47th Annual Charlie Sturgill Pole Spear Meet In SO. CALIFORNIA

Saturday October 7, 2006

CHARLIE STURGILL MEMORIAL POLE SPEAR COMPETITION

COME AND DIVE WITH THE BEST POLE SPEAROS IN THE WEST COAST!

Charlie was a US National Spearfishing Champion in 1951 while using only his famous pole spear


Location: Monica Hall’s House. (Granddaughter of Charlie Sturgill)
1210 W. Paseo del Mar. 1/2 mile W of Point Fermin Park, San Pedro, CA 90731, on the Palos Verdes peninsula.

Rules: OPEN TO EVERYONE. POLE SPEARS ONLY.

No Check in Necessary. Meet starts at Dawn, with no boundaries, except diver must be at weight in site at 2:00 pm Sharp or be disqualified. Diver may use kayaks, boats, Paddleboards or beach diving. The meet has a 20 fish limit, no more than 3 fish per species. There is a 12 inch size limit for all fish except Bass, which will be 14 inches. There is a limit of 1 Sheepshead it must be a min of 18 inches when in season. Halibut have to be 22 inches, White Sea bass 28.All fish must be taken in compliance with California Fish and Game regulations. Sharks, rays, eels, and mola molas are not permitted.
Scoring will be one point per fish and one point per pound. Weigh in is 2 blocks West from the Scramble meet location at Monica’s house. If diving for club points, club dive rules still apply with these exceptions: Only a pole spear can be used. Charlie Sturgill Pole spear Start & Stop times will be used.

Cost: $10 for Non Fathomiers, this is to cover the cost of Food and drinks and awards, can be paid after the meet at the weigh in also or in advance.

Awards: Trophies 1st through 5th place in addition to largest fish award.


This meet is a celebration in honor of the LATE GREAT CHARLIE STURGILL.
Divers who gather here will be doing so out of respect for CHARLIE and his family.
A BBQ will follow the weigh in process.

Charlie Sturgill

There has always been this special relationship between Charlie and the club, the Fathomiers. In addition, for all of us who know it’s been a family affair from the beginning.

Charlie’s early involvement in skindiving was something new to everyone and as they were a close, fun loving and water-orientated family, the entire Sturgill family shared his passion. They were all involved in the sport, and each one in his/her own way has earned a place in the skindiving community. In addition, in her earlier days, Laura had been an accomplished swimmer in her own right. The following generations of Sturgills have it in their genes and it’s no surprise that the entire family is today revered by everyone.

They are: Lori Lee Meistrell- daughter and Richard Sturgill-son.
Monica Hall-granddaughter and Kenny Hall-grandson

With some of the very best spearfishing spots in the entire country practically in his own back yard along with all his enthusiasm and his knowledge about the sport was reason enough for Charlie to quickly become recognized as an expert of the time in spearfishing equipment and techniques. Throughout the entire diving community, he was known as the person to go to for customized diving equipment. He was the original pioneer for machining and producing specialized spearfishing stuff for all of us living around the greater L. A. area. He was truly the legend, the most famous for all of us who live in Southern California, and especially the South Bay area. His repetition, his natural congenial personality drew spearfishermen from all over. His place, his garage, was like everybody’s favorite meeting place, conveniently located up the hill not far from some of our favorite hot spots here in P. V. Whether you needed any kind of his specialized machined parts, which he was famous for, or if only hanging out with the usual interesting crowd, that was the place to be! We’ve always said: if you want to meet up with someone in particular just stick around Charlie’s long enough, especially on the week-ends. Many of us have very pleasant memories of spending some time there in that world famous garage! It was absolutely amazing how he could find anything in that place, but, only he knew exactly where every little bolt and nut was!! You’ve missed something if you haven’t seen it. (no malice intended, only a lot of affection). Hope you know what we mean!

Charlie had to be one of the most popular and friendly persons you’ve ever had the good fortune to meet. Those of us who were around during those great days and had the opportunity to know him and spend some quality time with him feel truly blessed.



Charlie was National Spearfishing Champion in 1951 while using only his famous pole spear. The U. S National Meet held that year in Laguna Beach, California included approximately fifteen (15) participants from areas around the country from where organized activities in competitive spearfishing was still in it’s infancy. Charlie was a member of the Southern California Skin Divers Club, which was one of the very first organized spearfishing clubs in the area at that time. Something else that not everyone knows is Charlie never had any use for a snorkel!!! Hard to believe, but all the times we’ve seen him in the water he never used one.


Beginning in 1966 Charlie’s many friends within the greater Los Angeles area created the annual Charlie Sturgill Pole Spear Meet to honor our most revered Icon.
As it implies, only hand held pole spears are allowed. It’s one of the most popular and fun filled events of the year with many of the top competitors of the area participating. The staging area historically has been at Charlie’s and Laura’s home, although in recent years it’s been held at Charlie’s granddaugher’s (the apple of his eye) place in the Palos Verdes peninsula area. Everyone is welcome to participate in the event either as a competitor or as a spectator. Last few years the event has become another meet that the L. A. Fathomiers club is proud to sponsor.

Charlie passed away in 1985. We spread his ashes on that cold, rainy, windy day, out there over “Charlie’s Reef”, near Flat Rock, in the Palos Verdes area. We really celebrated his life there that day!! You can ask Jay Riffe and Billy Meistrell what we mean!!


By Bob Sellers
8/31/04
__________________

Map and location of meet

The Prestigious annual Pole Spear Award Charlie Sturgill.

History of Winners
From Skip Hellen's Website www.underwaterhunters.com

CHARLIE STURGILL POLE SPEAR MEET

1966-NOW
Year Name (Meet/Dive) Location Pt’s
1966 Roy Katin Dana Pt. S. Laguna
1967 Roy Katin 2 Salt Creek S. Laguna 34.15
1968 Al Schneppershoff II Corral Beach N. Laguna 108.00
1969 Terry Maas Salt Creek
1970 Bob Donnell Aliso Creek S. Laguna 88.25
1971 Skip Hellen Aliso Creek 90.50
(New Era) CDFG law change (Max #20 fish Bag Limit/#5 fish per species)
1972 Roy Katin 3 Dana Pt. 49.00
1973 Bob Donnell 2 Wind & Sea La Jolla
1974 Terry Maas 2 San Clemente Beach N. 55.938
1975 Terry Maas 3 Corral Beach 82.375
1976 Bob Donnell 3 Corral Beach 47.90
1977 Terry Maas 4 Bass Rock Ventura 74.938
1978 Gary Thompson Leo Carrillo South 80.376
1979 Gary Thompson 2 Corral Beach 60.375
1980 Gary Thompson 3 Leo Carrillo North 73.875
1981 Gary Thompson 4 Doheny Beach 53.00
1982 Terry Maas 5 Cabrillo Beach San Pedro 57.688
1983 Brian Donnell Cabrillo Beach 60.813
1984 John Ernst Cabrillo Beach 65.625
1985 John Ernst 2 Cabrillo Beach 46.50
1986 Paul Major Salt Creek 64.75
1987 Bob Brennan Cabrillo Beach
1988 John Ernst 3 Scramble Meet 71.00
1989 Gary Thompson 5 Scramble 85.00
1990 Gary Thompson 6 Scramble
(Limit #3 fish per species change)
1991 Gary Thompson 7 Scramble
1992 Gary Thompson 8 Salt Creek
1993 Gary Thompson 9 Scramble 59.250
1994 Gary Thompson 10 Scramble 58.375
1995 Paul Major 2 Scramble 54.375
1996 Paul Major 3 Scramble 29.00
1997 Skip Hellen 2 Scramble 80.00
1998 Skip Hellen 3 Scramble 63.10
1999 Skip Hellen 4 Scramble 86.70
2000 Ryan Deuel Scramble 94.00
2001 Ryan Deuel 2 Scramble 88.00
2002 Ryan Deuel 3 Scramble 104.00
2003 Ryan Deuel 4 Scramble 74.96
(Sheephead out of season for 2003 meet)
2004 Ryan Deuel 5 Scramble 104.88
2005 Ryan Deuel 6 Scramble 72.00
(Limit #1 Sheephead and #3 ocean purch total change)


INTERESTING MEET TRIVIA

(#39) MEET WINNERS
MOST WINS:
Gary Thompson #10

Multiple Winners:
Gary Thompson #10 (1978-81/89-94)
Ryan Deuel #6 (2000/01/02/03/04/05)
Terry Maas #5 (1969/74/75/77/82)
Skip Hellen #4 (1971/97/98/99)
Roy Katin #3 (1966/67/72)
Bob Donnell #3 (1970/73/76)
John Ernst #3 (1984/85/88)
Paul Major #3 (1986/95/96)

Consecutive wins:
Gary Thompson #6 (1989-94) #4 (1978-81)
Ryan Deuel #6 (2000-05)
Skip Hellen #3 (1997-99)
Roy Katin #2 (1966-67)
Terry Maas #2 (1974-75)
John Ernst #2 (1984-85)
Paul Major #2 (1995-96)

Winning point total breakdown:
Highest winning scores:
Old Era (no bag limit):
Albert Schneppershoff II 108.00 (1968)
New Era (20 fish Max. bag limit / 3 Fish per species):
Ryan Deuel 104.88 (2004)

Over 100 #4:
Albert Schneppershoff II 108 (1968)
Ryan Deuel 104.88 (2004) 104 (2002)
Richard Balta 103.22 (2004) 2nd place

90-100 #2:
Skip Hellen 90.5 (1971)
Ryan Deuel 94 (2000)

80-90 #7:
Bob Donnell 88.25 (1970)
Terry Maas 82.375 (1975)
Gary Thompson 80.376 (1978) 85 (1989)
Skip Hellen #2 80 (1997) 86.7 (1999)
Ryan Deuel 88 (2001)

70-80 #5:
60-70 #5:
50-60 #6:
40-50 #2:
30-40 #1:
20-30 #1: Paul Major 29 (1996)

Average winning score of #32 scores: 70.23 points
Winning scores over 60 points: #23
Winning scores under 60 points: #10
__________________
Erik Bañados
Huntington Beach, CA
fathomier@socal.rr.com
www.fathomiers.net

Reminder:

Competition is this Saturday Oct 7th, beautiful Palos Verdes, CA overlooking Catalina Island and the Pacific Ocean, BBQ will follow the weigh in.

PRIZES, TROPHIES and a Change to have your name perpetually engrabed on the CHARLIE STURGILL PERPETUAL PLAQUE.