
Board of Directors


Steve Estrada - President
What is your favorite species to seek?
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Salmon, the rush of getting a powerful fish on a barbless hook knowing it could come off any sec is an adrenaline high I can't get enough of. I love the Flag and Tiger rockfish as the stripes and colors are just so unique and beautiful that I have had the privilege to catch several of each in my years of fishing.
When did fishing become an obsession for you?
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Fishing started decades ago with my next-door neighbor who became a great friend I used to do 3-4 salmon charter trips a year with him on Randy's out of Monterey and that was it for fishing. Then I met this hard-core guy Danny who had a 26' slaying machine and recruited me to be part of his fishing crew. Danny was a slayer, and a boat mechanic, and his boat was meticulous. I fished on his boat called the "High Tide Low Tide" for a few years out of Oyster Point before all the sky-rise buildings popped up. We fished just about every weekend for whatever was in season from salmon, cod, halibut, crab, and sturgeon. I credit Danny with teaching me a majority of what I know about fishing and boating. I was fortunate to have learned so much from him. The Faralones were our go-to fishing grounds when the weather was good enough; even marginal. This period of my life was when I was molded into a fearless passionate fisherman. I left the crew when my son came of age and I shifted to owning my own boat and taking my son out to teach him what I was fortunate to have learned from the HTLT crew.
When did you join this club and what has it been like for you?
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I joined this club in 2016 or 2017. This club when I joined was more freshwater focused, so that's what I did while making a new saltwater friend here and there. I found a love for freshwater being in this club and consider it a big part of my life as well. After years of being a regular member and fishing a ton, I took the opportunity to be a part of the rebuilding of this club post-COVID where membership fell off a cliff and the club almost became non-existent. I couldn't see this happen, so the change started with me and a few other members deciding we could rebuild. We are now up to 90+ members and growing.
What has been the most notable experience while being out on the water/shore?
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To many great experiences, but some of the most nature-intense were having a huge whale dive right under our boat and another time 100's of mini whales jumping all around our boat as if allowing us to experience their playtime with them. We were 15 miles out of Santa Cruz.
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From a fishing experience, having 2 of my brother's boats out at the Channel Islands and fishing together with my brothers and nephews for Thanksgiving. We were in China Cove, this remote beautiful part of these islands with nobody around catching halibut, shark and barracuda.
If you could fish anywhere in the world next, where would it be?
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Any tropical water where great fighting fish are located. I love seeing beautiful fish in videos from tropical waters. I think spear diving would be an amazing experience someday.
Where are you local to? What do you hope to see from our club in the next year along with the duties/responsibilities/goals you are striving toward?
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I am out of San Jose. I feel we have a dream team with the volunteer board members we have and I am excited to see where this club is going. I love that our club is a community of people from all over CA who want and love to fish.
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I look forward to seeing our club continue to grow and friendships develop while we expand our fishing events with the growth.
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My hope for this year is to do a trip up to Fort Bragg to fish with Frankie for some Albacore.
Steve's message: My biggest reward in these later years of life is having had the time to teach my son everything that builds character through our fishing and boating experience together. How to fish and manage our boat has been unforgettable and something he will pass on to his kids one day. Fishing has allowed me to teach my son about survival, braving the unknown, facing fears, critical decision-making, being safety-minded, working with tools, sharing and teaching others about fishing and boating, being a responsible planner and so much more. Fishing is a platform to create, develop, grow, share, explore, and enjoy with friends and family.
Life isn't about how many fish you caught or how good you are, it's about how many friends you make in the journey and how many lives you impact while you have the chance. This is why I enjoy being part of this club. I have made more friends then I could have ever expected and helping people learn about fishing and boating is something I enjoy.
Jessica Choi - Vice President


Welcome to our club! My role is Vice President/Program Director. I help deckhand on the New Captain Pete out of Pillar Point, CA, and am a rockfish researcher on the Groundfish team at NOAA+UC Santa Cruz.
What is your favorite species to seek and what has been the most notable experience while being out on the water?
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My favorite species to seek offshore are China and Vermilion rockfishes. China’s are such beautiful creatures! In their scientific name - Sebastes nebulosus, ‘nebulosus’ means cloudy/misty. With their white speckling, they sure do look it. Out on the water, one of my favorite moments has been seeing Tufted puffins out along the Farallon Islands. I have been lucky enough to be aboard bird-watching trips to see neat species such as a Black-footed Albatross and a Northern Gannet. I will be decking during weekends of salmon season (Pillar Point), so be sure to come out on a New Captain Pete trip!
If you could fish anywhere in the world next, where would it be?
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The next spot on my fishing radar would be spearfishing in Kona, HI, or an albacore trip out of Newport, OR.
What do you hope to see from our club in the next year along with the duties/responsibilities/goals you are striving toward?
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From this next year, I would like to see our club membership grow. We aren’t your average fishing club. We strive to build community, we provide easy-to-access resources, and we hope you look forward to coming to one of our guest talks, charter trips, or volunteer days! We aim to foster and create lasting friendships and memories through all club gatherings.
“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.” -Jacques Yves Cousteau
Nicolas Megevand - Contest Director

Is it Fish-Taco time yet?! I consider myself primarily a Saltwater angler, since 2004 I've been chasing all kinds of delicious species our local waters have to offer. I am always interested in teaching you what I have learned so far and I really want to learn more from your experiences as well!
What is your favorite species to seek?
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I LOVE Rockfishing, Lingcods, Crabbing for "Dungees", Salmon, Halibut, chasing Tuna tail tales, and the occasional Lake trout. San Diego, LA, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, and SF are the areas I have put in the most time on the water.
f you could fish anywhere in the world next, where would it be?
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My dream location to fish is anywhere with a good bite and friends. I'm that guy on the boat cheering you on once you put that reel in gear! I have a small but very fishy-skiff (Livingston 14) I take out anywhere but I also happily jump on sportfishing boats throughout the year with our awesome club members. I am a "tackle-gear-junkie" and love chatting about the next big thing that makes our time on the water more productive.
What do you hope to see from our club in the next year along with the duties/responsibilities/goals you are striving toward?
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I hope to see our club grow educationally for everyone, in the same way it has greatly helped me over the years. As the Big Fish and Contest Director, nothing gets me more excited than seeing the trophies our members pull up.
Tight Lines & Bloody Decks,
Nico
Frankie Apodaca - Website Director

Greetings from the cozy nook of Fort Bragg, CA! I'm just your average small-town guy with an extraordinary love for fishing and mushroom hunting. Living each day like it's a grand adventure is my style - probably got a case of the good old FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)! When it's time for my final cast, I want to look back and say, "Yep, I gave it all I got, no fish left uncaught."
And when I'm not helping our fabulous club make waves online, you'll find me running a nifty YouTube channel called 'Lost Coast Living'. It's all about showcasing life's daily miracles along our scenic Lost Coast.
FISH?
if you're wondering about my favorite fish to chase, it's a tough call between the feisty lingcod and the vibrant Vermillion. But if push comes to shove, I'd pick the lingcod. Why? Well, the thrill of battling one from my trusty kayak is second to none! It's like an aquatic version of David vs Goliath, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
ONE PLACE YOU WOULD LIKE TO FISH IN THE WORLD?
If I could pack my gear and fish anywhere in the world next, it'd be Australia's teeming waters. The biodiversity there is downright mind-boggling! I mean, one moment you're reeling in a snapper, and the next, you could be tussling with a marlin - talk about a thrill!
WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR THE CLUB THIS COMING YEAR?
As for what I'd like to see from our club in the coming year, well, it's all about reaching out and growing together. Our education department is blossoming splendidly, and I'd love for us to reel in more members from all corners of the globe. My dream is for everyone, even those connecting remotely, to be an active part of our club's journey. And trust me, I'm working my fins off to make that happen! So, here's to a future teeming with shared fishing tales, laughter, and learning! Let's reel in the good times, folks!
Many men go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
- Frankie
Jason Berg - Event Director

What is your favorite species to seek?
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Salmon from the Pacific Northwest (Puget Sound) Currently Deep Water Rock Cod (Chilipeppers, World Class Eats).
f you could fish anywhere in the world next, where would it be?
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California, San Diego. Long Range Bluefin off the Cortez Bank or Isla Coronado, Mexico. Multi Day (3 day).
What do you hope to see from our club in the next year along with the duties/responsibilities/goals you are striving toward?
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I look forward to meeting with other club members and pairing up members with w/members. Many of you lead remarkable lives and wouldn’t it be great to share to joy you have found with other brothers and sisters young and old, creating and giving away unforgettable experiences to grow old with. Whether it’s hiking into a Fresh Water Fishing Hole or Boating the Beautiful Monterey Bay. A possibility I would like to explore would be something like "Fish Booker” or “BookeO” apps. Creating a calendar/connector of Boat Owning Members w/members that do not. With over 100 members and growing the possibilities are endless
Siraj Syed - Treasurer
Come back soon to meet Siraj!