BY BOB SEMERAU
MORRO BAY — The two-boat contest to determine the 2020 Central Coast Lingcod Champion was held Saturday, July 18, in perfect weather for the second year in a row.
Anglers fished aboard Black Pearl and Fiesta, the two premier boats fishing out of Virg’s Landing in Morro Bay. Each boat carried anglers northward to the fishing grounds, a journey which took four hours to complete. Once at the area north of White Rock and the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse, each boat found its spot, scoring on larger model lingcod and loads of trademark, Morro Bay-sized rockfish.
Overall winning fish came from each of the two boats with a third place lingcod for angler Darrell Walker, fishing aboard Black Pearl. The 13.64-pound ling gave the angler prize money and a gift pack for the largest fish aboard the Black Pearl, which included a certificate for a pair of Maui Jim Sunglasses and accessories.
The second place overall ling came aboard Fiesta for angler Sean Saylor, from Hesperia. Saylor’s fish netted the angler cash prize money, a Daiwa deckhand kit and a Daiwa cap for taking the second heaviest fish aboard Fiesta.
First place honors and top prize money, along with a gift pack for being the angler with the largest fish aboard the Fiesta including a certificate for a pair of Maui Jim Sunglasses and accessories, went to angler Pete Keeney. Keeney’s tanker ling weighed in at 17.5 pounds to win the 2020 WON Virg’s Morro Bay Central Coast Lingcod Championship.
There was plenty of action throughout the battle for victory in this year’s event. For all the details check back next week for the whole story.
