Every year, California Yacht Club participates in a competition called the Fishing Challenge against the eight other yacht clubs in Santa Monica Bay to see which member will catch the largest fish. Two weeks ago, 40 boats sailed the Pacific in their quest for the “big one.” Palisadian Greg Schem and Craig Campbell of Playa Vista captured the prize, reeling in a 24-pound halibut. The fish was caught off the shore of Malibu, but Schem refused to give the exact location. “It’s a closely guarded secret,” Schem said. The perpetual trophy, which is given to the Yacht club which reels in the largest fish has landed at California Yacht Club for the second year in a row. Ten-year-old Michael Schem, Greg’s son, caught the largest fish last year and won a fishing reel for his efforts. Schem’s boat is called the Jessel. It’s name came from taking two letters from each of his three children’s names–Jessica, Melissa, and Michael. Melissa and Schem’s wife, Debbie, who elected to attend a swim meet with Jessica, were not aboard during the fishing tournament. Are there benefits to being a fishing widow? “The halibut was delicious,” Debbie said.
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