565 people registered, with over $36,000 raised for the Nature Center. Participants won $5,000+ in cash prizes, and $10,000 in merchandise and raffle prizes!
The Derby began on Saturday, April 20th at 6 a.m. and ended at 12 noon on April 21, 2024.
565 contestants of all ages fished Cachuma Lake during the tournament hours and were also able to fish from shore at any time during the Derby including Saturday night. Nature Center volunteer, retired Battalion Chief Mike Marlow, fired the flare off at 6 a.m. at the harbor to start the Derby on Saturday.
It was a glorious weekend of perfect weather for camping and fun at Cachuma Lake & the Nature Center. The weekend weather started out with perfect weather on Saturday with the lake draped in fog until the sun broke through on Sunday! Best of all lots of fish were caught in all categories, making for happy anglers of all ages.
The Fish Derby is a benefit fundraiser for the Neal Taylor Nature Center which is located at Cachuma Lake and offers programs and exhibits on the Santa Ynez River Watershed. 61 volunteers planned and operated the derby, raffle and children’s activities bringing in over $36,000 through sponsorship, donations, and registrations with an additional $10,000+ in merchandise donations for door prizes and raffle prizes.
Awards Program
The Awards program held on Sunday, April 21st at 1 PM was emceed by the amazingly talented father and daughter team of Captain David Bacon & Captain Tiffany Vague. Captain Bacon and Captain Vague did a fantastic job with Barbara & Dave Hale, Jeff McDonald, and Julie McDonald on stage to help pass out raffle, door prizes and checks to the cash winners.
Tiffany Vague crafted a masterpiece rod (pictured below) that sold in our auction for $1200! Follow Vague Rods on social media:
https://www.instagram.com/vaguerods
https://www.youtube.com/@VagueRods-Tiffany
Remembering Two Very Special Members of the Fish Derby Family
The program got off to a wonderful start with “Hot Dog” Heather passing out over 150 warm-in-the-bun hot dogs to the hot dog lovers in the crowd and “Peanut” Pam LoGuercio’s family tossing hundreds of bags of peanuts to attendees in celebration and memory of Pam and how much she loved the Derby! Pam and her family have contributed so much to the Nature Center over the years, helping for a sense of family and community and making the awards ceremony so much fun! Many of the LoGuercio family participants first attended as kids with their parents and now are bringing their kids and in many cases, their kids, and grandkids.
Another person remembered at the ceremony was Rayon “Ray” Angel. Ray was dedicated to his family, an avid angler, and a lover of old cars. He spent much of his life fishing for the “Big One” in many destinations but loved Lake Cachuma and rarely missed the Nature Center’s Annual Fish Derby! Ray’s daughter Tracy Angel underwrote the award for the Heaviest Trout in Ray’s memory.
Fisher Derby 2024 Winners
$599 Heaviest Trout Caught
WINNER: Ernest Brentwood, age 60 from Grover Beach
Trout / 6.61lbs. / 24”
Donated by Tracy Angel in memory of Ray Angel
$300 2nd Heaviest Trout Caught
WINNER: Jason Anderson; age 70; Cambria
Trout / 5.16lbs. / 23”
Donated by Dave & Barb Hale
$599 Heaviest Bass Caught
WINNER: Aydin Gomez; age 13; Santa Ynez
Bass / 3.44lbs. / 18 ¼ “
Donated by Vince & Linda Gomez
$300 2nd Heaviest Bass Caught
WINNER: John Flynn; age 54; Santa Ynez
Bass / 3.44lbs. /18’
Donated by Vince & Linda Gomez
$599 Heaviest Crappie Caught
WINNER: Terrance Cochran; age 60; Gardena
Crappie / 2.03lbs. / 15 ½”
$300 2nd Heaviest Crappie Caught
WINNER: Lorraine Pulido, age 57; Carpinteria
Crappie / 1.98lbs. / 15”
Donated by Charles Faulding
$599 Heaviest Catfish Caught
WINNER: Matthew Hurzaeta; age 52; Moorpark
Catfish / 5.07lbs. / 22’
Donated by Jerry & Sandi Witcher
$300 2nd Heaviest Catfish Caught
WINNER: Philippe Parsy; age 38; Santa Barbara
Catfish / 4.85lbs. / 23’
Donated by Judy Duncan
$300 Heaviest Carp Caught
WINNER: Pete Dasis; age 50; Lompoc
Carp / 10.09lbs. /29”
Donated by Leo & Patti Sandow
$150 2nd Heaviest Carp Caught
WINNER: Becky Dasis; age 52; Lompoc
Carp / 7.23lbs. / 26 ¼ “
Donated by Dennis Wynn
$100 THE Neal Taylor “Young Angler Award”
First Catch by an angler 15 years or younger on
$50 Sat.: WINNER: Cash Franco; age14; Lompoc
Bass / 2.42lbs. / 16 ¼”
$50 Sun.: WINNER: Jose Mendoza; age 14
Crappie / 1.54lbs. / 15”
Donated by Pam LoGuercio’s Family in memory of Pam LoGuercio “Peanut Pam”
$125 Heaviest Fish caught by Girl 11-15 yrs.
WINNER: Paisley Mitchell; age 15
Bass / 2.47 lbs. / 17 ¼”
Donated by Pam LoGuercio’s Family in memory of Pam LoGuercio “Peanut Pam”
$75 2nd Heaviest Fish caught by Girl 11-15 yrs.
WINNER: Chloe King, age 11; Solvang
Bass / 2.34lbs. / 11”
Donated by Pam LoGuercio’s Family in memory of Pam LoGuercio “Peanut Pam”
$50 3rd Heaviest Fish caught by Girl 11-15 yrs.
WINNER: Chloe King, age 11; Solvang
Bass / 1.72lbs. / 15 1/2”
Donated by Pam LoGuercio’s Family in memory of Pam LoGuercio “Peanut Pam”
$125 Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.
Bob Taylor; age 15; Goleta
Catfish / 4.10lbs. / 22 ½”
Donated by Pam LoGuercio’s Family in memory of Pam LoGuercio “Peanut Pam”
$75 2nd Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.
WINNER: Aydin Gomez; age 13; Santa Ynez
Bass / 3.44lbs. / 18 ¼ “
Donated by Pam LoGuercio’s Family in memory of Pam LoGuercio “Peanut Pam”
$50 3rd Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.
Camden Emery; age 12; Fillmore
Trout / 3.17lbs. / 19 ¼”
Donated by Pam LoGuercio’s Family in memory of Pam LoGuercio “Peanut Pam”
$125 The Dutch Wilson Prize (the fish caught by the oldest angler)
WINNER: Gust Balla, Sr.; age 95; Santa Barbara
Trout / 2.2lbs. / 18 ¼”
Donated by
Craig Juratsch & Jill Moulton
$25 each to first 10 kids 10 yrs. & under to catch a fish! (one prize & rod per kid)
Winner #1: Jack Siebenaler – age 10
Blue Gill
Winner #2: Rosalie Shaw; age 10
Trout
Winner #3: Duke Harmony; age 6 from Goleta
Blue Gill
Winner #4: Luca Kaddatz age 8
Bass
Winner #5: Joaquin Kaddatz age 5
Bass
Winner #6: Andrew Parra age 6 from Santa Maria
Blue Gill
Winner #7: Abigail Belluz age 5 from Lompoc
Bass
Winner #8: Waylon Estes age 7 from Sisquoc
Crappie
Winner #9: Presley Hamby age 7 from Lompoc
Trout
Winner #10: Leonardo Sandoval age 9
Bass
Cash Prizes for 10 kids 10 yrs. & under
Donated by Pam LoGuercio’s Family in memory of Pam LoGuercio “Peanut Pam”
Rods Donated by Hook, Line, & Sinker
FISH DERBY SPONSORS
Bronze Sponsor
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
Royal Coachman
Mechanics Bank
LoGuercio Family in Memory of “Peanut” Pam LoGuercio
Martin & Constance Silver
Derby Sponsor
Vince & Linda Gomez
Tracy Angel in Memory of Ray Angel
Jerry & Sandi Witcher
Dr. Lowell & Shirley McLellan
Cal-Coast Refrigeration
Harrison Ace Hardware
Dean & Lisa Hansen
ExplorUS
Reid & Robin Cederlof
John & Kelly Ann McDonald
Robert & Diana Crew
David & Mario Borgatello
Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club
Judy Duncan
Rotary Club of Solvang
Community West Bank
Thank you to our volunteers and many generous donors!
About the Neal Taylor Nature Center
Neal Taylor Nature Center (NTNC) is located within Cachuma Recreational Area in a picturesque old ranch house. Developed and operated by a corps of committed volunteers, it offers exhibits on the local valley and mountain environment for all ages, emphasizing hands-on exhibits for children of all ages.
Nature Center & Gift Store Hours
Thursday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sundays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Nature Center Admission: Donations Appreciated
