KAYAKER TURNS HIMSELF IN AFTER BIG DAY
It was the best of times that turned into the worst of times, which ended up being a lesson for the times.
Kayak angler Guillermo Gonzalez experienced one of his best days fishing, but one mistake in the excitement of catching a 9-pound bass cost him a tournament title and $11,500 in cash and prizes. Yet it was his integrity – he turned himself in for a rules violation – that’s being heralded as a great message.
“At the end of the day, rules are rules,” the 26-year-old said. “That was the fact, and especially in a tournament when so much was on the line. It’s really not a fair thing in any way, shape or form, for those who spent Lord knows how much just to be there. People had come from all over the United States.”
Gonzalez had a competitive first day in the 122-boat Yak4it Tournament of Champions on Lake Fork. On Day 2, Nov. 6, the Fort Worth angler had a great day, catching what might have been a personal best fish of around 9 1/2 pounds. (See the video of Gonzalez’ 9-pounder below.)
“I had just caught one of the biggest bass of my entire life, in one of the biggest tournaments I had ever fished in, the excitement I felt was pretty off the hook,” Gonzalez said. “I knew I catch one more and I got (the tournament title) in the bag. It was late but I had the chance.
“My phone rings, and it’s my best friend, who happens to be fishing the tournament as well. I just didn’t even think I was so excited. To let my buddy know I had caught an absolutely giant, I picked up the phone.”
And that was his demise. Rules state any communication on the water via electronic device during tournament hours with any other competitor is strictly prohibited. At first, neither Gonzalez nor friend Joseph Sanderson even realized the ramifications of their 20-second phone conversation. After hanging up, Gonzalez caught his fifth fish, a 7 1/2-pounder, and began paddling in knowing he would win easily.
“On the way back in, after calming down, I thought about it. ‘Dear Lord, I picked up that phone and that’s against the rules,’ ” said Gonzalez, who alerted Sanderson of their plight when they met back at Lake Fork Marina for the weigh-in. “He felt pretty bad. He felt terrible. We agreed that after we weighed in, we would immediately tell the tournament director.”
Gonzalez was second-last to weigh, and his two-day total of 10 fish measuring 189 inches blew away the field. Then he and Sanderson, who had finished sixth, pulled Yak4it owner Cody Prather aside and shocked him with the news. Both fished a number of Yak4it events and were extremely familiar with Prather, who Gonzalez said was heartbroken for both.
After conferring with other tournament officials, Prather came back emotionally distraught as he had to inform both their Day 2 catches would indeed have to be disqualified.
Since then, Gonzalez, who works the fishing and paddle sports section at outdoor retailer Backwoods, has had about 200 people comment on social media commending him and Sanderson for their honesty.
Dave Mull, who covers kayaking for Bassmaster Magazine, wrote, “Guillermo, you’re an inspiration for us kayak anglers, heck, human beings in general, to hold ourselves to the highest of standards.”
“There is hope for our future,” Mary Harris Horne wrote. “There are still those who have a true, pure, forthright conscience … ”
Gonzalez said he was particularly touched by another angler who said the instance made him think hard about what he would have done in the situation.
“He said, ‘No, I wouldn’t have done that, and I’m not OK with the fact that I wouldn’t have done that. And you made me not OK with that,’” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez, who has earned between $14,000 to $15,000 in kayak tournaments this year, said while he didn’t get the big prize, he’s realized his actions might be a more valuable contribution to the burgeoning sport.
“Cody and I have discussed it, that while I didn’t take the money, it seems like a lot of people will remember what Joseph and I did, which is good for kayaking as a whole,” he said. “I definitely learned a lesson. I’m usually a stickler about rules. I mention things to Cody that may or may not be fair, and that was actually one of the reasons that it was important for me to come forward.”
ANGLER’S 19-POUNDER TOPS CHABOT RECORD
Ryan Reynolds of San Mateo, Calif., had some free time and the weather was nice, so it was a quick trip to the Lake Chabot just south of the Oakland Zoo. Little did he know he’d hook into a super lunker approaching 20 pounds.
Reynolds increased his personal best about 12 pounds with the 19-pound largemouth, which topped the lake record by 2 pounds.
“She splashed me in the face before she swam off and I knew she would be OK,” Reynolds told Jody Only of WesternBass.com, where you can get all the details.
WHO HAS FISHED THE MOST B.A.S.S. EVENTS?
That headline ran atop Bassmaster.com this week, and the mind easily went to Rick Clunn at No. 1. Didn’t know he has fished 432 B.A.S.S. tournaments, though.
In fact, a good number of the leaders are still chugging along. There’s even some surprises. Oh, and one more event and Roland Martin hits 300. Think we’ll see the Great American Fisherman at the Harris Chain Open next January?
It’s just neat to revisit some of the memorable anglers, so check out the gallery.
CLASSIC SHOW FROM 1972 UP ON YOUTUBE
Facebook offers a virtual treasure trove of goodies, especially if you friend or follow Elite Series pros, who dole out some of the the coolest bass fishing stuff.
To wit, Bradley Roy shared his find of the 1972 Bassmaster Classic show he discovered on YouTube, writing, “This is awesome to watch. Love the old BASS shows. I think this is the first time this episode has been shown in a long time.”
The file said it was uploaded on Nov. 10, 2016, and here is a nifty 26:59 look back into the second Classic.
