LETS GO FISHING!!

The 15th annual San Jose JACL/Yu Ai Kai Fishing Trip was successfully held on Saturday, September 13, 2003. All of the nine Yu Ai Kai seniors and five Chapter volunteers had a fun-filled time sharing good food and fellowship. Even a few fishes were caught!

The day started at 8am at the Issei Memorial Building where everyone met for some hot coffee, tea and pastries. The group was then given a pep talk and briefed on some important information, including the infamous Hawaiian Banana superstition...bring a banana for bad luck fishing. We then split up into 3 cars driven by the volunteers and caravaned to picturesque Pacifica.

Upon our arrival at the long pier, we set up camp midway where the fishing tackle were put together and distributed along with the cut bait. The eager seniors put lead to the water and the contest was on. The day was berautiful but the fish uncooperative. There were more dungenous crabs caught on line and net than fish. Unfortunately, they were not in season so they had to be returned to the ocean. Although the participants brought their own lunches, refreshments and the Chapter's famous Spam Musubi were served and enjoyed.

After five hours of fishing, we packed up and headed back to the IMB parkinmg lot and held our Awards Ceremony. Our first place winner was Amy Yamazaki who caught six fishes on this her first trip! Vera Hutton caught five fishes to take second while Tony Unadia took third place with 3 fishes. The remainder of the fisherpersons received honorable mention prizes also so all were winners. They were Mitsue and Minoru Tanaka, last year's winners, Phillip Donen, Josephine Zimmerman, Hiroshi Yonezawa and Yukio Suzuki. (Note that an unnamed senior was caught eating a banana on the pier...with no fish to show!)

The chapter recognizes the volunteers who helped make the trip a special one for the participants. They not only volunteered and donated their time on a weekend but again also covered all associated costs to assist the chapter as well. The volunteers were past chapter president Leon Kimura, Sue and Tom Shigemasa, Lei Shigemasa and Tom Fitz. Special recognition goes to Yu Ai Kai's Julie Hubbard for her help coordinating the event and Jimmy Sakamoto and the VFW who again provided all the necessary fishing equipment.