CLEARLAKE OAKS — Carla Meza of Yuba City topped a record field of 580 adults and 111 children to win the three-day Clearlake Oaks/Glenhaven Annual Catfish Derby, which concluded Sunday.
Meza reeled in a 23.82-pound channel catfish around 5 p.m. on Friday, the first day of the tournament, and went on to win the $4,000 first-place prize. She was fishing near Clear Lake State Park and used mackerel for bait.
Triton Marlowe of Clearlake Oaks won the kids division with a 16.36-pounder and received a Nintendo Wii Play Station 2.
Meza, a Yuba County administrative assistant, and her fianc?, Tom Jacobs, also of Yuba City, entered the derby in hopes of winning enough money to get married. Jacobs, who works in construction and has seen his employment opportunities shrink because the bad economy, said the couple has been trying to save enough money to take a honeymoon trip to Fort Bragg. A few weeks ago they were headed for the Mendocino County Coast when their car broke down, so they had to postpone the wedding. They also had to move out of their home recently.
Meza and Jacobs said they figured it couldn”t hurt to enter the catfish derby and that if they won enough money they would go to Fort Bragg and get married. They camped out at the State Park during the three-day tournament. Jacobs said they fished out of a 12-foot aluminum boat with a 8 hp outboard motor. Little did they realize Meza would win the derby and the $4,000. Now they are planning a honeymoon to Fort Bragg.
According to derby chairwoman Gail Jonas, this year”s derby was a huge success, and the numbers bear that out. Fishermen from as far away as Oklahoma, Massachusetts and New York, were entered the derby, which is the largest of its kind west of the Mississippi. Jonas said it took approximately 60 volunteers to put on the tournament and that proceeds go toward various agencies such as the Clearlake Oaks Fire Department, senior citizens centers and other worthwhile causes.
Jonas said that next year”s tournament, which will be its 30th anniversary, will be extra special. Dennis Locke of the derby committee said the best part of the derby is that it remains a family event where both parents and their children compete.
The top 20 finishers in the adult division received money (they are listed on Page A7).
