They are 17 years old, still in high school and one of them borrowed his father's bass boat to fish the tournament yesterday, but Klayton Beldon and Wade Strelic shared the first-day lead of the El Cajon Ford San Diego Team Open.
Beldon and Strelic stayed away from most of the field that worked the surface for busting fish. The pair fished deeper water for an impressive five-bass tournament limit totaling 18.26. The stringer included a 5.90-pounder, the heaviest fish at San Vicente.
“My dad may want his boat back after today,” said Strelic, whose father, Jon, won the tournament in 2005. Jon fished yesterday with Rusty Salewske, whom he teamed with back in '05.
As expected, limits were heavier at San Vicente, but fishing was tougher, with two of the 27 teams failing to weigh in fish. All 26 teams at El Capitan on Day One caught fish, with past champions Al Tatum and Keith Gunsauls, who won in 2000, taking the lead with a five-bass limit totaling 13.70 pounds, including a 3.36-pounder.
The anglers flip-flop lakes today for the tournament finale.
Noteworthy
The pretournament seminar for the annual Tuna Challenge to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation is Thursday night at 6:30 at the Silver Gate Yacht Club on Shelter Island. Guest speakers are
Ray Lowry of Shimano and Mustad and
Bob Woodard Jr., accomplished local marlin fisherman.
Some of the best ocean fishing of the season is happening now, with bluefin, albacore, yellowfin, yellowtail and dorado all biting in one-day range and closer. Also, a wahoo, an extremely rare catch this far north, was boated on a one-day trip aboard the Holiday out of Point Loma Sportfishing.
Captain Ron Baker's Crystal Pier Kid's Classic Youth Fishing Derby is set for Saturday at 8:30 a.m. There will be prizes, a free raffle and free lunch. The pier will be closed to the public for the kids' event. Lots of donated gifts, with the San Diego County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Commission kicking in a $5,000 grant for the event.
Former San Diegan Dean Rojas ended a seven-year drought and won the final Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on New York's Oneida Lake. He earned $129,000 and a spot in next year's Bassmaster Classic. It was Rojas' first triumph since he won twice on the Bassmaster Tour in 2001, and it put him over the $1 million mark in earnings on the BASS Tour.
Ed Zieralski: (619) 293-1225; ed.zieralski@uniontrib.com
