Oregon Tuna Classic

Ok folks, the website is up and running and the registrations are turned on. It’s time to get signed up for this years events. Look for notice of an upcoming TA meeting. See ya all there.

Here we are, the first week of April. I met with BDC Advertising, our webpage designer and we went over all the changes for the website this year. Expect the site to up and fully functional next week. I want to give the Board a chance to audit all the changes and make any needed corrections .

Something new this year, the Ilwaco Tournament will have a charter boat division.

Meaning:

1. You sign up with a participating Charter to fish on Saturday July 28th.
2. Register online with the OTC for $100.00
3. Fish on Saturday and bring your heaviest tuna to Check In by 7:00 PM.
4. Join us on Sunday for the Weigh In, Awards and Lunch
5. Pay out will be $500 for 1st, $250 for 2nd and $125 for 3rd place.

Hi Folks,we are fine tuning the changes for this years events and this requires a good deal of editing of the website pages. Please be patient with us as we work through this process to minimize any errors and confusion. It is our expectation to have the website and the registration process fully up and running the first week of April.  Thank you………. RC

Those of us involved with putting on the Oregon Tuna Classic would first like to once again thank all of the participants and sponsors that have made the OTC such a great event! THANK YOU! As with each previous year, the 2011 events were a great success, and the ultimate result was helping many people in need.

As some already know, some significant changes are taking place for 2012. Each change has been discussed in great depth by the board, and was taken very seriously. The changes made are all done to provide for a long term, sustainable event that participants, sponsors, and the community can rally around. We truly believe we have accomplished that with the enhancements for the upcoming year. To give some perspective on why the OTC has made some significant changes in 2012 it is important to step back and see how the event has evolved.

In 2005 the a FIRST EVER tuna tournament in Oregon or Washington was held with a group of 17 boats. A couple weeks of prep, a flat ocean, and a makeshift BBQ afterwards and the first event was a huge success! The excitement of the day was undeniable, and providing tuna for the needy made everyone feel great! A core group got together that fall and put in place the framework for what would eventually be the OTC and a multi event tuna tournament.

Fast forward to 2011. The Oregon Tuna Classic holds 4 events, the Washington Tuna Classic holds an event, and Defiance Boats holds the first ever Tuna Smackdown event. In just a few short years, the options for fishing a tuna tournament go from none to six over the course of a relatively short season. While the OTC is understandably proud to be the first tuna tourney in the Northwest, we have always supported, and continue to support those that wish to hold a tourney. Both the WTC and Defiance Boats coordinated with us in 2011 to try and provide the best options available to everyone, and we all get along great.

The end result for the OTC is that six tourneys over the course of a short season is a lot. We listened to participants say over and over that their entire summer seemed to revolve around tourneys. In addition, the board of the OTC ended up having the summers blow past in a whirlwind of tourney activities. As much as we love the tourneys….we all feel that something was being lost and that 4 OTC events felt like a grind for many. In reviewing what percentage of teams participated in all four, and how we could best provide for ALL participants and our charity, it became obvious that a change was needed.

The big change is that the OTC will condense down from four tournaments to two. Newport and Charleston will no longer hold events, and Ilwaco and Garibaldi will continue moving forward. Certainly this was no easy decision, and it does not reflect any negativity on the locations that will no longer host the events. Both Newport and Charleston have been some of the most wonderful and fun events that we have ever held, but logistically speaking, they simply do not align with what we feel we can accomplish for participants in 2012.

So, on to the 2012 event info and some of the OTHER big changes! Two events instead of four….but two BIGGER, BETTER, more KICK TAIL events than have been held yet! One of the biggest things to the success of the OTC is that both events will share a fairly common theme, though each event will be run INDEPENDENTLY. What that means to participants is that you will continue to see the same rules, guidelines, procedures and such at each event, though there may be slight differences. What that means to the OTC is that each event will be managed from the home port in its entirety. The Ilwaco event organizers maintain total control over running their actual event themselves, as does Garibaldi. This gives each port the ability to really take community ownership while the OTC provides a solid structure with the rules of the tournament itself.

So, what changes from 2011 to 2012 for BOTH events? The tourneys will be a Three Day Event.

Friday- Full fishing day with boats able to leave any port and fish to the event port. There will be a “Lines in the water” fishing start time. The return check in time is still TBD, but is currently expected to be later than the previous 4:00pm. There will be a short on-site check in and captains meeting Friday night.

Saturday- Full fishing day with Shotgun Start. Return check in time will be 6:00pm. Fish offload and TBD if some or all fish will be weighed that night or left to weigh live at the banquet. Depends on what the port wishes to do. There will be NO dinner on Saturday night.

Sunday- Awards, Raffle, Sponsor Displays, and Lunch Banquet. Port discretion regarding live weigh in, etc. There will be free time to spend with sponsors in working booths such as Garmin and other boat and product vendors prior to lunch, then the lunch, awards, and raffles. We feel that having the lunch and awards on Sunday will allow teams a full day of fishing on Saturday, the ability to spend more time “telling lies” Saturday night, and a relaxed, non-tiring event on Sunday where people can actually spend time and not feel rushed- or tired.

CHANGE IN THE PRIZE FORMAT- The prize format will be amended to be more like other tournaments. EVERY team that signs up for the event will automatically be entered in a base “JACKPOT”. The total payout of this jackpot will be based on the number of teams entered.

In addition to the AUTOMATIC jackpot, there will be a wider range of “SIDE POTS”. As of now, we anticipate $100, $250, $500, and $1000 levels.

Both the AUTOMATIC and the SIDE POTS will be SPLIT over both days of the event. That is: The $100 side pot will be split with 50% being paid out on Friday and 50% being paid out on Saturday. Each day the payouts will be split with percentages going to the TOP THREE places, and a small percentage to the OTC. 60% First, 20% Second, 10% Third, 10% OTC. (These % could change, and will be formally announced when finalized)

So- To give an example- For the $500 Side Pot. The side pot is entered by 20 teams for a total amount of $10,000. That amount is split between Friday and Saturday, so each day the payout the amount is $5000. The team that gets First -EACH DAY- will get 60% which is $3000. Second will get 20% which is $1000, Third- 10% which is $500, and the OTC retains 10% which is $500. This is for EACH DAY, so most likely different winners each day, which means more opportunity to win.

There will also be Pelagic and Big Fish side pots with the same type of payouts.

There will be an OVERALL WINNER for the weekend. We will announce the particulars of that at a later date.

All winning teams will be required to consent to a POLYGRAPH test to validate that they followed the rules of the tournament. This will account for the Friday “Lines in the Water” time, as well as the no fish caught previously, or kept on the boat.

The 2012 OTC Ilwaco Tuna Classic will be held July 27th, 28th, and 29th in Ilwaco, WA.

The 2012 Garibaldi Oregon Tuna Classic will be held August 24th, 25th and 26th in Garibaldi, OR.

So….Some significant changes, but ones that are intended to really enhance the OTC. In discussion with numerous teams and sponsors, the change to two dedicated weekends a month apart has been widely accepted as a much better format. The extended fishing hours, and the increased ability to place in the money on multiple days has also been met with great enthusiasm. The Sunday lunch and chance to visit vendors should cap the weekend off nicely.

On behalf of everyone involved with the OTC I would again like to thank those that has been involved and grown with us over the years. We feel that with the changes that will be implemented, 2012 is going to be the most exciting year yet. These changes really create events that are stepping up a notch and providing the excitement and enthusiastic we want to generate for our participants.

If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask away and I’ll do my best to provide answers.

Tight lines everyone!

August 29, 2010

A light rain was starting to fall in Garibaldi Sunday evening but I don’t think anyone really cared. The community was still buzzing and most people were still talking about the massive crowd that filled the big tent Saturday night. Fishermen were moving slow, some had loaded their boats headed for home and the big boats were motoring back along the coast to their home ports.

I visited with Tred Barta while transporting him to the coast on Thursday and as much as his illness has humbled him it is also very inspiring to see him getting back in the saddle and do what he loves most. He was in rare form when he took the microphone Friday evening while teams were still checking in and if there was ever any doubt about how big his personality is that was cleared up quickly. Being self described as “210 pounds of blue twisted steel sex machine with a Republican political view slightly right of Attila the Hun” is only a glimpse of a man that has come close to meeting his maker and has had intimate conversations with God with the love of his life, Annie, by his side. Setting on the side lines is not the Barta way and learning to live life again through his adventures seen on his award winning TV show, ”The Best and Worst of Tred Barta” on the VERSUS network every week is inspiring many with disabilities to get back out there and take charge of their lives.

Saturday morning 73 teams checked in at the roll call, a mile offshore in the darkness, and waited. Then at 6:20 am as the sun was breaking through the clouds Tred blessed the fleet with a Fisherman’s Prayer and a few moments later the sea was churned into a froth of boat wakes and prop wash as engines roared to life and boats raced for the horizon.

The seas were less than ideal and boats soon slowed down when the adrenaline rush was quickly replaced by the hard jarring and pounding that comes with the strong north winds that grace the Pacific Northwest. Some plowed onward, others raced over the top and a few returned to port and greeted those upon their return later in the day.

It was a good day for the hungry in Tillamook County when 48 teams turned in 6,414 pounds of tuna at the Tillamook Bay Boathouse. Weigh master Vickie Rutledge with her crew of volunteers from Sterlings Savings Bank called out the weights and secretly recorded the totals as teams waited in suspense to see who would be the new season champion and get the official invite for the IGFA Offshore World Championships held next May in Cabo San Lucas.

Team Just Keep Fishing had been leading in the points with a slight lead over Team Green Lightning Laundry followed not too far behind by Gales Creek Tuna Gaffers and Team Wildcat. It was Team Just Keep Fishing’s title to lose and a bad day on the water would leave it wide open for any of the other teams in the chase.

It was scratch fishing the first few hours for most but as the sun rose high in the sky teams started picking off a few fish here and there. Some getting their 5 fish and heading for the barn while others trying for a few more, in hopes of some bruisers that could help them make the podium.

Saturday evening over 650 people filled the tent to celebrate the end of the 2010 season and crown a new OTC Champion but that would have to wait a little longer. Tred soon showed up along with Annie and his fishing buddy for the day, Lonnie Morgan, another disabled fisherman and the tent came to life again with his larger than life persona. It was a long evening as the program worked through the live auction, raffles, short speeches from the local food bank, acknowledgement of guests and few more inspiring words from Tred to motivate the crowd to give.

In the past seasons there have been some perennial teams that have frequented the podium throughout the season but with more people learning how to fish tuna the playing field is changing and the 2010 season has seen some new faces standing high on the podium.

Our first place team, coming in with 139.3 pounds is Team Albie Damned from Garibaldi, Oregon and skippered by Dan Mitchell is one of those teams that are new to the sport. Dan and his second mate, Jeff Stokes, have been very focused the last few years on learning various techniques and have been posting some great numbers this season so it’s no wonder they took the top spot for this event. His crew was quick to donate their $3,000 first place winnings back to the OTC to help feed the hungry, the bragging rights was enough prize for them.

The second place team coming in with 134.5 pounds is Team Fat Cat from Ilwaco, Washington. A fun group of guys to fish with these guys truly enjoy the spirit of the competition and it was no big surprise when they also donated their $2,000 second place earnings back to the OTC.

Rounding out the third place spot with 129.8 pounds is Team Defiance/ CornFed. Tommy and his crew have been working hard this summer and this is the second time they’ve been on the podium at an event, taking second place earlier this month at the Washington Tuna Classic. Some hard work and good fishing skills pays off for them.

The IGFA points leader Team Just Keep Fishing were sweating bullets coming into the last event and skipper Dave Putnam was pretty frazzled all week with the anxiety of not knowing how things would play out. Lady luck just happen to be their side and they posted enough weight to hang onto the lead taking the title of Season Champions for the 2010 Oregon Tuna Classic and winning the official invite to the IGFA Offshore World

Championships. Team Green Lightning Laundry and Gales Creek Tuna Gaffers had a great season but just couldn’t muster enough weight, on this last event, to catch them.

There’s only a few things left to wrap up for this season but there’s still plenty of time to get back out there and catch a few more fish.

I’d like to give another heartfelt thank you to our title sponsor, Ron Brockmann, an Allstate agent from Albany Oregon. Ron fished on various teams during the season and was always there to help when we needed a hand. It was good karma coming full circle when he was invited to be a crew member on Team Albie Damned helping them to land in first place for this final event. I can’t think of a more fitting finish for his season for everything he’s given to us and those in need.

We’ll see you back on the water. Tight lines

Del Stephens OTC Chairman

And the Winners are………..

1st….Wildcat 131.10
2nd….Chillabit 124.15
3rd…..Gales Creek Tuna Gafers 118.45
4th…..See-Ya 118.25
5th…..Just Keep Fishing 118.05
6th…..Bad To The Bone 117.5
7th…..Bad Ass Tuna 116.3
8th…..Green Lightning Laundry 115.5
9th…..G-Loomis 115.2
10th…Eat Me Lures 114.45
11th…Tia Maria/Amtech 114.05
12th…Offshore Adventures 113.35
13th…Joe Joe 113.05
14th…Gangfishkhan 112.90 24.05 biggest fish
15th…Pro Fish N Sea 112.90 23.60 biggest fish
16th…Sea Wolf 111.45
17th…Sterling Bank/ Time Out 110.95
18th…Allstate#2 110.55
19th…Ma’ Honey 110.25
20th…Tuna Jihad 109.95
21st…Albacore Section 109.5
22nd…Tuna Tanglers 109.30
23rd…Pera Linn 108.85
24th…Engage 108.75
25th…Tuna Tunite 108.3
26th…No Bail 106.85
27th…Dogs of War 106.60
28th…Crow 105.40
29th…Reel Crazy 103.75
30th…Pro Sport Center 101.45
31st…Sallysea 100.00
32nd…Deuces Wild 99.55
33rd…Black Bolt 99.30
34th…Federablies 98.25
35th…Allstate#1 97.10
36th…T-Acres 90.55
37th…Called In Sick 83.35

The standings for the IGFA Offshore World Championships will probably be shuffled a little with Gales Creek Tuna Gafers hitting the podium again, Just Keep Fishiing trailing closely behind and Green Lightning Laundry also making a top 10 finish…I’ll get the remaining results posted hopefully this evening when I get home and try to get Huge Duck Fan to update the season standings and post the current positions.

A huge thank you to Jim Pex (Tailchaser) for his great work and efforts as the port captain for this event…And always we have to thank the Mill Casino for hosting the event, cooking and providing a great venue for the weigh-in..

Thanks to Vickie Rutledge, our weigh master, for rolling thru the weigh-in in a fast efficient pace…we had anticipated having dinner later than what it actually turned out due to her hustle. I know she’s tired today for a job well done…we can’t forget her husband Woody who was right there along with Keta and Aaron hauling 4015 pounds of tuna up to that stage..those guys have got to be dragging this morning…

Congrats to all the top teams and thank you to all those that came and supported this event…you guys & gals are what makes this event great.

Del Stephens
OTC Chairman

Steve of Team WildCat Weighs in With the Biggest Fish

Fishing the northwest you have to be hardy but to fish the Oregon Tuna Classic this year you also have to be patient and wait for Saturday morning.

When teams rolled into Charleston/ Coos Bay for the third leg of the tournament series they quickly heard about the bar restriction limiting boats 40 foot and under to crossing the bar. Later that evening, during the captains meeting, most everyone was anxious to hear what the Coast Guard had to say about the prediction for Saturday morning. The message… “better get out there early before the ebb gets going strong” and early it was when 44 teams crossed a flat bar in the dark, well before daylight, and waited while roll call was repeated numerous times. It was just breaking daylight when all the boats finished checking in and the Coast Guard was told to shoot the flare sending teams west in search of warm water and hopefully a few fat tuna.

At the end of the day 37 teams weighed in 4045 pounds of tuna at the Mill Casino where a large crowd of spectators and teams watched as the weights were called out by Mike “The Bear” from KDOCK radio. An additional 2,100 pounds of extra fish was also donated taking the total well over 6,145 pounds of fresh tuna going into the community food banks along the south coast.

Team Wildcat made their second appearance on the podium for this venue by taking the top honors with a 33 pound brute that pushed them well over the other teams with a five fish total of 131.10 pounds. They also won the Big Fish pot which paid out $750 on top of the $3,000 first place prize money. Second place honors went to another new team to the tournaments this year by Team Chillabit with 124.15 pounds. Team Gales Creek Tuna Gafers secured the third place spot with 118.45 pounds giving them another podium placement for the season. The third place through sixth place teams were only separated by .9 pounds causing a close call for a few teams including mine for missing the podium by less than a pound.

The leader in the points standings for the official invite to the IGFA Offshore World Championships is now Team Just Keep Fishing followed closely by Team Green Lightning Laundry and Team Gales Creek Tuna Gafers. Although anyone of the next three teams, Team Chillabit, Team Wildcat and Team Daiwa “Bad To The Bone” are not far behind the leaders and could steal it away if the leaders fail to score very well going into the season finale in Garibaldi in two weeks.

Captain Tred Barta will be there to film the event for his award winning show “The Best and Worst of Tred Barta” and will have the honors of crowning the season champion and hand out the official invite to the IGFA Offshore World Championships to be held next May in Cabo San Lucas.

This event draws close to 700 people and it should be a good time as we close the season on another tournament year. This event is the final push to generate funds for the food banks and will have a silent as well as live auction with a lot of great items. You don’t have to be part of a team to join us for dinner and enjoy the evening.

See you in two weeks when we roll into Garibaldi for the fourth and final leg of the tournament series.

Hope to see you there.

Del Stephens OTC Chairman

Read below from OregonLive .com

Bill Monroe: Tuna Classic unleashes a frenzy on the Ocean…

2010 Tuna Classic unleashes a frenzy on the ocean

A record 80 teams registered for the Ilwaco event with 67 teams showing up for roll call saturday morning a few miles offshore and were greeted with a nice forecast for the flare start. Teams raced to their favorite fishing areas but had to modify the days plans due to the lack of warm water. Most fish were caught in 57-58 degree water and it took some hard work to put very many fish on the boat.

At the end of the day 49 teams turned in fish…coastal food banks of Ilwaco and Clatsop County were given 5,505 pounds of fresh albacore for their pantries which will be given out in the next week to those in need in their communities. Crews of volunteers were carking tuna within a few hours and they are continuing to cark tuna again today.

Saturday evening over 500 people watched as we crowned a new champion for the Ilwaco leg of this event.

Our Top honors went to a very deserving team, one that has fished all of the OTC events from the beginning and one that has been a big supporter of what this is all about…A team we are very proud to crown this years top dogs for Ilwaco.

1st. Place “Team Just Keep Fishing”..126.25lbs

Second place team is on a roll as this is the second time in two events they have been on the podium and a team that will probably be leading in the points for the right to fish the IGFA Offshore World Championships…we’ll post the points standing later once they have been calculated and updated..

2nd Place “Green Lightning Laundry”..122.65 lbs.

The third place team is our Port Captain and his crew for the Ilwaco event. What a way to be rewarded for doing such a great job organizing the logistics for what happens on the ground at this event.

3rd. Place “Key West”..120.30 lbs.

Extra Kudos to Team Key West for donating their winnings back to the OTC and the food bank…

A very big congratulations to the top finishers….you guys rock.

The big Fish pot was won by Jim Pex and his Team Offshore Adventures with a fish that weighed in at 27.9 lbs.

The Pelagic pot was won by Team G.Loomis by catching a YellowTail.

We will see you in Charleston….