Winners & Prizes

2024 Winner Prizes

The prizes for the 27th Annual Neal Taylor Nature Center Fish Derby will be announced at the event. They will be similar to last year’s prizes, but may vary.

Scroll down to see last year’s winners and prizes. Visit our rules page for what qualifies as a winning catch.

There are also several raffles at the Fish Derby. Visit our Raffle Prizes page to learn more.

2023 Winners  

Melissa Vickers proudly holds up her heaviest trout winning catch!

$599 Heaviest Trout Caught

Winner: Melissa Vickers, age 39 from Ventura

Trout / 8.52 lbs. / 26 inches

Prize Money Donated by 

The Angel Family in Memory of Ray Angel

$300 2nd Heaviest Trout Caught

Winner: Steve Cullen, from Solvang

Trout / 7.34 lbs. / 25 inches

Donated by 

Vince and Linda Gomez

 

$599 Heaviest Bass Caught

Winner: Rob Murrin, from Santa Barbara

Bass / 1.84 lbs. / 15.75 inches

Donated by 

Charles Faulding

 

$300 2nd Heaviest Bass Caught

Winner: Wayne Achterberg from Santa Maria

Bass / 1.82 lbs./ 16 inches 

 

$599 Heaviest Crappie Caught

Winner: Leonard Barrios, Age 68 from Ventura

Crappie / 1.52 lbs. / 14.5 inches

 

$300 2nd Heaviest Crappie Caught

Winner: Pat Kelly, Age 57 from Solvang

Crappie / 1.5 lbs. / 14.25 inches

 

$599 Heaviest Catfish Caught

Winner: Ryan Andrews, Age 14 from Santa Barbara

Catfish / 3.04 lbs. / 19 inches

Donated by 

Jerry & Sandi Witcher

 

$300 2nd Heaviest Catfish Caught

Winner: Mark Silva, Age 63 from Santa Maria

Catfish / 1.76 lbs. / 17 inches

 

$599 for Heaviest Carp Caught

Winner: Bryan Belluz, Age 37 from Lompoc

Carp / 11.5 lbs./ 30.5 inches

Donated by 

Dr. Lowell & Shirley McLellan

 

$300 2nd Heaviest Carp Caught

Chris Payne, Age 44, from Buellton

Carp/ 8.9 lbs./ 28.5 inches

Donated by

Captain James L. McDonald

 

$100 THE Neal Taylor “Young Angler Award”

First Catch by an angler 15 years or younger on

$50 Sat.

Winner: Kayden Lintz age 9 from Pahrump, Nevada

Trout/ 1.16 lbs. / 14.5 inches

$50 Sun.

Winner: Kayden Lintz age 9 from Pahrump, Nevada

Trout / 2.88lbs. / 19 inches

Donated by

Bluewater Grill Restaurant

 

$100 Visit the Nature Center Raffle

Winner: Kimbe Bachelor

Donated by 

 Dave & Barb Hale

Kaylan Brown, age 14, won 1st, 2nd, AND 3rd place for heaviest fish caught by girl!

$100 Heaviest Fish caught by Girl 11-15 yrs.

Winner: Kaylan Brown, age 14 from Pahrump, Nevada

Trout / 3.12 lbs. / 19.5 inches

Donated by

Judy Duncan

 

$50 2nd Heaviest Fish caught by Girl

Winner: Kaylan Brown, age 14 from Pahrump, Nevada

Trout / 2.86 lbs. / 19.5 inches

Donated by 

Judy Duncan

 

$25 3rd Heaviest Fish caught by Girl

Winner: Kaylan Brown, age 14 from Pahrump, Nevada

Trout / 2.52 lbs. / 18 inches

Donated by 

Judy Duncan

 

$100 Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.

Winner: Garrett Shaw age 12 from Bakersfield

Trout / 6.66 lbs. / 24.5 inches

Donated by 

Julia Wilkerson

 

$50 2nd Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.

Winner: Ryan Andrews age 14 from Santa Barbara

Catfish/ 3.04 lbs. / 19 inches

Donated by

Julie & Jeff McDonald

 

$25 3rd Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.

Winner: Kergan Frausto age 12 from Santa Ynez

Trout/ 2.88 lbs. / 19.5 inches

Donated by

Jerry & Kim Kessler

 

$50 The Dutch Wilson Prize (the fish caught by the oldest angler)

Winner: Gilbert Echevarria, Sr. age 78 from Santa Barbara 

Trout / 2.15 lbs. 

Donated by

Jill Moulton & Dr. Craig Juratsch

10 year old and under winners for biggest fish caught show off their fishing rod prizes!

$25 each plus Rod & Reel Prize

First 5 Kids 10 yrs. & under to Catch a Fish (all types)

 

Winner #1: Duke Harmony – age 5 from Goleta

Fish / 2.04lbs. / 17.75 inches

Winner #2: Jennifer Cardinal age 6 from Pahrump, Nevada

Trout / 1.70lbs. / 15.75 inches

Winner #3: Kaydan Lintz, age 9 from Pahrump, Nevada

Trout / 1.16 lbs. / 14.5 inches

Winner #4: Gael Gonzalez, age 9 from Lompoc

Fish / 1.62lbs. / 15.75 inches

Winner #4a: Jonathan Perez, age 9 from Buellton; BlueGill 

Winner #5: Waylon Estes age 6 from Santa Maria

Bass / 0.82 lbs. / 13 inches

Donated by 

Lois Cofiell ($125)

Hook, Line & Sinker (Rod & Reels)

 

Rod & Reel Prize

Next 5 kids 10 yrs. & under to catch a fish (all types)

 

Winner #6: Dane Harmony – age 4 from Goleta

Fish / 1.76lbs. / 15.5 inches

Winner #7: Bradley Batchelor age 9 from Santa Maria

Bass / 1.34lbs. / 14 inches

Winner #8: Samantha Brewer, age 10 from Santa Barbara

Trout / 2.92 lbs. / 19.75 inches

Winner #9: Ryan Shaw, age 4 from Bakersfield

Trout / 3.0 lbs. / 20 inches

Winner #10: Jackson Alvarez age 10 from Orcutt

Bass / 1.2 lbs. / 15 inches 

Donated by

Hook, Line & Sinker (Rod & Reels)