Despite rainy weather, 28th annual event to benefit Neal Taylor Nature Center draws over 500 anglers
More than 500 anglers of all ages dealt with changing weather, fishing under rain, sun, and even rainbows at Cachuma Lake during the Neil Taylor Nature Center’s 28th Annual Fish Derby on April 26-27.
A total of 571 contestants fished Cachuma Lake during the tournament hours and were also able to fish from shore at any time during the Derby, including Saturday night. Nature Center volunteer and retired Division Chief Mike Marlow fired the flare off at 6 a.m. at the harbor to start the Derby on Saturday and it lasted until 12 p.m. Sunday.
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.
The weekend event, planned and operated by 65 volunteers that also included a raffle and children’s activities, brought in over $38,000 through sponsorship, donations, and registrations, with an additional $12,000-plus in merchandise donations for door prizes and raffle prizes.
As for the main part of the derby, lots of fish were caught in all categories, making for happy anglers. The $599 prize for heaviest trout went to Brian McElhiney, 66, from Oxnard, while the heaviest bass went to Kayla Maher, 30, from Lompoc. Kelly Holcomb, 33, from Templeton won the prize for heaviest crappie.
Prizes for the heaviest catfish and heaviest carp were both by children: The $300 Heaviest Carp Caught prize went to Bodhi Druckman, 11, from Goleta, while 7-year-old Max Diamond of Carpinteria, took home the prize for heaviest catfish.
The list of winners for the Neil Taylor Nature Center Fish Derby:
$599 Heaviest Trout Caught
Brian McElhiney, 66, Oxnard 7.63 lbs./25.5”
$300 2nd Heaviest Trout Caught
Jules Hain, 70, Lompoc, 7.58 lbs./24”
$599 Heaviest Bass Caught
Kayla Maher, 30, Lompoc, 4.41 lbs./20.5”
$300 2nd Heaviest Bass Caught
Van Lang, 12, Santa Ynez, 4.41 lbs./19.5”
$599 Heaviest Crappie Caught
Kelly Holcomb, 33, Templeton, 1.9 lbs./15”
$300 2nd Heaviest Crappie Caught
Kyle Perez, 36, Arroyo Grande, 1.68 lbs./14”
$599 Heaviest Catfish Caught
Max Diamond, 7, Carpinteria, 7.8 lbs./24.5”
$300 2nd Heaviest Catfish Caught
Waylon Estes, 8, Santa Maria, 6.35 lbs./24.25”
$300 Heaviest Carp Caught
Bodhi Druckman, 11, Goleta, 11.02 lbs./27.5”
$150 2nd Heaviest Carp Caught
Bryan Belluz, 39, Lompoc, 8.68 lbs./26.5”
$125 Heaviest Fish caught by Girl 11-15 yrs.
Chloe King, 12, Solvang, Bass, 2.73 lbs./17.75”
$100 2nd Heaviest Fish caught by Girl 11-15 yrs.
Allana Gaytan, 13, Lompoc, Trout, 2.69 lbs./19”
$50 3rd Heaviest Fish caught by Girl 11-15 yrs.
Sadie Palmer, 11, Filmore, Bass, 2.38 lbs./16”
$25 4th Heaviest Fish caught by Girl 11-15 yrs.
Hannah Hirsch, 13, Lompoc, Bass, 2.2 lbs./16.5”
$125 Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.
Bodhi Druckman, 11, Goleta, Carp, 11.02 lbs./27.5”
$100 2nd Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.
George Taylor, 14, Santa Barbara, Trout, 6.01 lbs./25”
$50 3rd Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.
Van Lang, 12, Santa Ynez, Bass, 4.41 lbs./19.5”
$25 4th Heaviest Fish caught by Boy 11-15 yrs.
Mateo Pena, 14, Lompoc, Bass, 3.17 lbs./18.25”
$125 The Dutch Wilson Prize (the fish caught by the oldest angler)
James Lemp, 80, Filmore, Trout 6.35 lbs./24”
$250 with $25 ea. to first 10 kids 10 yrs. & under to catch a fish! ($25 prize & 1 rod per kid)
1. Abigail Belluz, 6, Lompoc, Bass, 0.92lbs./13”
2. Blaine Evans, 6, Buellton, Bass, 1.63 lbs./15-3/4”
3. Max Diamond, 7, Carpinteria, Bass, 1.1 lbs./14.5”
4. Adilyn Batchelor, 9, Santa Maria, Trout, 0.35 lbs./13”
5. Duke Harmony, 7, Goleta, Crappie, 0.66/11.5”
6. Remington Abundis, 9, Santa Barbara, Bass, 0.97 lbs./13.25”
7. Waylon Estes, 8, Santa Maria, Crappie, 0.84 lbs./13”
8. Dane Harmony, 5, Goleta, Crappie, 0.84 lbs./12”
9. Ariana Hernandez, 7, Goleta, Bass, 2.07 lbs./17.25″
10. Maxwell Emerson, 10, Auburn, Bass, 1.28 lbs./13.75″
The Fish Derby organizers thank the event sponsors (Bronze Sponsor) Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Mechanics Bank, Schafer Family Foundation – In Memory of Johnny, (Royal Coachman) Dr. Bill & Vivien Foran, Stevens & Associates Insurance Agency, Inc, The Filter Factory, Inc, MarBorg Industries, Vague Rods & Mike Lum, (Derby Sponsor) Tracy Angel in Memory of Ray Angel, Jerry & Sandi Witcher, Dr. Lowell & Shirley McLellan, Buellton Rotary Club Foundation, Brian & Kris Kittle, Leo & Patti Sandow, Rotary Club of Los Olivos, ExplorUS, Advenco LLC, James & Christine Gaskin
Rincon Broadcasting. Santa Barbara Currents, News Channel ABC, NBC, FOX & TELEMUNDO TV. The organizers also thank their volunteers and many generous donors!
The Fish Derby will be back again next year at Cachuma Lake, with the dates already announced for July 18-19, 2026. For more info on the derby and the winners, go to www.troutderby.org/2025-winners/
