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)