2025 SPONSORS:
The 28th Annual Neal Taylor Nature Center Fish Derby began on April 26th at 6 a.m. and ended at 12 noon on April 27, 2025.
This year’s event was attended by anglers of all ages with 571 registered to fish in the Derby and many others along for a weekend of camping and fun at Cachuma Lake & the Nature Center. This hardy lot of anglers (men, women, boys, and girls) fished in rain, sun, and even under rainbows! Best of all lots of fish were caught in all categories, making for happy anglers.
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 history, flora, and fauna of Cachuma Lake and the Santa Ynez River Watershed.
65 volunteers planned and operated the derby, raffle and children’s activities bringing in over $38,000 through sponsorship, donations, and registrations with an additional $12,000+ in merchandise donations for door prizes and raffle prizes.
28th ANNUAL FISH DERBY WINNERS
$599 Heaviest Trout Caught
WINNER: Brian McElhiney, age 66 from Oxnard
Trout / 7.63lbs. / 25.5”
Donated by Tracy Angel in Memory of Raymond Angel
$300 2nd Heaviest Trout Caught
WINNER: Jules Hain, age 70 from Lompoc
Trout / 7.58lbs. / 24”
$599 Heaviest Bass Caught
WINNER: Kayla Maher age 30 from Lompoc
Bass / 4.41lbs. / 20.5”
Donated by Jerry & Sandi Witcher
$300 2nd Heaviest Bass Caught
WINNER: Van Lang, age 12 from Santa Ynez
Bass / 4.41lbs. / 19.5”
$599 Heaviest Crappie Caught
WINNER: Kelly Holcomb, age 33 from Templeton
Crappie / 1.9 lbs. / 15”
$300 2nd Heaviest Crappie Caught
WINNER: Kyle Perez, age 36 from Arroyo Grande
Crappie / 1.68lbs. / 14”
$599 Heaviest Catfish Caught
WINNER: Max Diamond, age 7 from Carpinteria
Catfish / 7.8lbs. / 24.5”
Donated by Dr. Bill and Vivien Foran
$300 2nd Heaviest Catfish Caught
WINNER: Waylon Estes, age 8 from Santa Maria
Catfish / 6.35 lbs. / 24.25”
Donated by Dr. Bill and Vivien Foran
$300 Heaviest Carp Caught
WINNER: Bodhi Druckman, age 11 from Goleta
Carp / 11.02 lbs. / 27.5”
Donated by Ian Eldridge in Memory of Jodi Ellsworth
$150 2nd Heaviest Carp Caught
WINNER: Bryan Belluz, age 39 from Lompoc
Carp / 8.68 lbs. / 26.5”
$125 Heaviest Fish caught by Girl 11-15 yrs.
WINNER: Chloe King, age 12 from Solvang
Bass / 2.73 lbs. / 17.75”
Donated by Dennis Wynn
$100 2nd Heaviest Fish caught by Girl 11-15 yrs.
WINNER: Allana Gaytan, age 13 from Lompoc
Trout / 2.69 lbs. / 19”
Donated by Linda Small
$50 3rd Heaviest Fish caught by Girl 11-15 yrs.
WINNER: Sadie Palmer, age 11 from Filmore
Bass / 2.38 lbs. / 16”
$25 4th Heaviest Fish caught by Girl 11-15 yrs.
WINNER: Hannah Hirsch, age 13 from Lompoc
Bass / 2.2 lbs. / 16.5”
$125 Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.
WINNER: Bodhi Druckman, age 11 from Goleta
Carp / 11.02 lbs. / 27.5”
$100 2nd Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.
WINNER: George Taylor, age 14 from Santa Barbara
Trout / 6.01 lbs. / 25”
$50 3rd Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.
WINNER: Van Lang, age 12 from Santa Ynez
Bass / 4.41 lbs. / 19.5”
Donated by James Eldridge III
$25 4th Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.
WINNER: Mateo Pena, age 14 from Lompoc
Bass / 3.17 lbs. / 18.25”
Donated by Linda Small
$125 The Dutch Wilson Prize (the fish caught by the oldest angler)
WINNER: James Lemp, age 80 from Filmore
Trout / 6.35 lbs. / 24”
Donated by Craig Juratsh & Jill Moulton
$250 with $25 ea. to first 10 kids 10 yrs. & under to catch a fish! ($25 prize &1 rod per kid)
Winner #1: Abigail Belluz – age 6 from Lompoc
Bass / 0.92lbs. / 13”
Winner #2: Blaine Evans; age 6 from Buellton
Bass / 1.63lbs. /15-3/4”
Winner #3: Max Diamond; age 7 from Carpinteria
Bass / 1.1 lbs. / 14.5”
Winner #4: Adilyn Batchelor age 9 from Santa Maria
Trout / 0.35 lbs. / 13”
Winner #5: Duke Harmony age 7 from Goleta
Crappie / 0.66 / 11.5”
Winner #6: Remington Abundis age 9 from Santa Barbara
Bass / 0.97 lbs. / 13.25”
Winner #7: Waylon Estes age 8 from Santa Maria
Crappie / 0.84 lbs. / 13”
Winner #8: Dane Harmony age 5 from Goleta
Crappie / 0.84 lbs. / 12”
Winner #9: Ariana Hernandez age 7 from Goleta
Bass / 2.07 lbs. / 17.25’
Winner #10: Maxwell Emerson age 10 from Auburn
Bass / 1.28 lbs. / 13.75 “
$250 Donated by Vince & Linda Gomez
10 Rods Donated by Hook, Line, Sinker (Ben Miller)
More coverage in the news:
https://santaynezvalleystar.com/they-were-biting-at-cachuma-for-the-fish-derby/
https://www.independent.com/2025/04/29/neal-taylor-nature-centers-28th-annual-fish-derby/