, as well as having beautiful halibut fillets for the table.

The men clearly prevailed in the “smallest legal fish” division. Tim Bixby caught a 4 lb. 1 oz. halibut, easily defeating all other contenders. He won a 7’ Shakespeare CAL 1101 Ugly Stick to use on his next fishing trip.

Jennifer Stovall won the unofficial “most diverse catch” award with a 12 lb. striper, the only one caught on the boat that day, and a huge halibut.

The bite started right after we began fishing that morning at the beginning of the outgoing tide in the Berkeley Flats in 10 to 25 feet of water. Minnie Kelsh landed a 12 lb. halibut around 7:00 am – and soon caught another halibut around the same size.

Richard Flowers bagged another large halibut, but his fine catch was quickly eclipsed by the huge fish hooked by Diane Alden, who was fishing next to her husband, Darrell Beck of Concord.

Over the next couple of hours, Captain James Smith, his wife Ashley, Dan Kohler, Dan Hunt of Chico and Mary DeCosta of Colma all landed quality, hard-fighting halibut. I also managed to nail a 21 lb. 1 oz. halibut, but I wasn’t eligible for the challenge.

The 12 couples and crew managed to catch a total of 22 halibut and one striped bass. Although the morning started off hot with 15 fish landed by 10 a.m. the afternoon bite didn’t bust loose on the outgoing tide like Smith hoped it would.

But everybody had an excellent time fishing out of the Berkeley Marina with Captain James Smith and the boat’s second captains, Mike Gaddis and Steve Emmons. The crew was quick to help with any tangles – there weren’t that many – and net the fish. Meanwhile, Bassin Bob Houston cooked up breakfast burritos, Cal Dawn burgers and a variety of tasty treats in the galley.

Everybody on the boat received from myself or Alexandra Frith, Fish Sniffer Production Supervisor, a Fish Sniffer “Goodies Package,” including Berkley Gulp saltwater baits, Berkley Trilene Big Game Supreme 30 lb. test line, a Fish Sniffer hat, and Pautzke’s Krill Fish Attractant.

“The victory by the women on the boat was to be expected,” commented Captain Smith. “The women did what they were supposed to do – they baited the hook right, put the bait down the correct way and were patient. On the other hand, I saw too many men get impatient, swing on the fish early, and put their thumb on the spool. While I didn’t see any women lose any fish, I saw the men lose a number of fish. The testosterone was flying and the women prevailed.”

At least in the first inaugural event, the women proved that they can “clean the men’s clocks” in the battle for the biggest fish with relatively little effort. I’m sure the guys will be plotting how to win the next “Couples Challenge,” but for right now, the women who dared to participate in this historic challenge are the “Halibut Champions of the Bay.”

For more information about fishing aboard the California Dawn, call 510-417-5557 or 510-773-5511. For other boats departing for sturgeon, shark and striped bass fishing adventures, click here.

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