Join us Saturday and Sunday November 4th and 5th for the 6th annual Pittsburg Fishing Derby! This is a target tournament, and anglers will be fishing for striped bass and sturgeon both on-shore and off-shore.
Don't forget to register online here or in person (only on Saturday 11/4 from 8am-noon) at the Judge's Station at the Pittsburg Public Launch Ramps. Check out the Rules & Regulations below for a handful of updates to the derby highlighted, registration details and more.
Finally, you won't want to miss out on these AWESOME PRIZES!
Prizes are awarded in each category for 1st through 6th place, including a raffle, free for all registrants, cash prizes up to $1,000 for 1-3rd places, fishing poles and gear, bait shop gift cards and more.
Minors 15 and younger FREE
Anglers 16-64 years old $50
Seniors 65 and older $40
Don't miss out, it's going to be a "reel" good time!
+2023 Derby Announcements and Updates!
Please read our updates carefully as some are as new as 10/25/23:
- Our judges’ station has NOT moved! Due to the Pittsburg Marina’s maintenance dredging project potentially happening at the Pittsburg launch ramps during the derby, we thought the public launch ramps would be closed causing a shift in the location of the judge’s station. GREAT NEWS! The launch ramps will be OPEN and the judge’s station will be hosted in the same spot as usual – at the launch ramps (see map below). Stay tuned on our website at www.pittsburgmarina.com/fishderby regarding changes to the open/closed status of the launch ramps.
- Measuring striped bass: historically this target derby has measured striped bass from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail. This year and in years to come, we will align our measuring procedures with the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations which read: “straight-line distance from the tip of the head to the end of the longest lobe of the tail”.
- We are happy to offer day-of registration again this year! While anglers are encouraged to register online by Friday, November 3rd at 5pm, day-of sign-ups will be held from 8am to noon on Saturday, November 5th in-person. Saturday registrants can only fish on Sunday. Only cash will be accepted.
- Shore fishing is back this year! See the map below for allowed shore STRIPED BASS ONLY fishing boundaries.
- We are thrilled to partner with our local Pittsburg Yacht Club for the 2023 Derby Awards Ceremony! This year, join us for food and refreshments at the Pittsburg Yacht Club (at the terminus of Cutter Avenue in Pittsburg) as we announce and award winners, conduct a raffle, and enjoy a derby recap. Refreshments will be available all day. Complimentary food will be available at 4pm, awards ceremony will start at 5. Each registered angler gets one free drink!
- The Judges’ station will be open from 8am to 4pm both Saturday and Sunday.
- Fish caught on-shore must be walked to the judges’ station. All fish measured from boats will be assumed to be caught in-vessel.
- Anglers of all ages fishing for White Sturgeon at any time must have a current Sturgeon Report Card in their possession and sturgeon entered in this derby must be tagged to be measured.
- Event Judge Decision is Final. Violation of CA Fish & Game or Derby Rules/Regs will disqualify the entire boat. Individuals participating in derby do so at their own risk.
- In the case of inclement weather or if canceled for any reason, the Derby will not be rescheduled per the stipulations in the event permit.
+Derby Rules and Regulations
DERBY RULES
- Any violation of CA Department of Boating & Waterways as well as CA Fish & Wildlife rules will disqualify all anglers in the boat.
- In the case of inclement weather or if canceled for any reason, the Derby will not be rescheduled per the stipulations in the event permit.
- All anglers must present a valid picture ID that matches the name under which they have registered for the derby at the time of measurement.
- Shore fishing is only allowed in the areas shown in the attached map. Any fish caught via shore fishing outside of these boundaries is ineligible for a prize. Fish caught on-shore must be walked to the judges’ station. All fish measured from boats will be assumed to be caught in-vessel.
- Anglers may not fish for sturgeon on-shore. Sturgeon caught on-shore will not qualify for prizes.
- Anglers are subject to random spot checking for registration and licensing. All licensed fishermen must be registered. Any unlicensed fishermen will disqualify all anglers in the boat or onshore.
- Each angler is limited to one registry.
- Striped Bass: Target Length will be announced at 6:00 am Saturday and Sunday. The closest to the target length measured from the closed mouth to the tip of the tail is the 1st place winner. In case of a tie in length, the winner will be determined by time of measurement. The first striped bass measured in will be the winner. It is highly encouraged to catch and release all fish when possible.
- Sturgeon: Target lengths will be announced at 6:00 am Saturday and Sunday. The closest to the target length measured from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail is the 1st place winner. In case of a tie in length, the winner will be determined by time of measurement. The first sturgeon measured will be the winner. All sturgeon caught and released must be recorded in a Fishing Report Card issued by CDFW. Sturgeon brought on board a vessel to transport to shore must meet all tagging requirements.
- All fish must be measured by event judges at the Pittsburg Public Boat Launch Ramps.
- Sturgeon Report card required: Any person fishing for, transporting to shore, or taking sturgeon shall have in their possession a nontransferable Sturgeon Fishing Report Card issued by CDFW and shall adhere to all reporting and tagging requirements for sturgeon defined in Sections 1.74 and 5.79, Title 14, CCR.
- Event judges may refuse to accept or measure a fish at any time upon their discretion.
- No measurements will be conducted for fish on boats that are not checked-in and in line at the measuring station by 4:00 pm on Sunday, November 5, 2023.
- NO FISHING before 6am Saturday, November 4th.
- NO FISHING after 4:00 pm Sunday, November 5th.
+Registration Info
Registration Info
- Anglers must register in online here by Friday, November 3rd at 5:00 pm, or in-person on Saturday November 4th between 8am and noon. Anglers registering on Saturday may only fish on Sunday. THERE WILL BE NO DAY-OF REGISTRATION ON SUNDAY.
- For online registration assistance, contact (925) 252-4109.
- Day-of in-person registration will be held at the measuring station be located at the Pittsburg Public Launch Ramps. All registrants must present a valid photo ID and pay in exact cash.
- All participating anglers registered under their non-corresponding age group will be disqualified.
- ALL ANGLERS WISHING TO SUBMIT A FISH FOR MEASUREMENT MUST PRESENT A PHOTO ID UPON MEASUREMENT. This ID will be checked against a roster of paid anglers to ensure the fish submitted for measurement was caught by an angler that is properly registered in the competition.
Fees & Competition Categories
Youth under 16 years old: Free
Adults 16 – 64: $50
Seniors 65 and older: $40
+Daily Tournament Schedule
| Saturday, November 4th |
| 6:00 am | Day 1 targets announced and the derby begins |
| 8:00 am | Measuring Stations Open and in-person registration begins |
| 12:00pm | In-person registration closes |
| 4:00 pm | Measuring Stations Close |
| Sunday, November 5th |
| 6:00 am | Day 2 targets announced |
| 8:00 am | Measuring Stations Open |
| 4:00 pm | Measuring Stations Close, and the derby ends. Food and refreshments available at the Pittsburg Yacht Club. All derby registrants get one free refreshment! |
| 5:00 pm | In-Person Awards Ceremony held at Pittsburg Yacht Club. See map below. You DO NOT have to be present to win. |
On-shore anlgers are permitted to fish in the green circled areas only. On-shore fish caught outside the green areas may not be entered to win.
