BY BOB SEMERAU
VENTURA — Stamina is a key element in the fight game. Any up-start can step into the ring, but you need “staying power” to win a real battle on the mat.
This year’s Western Outdoor News-Ventura Harbor Sportfishing-Rockfish Rumble (RFR) results showed anglers on the boat Island Spirit had what it takes to put in the “smack down.”
Ventura Harbor Sportfishing sent out three boats loaded with regulars, old-timers, and anglers new to the WON RFR competition. While the going was tough, having a difficult bite for each of the three boats, several nicer fish filled sacks for RFR fighters.
Scheduled as an early season bout, the 2025 WON-RFR had a two-week weather delay but once off the dock, the boats quickly fanned out, the skippers each with a fight plan of their own.
Landing manager, Sal Mendoza was on hand to make check-in a breeze. Each angler received a Daiwa-logoed goody bag at check-in holding tons of swag, including a 300-yard spool of Izorline 25-pound First String monofilament, Costa Sunglass gear, Gamakatsu hook pack, AFW Mighty-Mini Snap Swivels, P-Line Laser Minnow, a Cancun Vacation getaway card, a super-sharp filet knife, and plenty of cool stickers.
WON provided huge spools of Berkley ProSpec monofilament aboard each boat for anglers to load up reels for free during the long ride out and back.
All three boats got off the docks at 5:00 a.m. and headed to their corners for the first round of battle. Captain Mike Mings, owner/operator of the 50-foot, Pacific Eagle, made the run to a spot east of Anacapa to start the fight.
Aboard the 65-foot sportfisher, Californian, Captain Timmy Paredes loaded up anglers and headed south-west, opting to fish along the inside coastline of Santa Cruz Island.
Captain Danial Hadawi, piloting Island Spirit, worked the waters around Anacapa, and the gap between ‘capa and Santa Cruz Island most of the day.
Reps from the Original Hookup Baits were aboard each boat to show anglers how to use the various sizes of soft tube baits depending on targeted species and depth of water. Each brought along a gear box filled with a wide variety of great looking Hookup Baits for all the anglers to test out in real-time with some excellent results.
But for those able to land a knockout punch, the event was all about the cash up for grabs. The First Place prize money of $345 and top honors went to the one outstanding blow delivered by that angler still standing at the final bell. The angler with the Second Place fish earned $ 240, and third place took home $105.
While anglers aboard Californian continued their long journey westward, Capt. Mings settled Pacific Eagle into the first drift of the day. A slow, scratch bite gave up a few rockfish of the mid-size range, and some fish began to fill sacks. Several moves over the spot off Anacapa gave up assorted rockfish to begin the day for P.E.
Long-time WON Charter guys Henock Bekele and Rueben Gonzales came out for the RFR with Rueben’s 9-year-old son, Nathan. Despite this being Nathan’s first time at the Rumble he helped to knock out the competition with fish of his own.
Reseda angler Adam Blanco brought out his 13-year-old-son, Otto, for his first time fishing offshore. Otto could be found at the rail working hard, pounding out deepwater rockfish. With baits down as far as 565 feet, pulling in fish and occasionally doubles of rockfish, Otto became hooked on the RFR. Taking the Pacific Eagle boat jackpot and landing the big fish of the day, the young Otto Blanco scored the largest fish aboard P.E. boating a nice-sized chucklehead weighing-in at 3-pounds.
WON associate Jimmy Gillinger-Fontana, reported from the decks of Californian saying these anglers were prepared for a fight.
“After that long ride over to Chinese Harbor,” reported Jimmy. “Lots of anglers got busy knocking out rockfish of all sizes and a great big 4.2-pound rockfish for angler Steve Snyder,” concluded Jimmy at the weigh-in. The fish went on to take first place for the boat and third place overall.
The Hookup Baits fooled many of the larger model reds and a few ling cod making them the go-to swimbaits. Plenty of fish for anglers in the Rumble were knocked out using a standard two-hook double dropper loop ganyon and 12-to-16-ounce weight.
“Island Spirit found its footing early,” reported WON associate Robert Groeber. “The two biggest fish of the contest came from I.S. and we couldn’t be prouder.”
Another youngster, Desiree Haro, took home Second Place overall with a 7-pound red bagged aboard Island Spirit. The fish earning First Place honors and an incredible prize package was boated aboard I.S. by frequent Rockfish Rumbler Anthony Shoatz; a 10.2-pound ling cod.
With all three boat’s big fish weighed-in the final tally showed that dogged persistence and the ability to take a punch earned Island Spirit top honors for the WON 2025 RFR.
Anglers fought hard aboard Pacific Eagle, vying for the prize money but in the end, prizes were spread across two boats with Californian and Island Spirit sharing the podium for the 2025 WON/ Ventura Harbor Sportfishing Rockfish Rumble.
WON-Ventura Harbor Sportfishing 2025 Rockfish Rumble Final Standings
First Place Island Spirit Anthony Shoatz 10.2-pound ling cod
Prize Package: $345.00 cash, Penn carnage III Rod, AFTCO hat, AFTCO $50 gift card, AFTCO 40# fluoro leader, 300-yard spool of Berkley ProSpec mono, P-line Adaro pliers, Costa hat and gaiter
Second Place Island Spirit Desiree Haro 7.0-pound red
Prize Package: $240.00 cash, 300-yard spool of Berkley ProSpec mono, P-line Adaro pliers, Costa hat and gaiter, Gamakatsu gear box
Third Place Californian Steve Snyder 4.2-pound red
Prize Package: $105.00 cash, 300-yard spool of Berkley ProSpec mono, P-line Adaro pliers, Costa hat and gaiter
