The 35th Annual Marina Del Rey Halibut Derby held April 4-5 was an outstanding success. An impressive 439 anglers competed for $60,000 in cash and prizes including a shot at a brand new Toyota Tundra Truck and exotic fishing trips to Alaska, British Columbia and Mexico.
The fishing and the early Spring weather were a little challenging, but it didn’t stop anglers from having a good time in Southern California’s biggest saltwater tournament. When the two days of fishing were over and all the big flatties were weighed in, James Muro of Woodland Hills took top honors with his 41.1-pound halibut, selecting for his Grand Prize a fishing vacation for two at the gorgeous Rivers Inlet Sportsman’s Club in British Columbia, plus $800 to help cover airfare to Vancouver.
Gary Maskiewicz of Long Beach took Second Place with his 23.8-pound fish and selected the deluxe fishing vacation for two at the incredible Sitka Point Lodge in Alaska. This all inclusive prize also included $1,400 to help cover airfare to Sitka.
Barry Clayborn of Garden Grove earned Third Place with his 21.9-pound butt and won a fishing vacation for two to Baja California’s East Cape, including seven days and six nights at the exotic Hotel Punta Colorada, airfare money and more.
Great prizes of rod and reel combinations were awarded to anglers with the top 4th-10th Place halibut. There were also optional cash jackpots. James Muro walked off with another big check of $2,190 for the First Place jackpot. Gary Maskiewicz received $1,314 for his Second Place win. Matt Winkelman won the $896 Third Place jackpot for catching the fourth biggest halibut of the event.
The Team Jackpot competition was also fierce. Gary Maskiewicz and Ed Zamora earned $1,462 for their First Place team jackpot. Matt and Ron Winkelman picked up $877 for Second Place and Victor Ortiz, Willy Taylor, Cameron Green and Mike Varella pocketed $585 for Third Place.
This popular and long-running tournament supports a variety of great causes, including taking thousands of at-risk kids fishing through the Marina Del Rey Anglers Youth Fishing Program, and Southern California’s successful white seabass replenishment program.
