Mooch Lives E-mail
Written by Allen Bushnell   
Thursday, 10 October 2013 00:00

IN MEMORIUM -  Joel "Mooch” Lotilla

1/19/69 - 9/29/13


portraitoftheMooch After years of battling an insidious cancer, our friend and Ocean Kayak teammate Joel "Mooch" Lotilla has passed. Joel was incredibly active until the end, attending the Monterey Bay Fishing Derby on 9/15 and science fishing for shark just days prior to his final trip to the hospital.

His legacy includes recognition for the seminal role he played as Ambassador in the kayak fishing community and industry. A pioneer of the sport since the year 2000, Joel was a founding member of Nor Cal Kayak Anglers (NCKA) fishing forum and club, and was the de facto social director for NCKA's group activities, get-togethers and tournament BBQ's.

Words cannot describe just how special a guy Mooch was. Famous for his "Welcome to the Madness!" greeting for newbies, Mooch was always the first to volunteer, say hello or offer assistance. And, he was the first to insist you come along! His persona was defined by inclusion, he was a caring, funny, welcoming and generous man whose presence was a gift. Our fortune is that his gifts to us will live always.

Mooch had that unique quality of truly being a "best friend."  The wonder of his personality is that he could sincerely be "best friends" with so many, many people. He remembered your wife's name, your kids and even your pets.  And this for EVERYBODY.

Even his sickness, which lasted for years, ultimately had the effect of bringing people together. Originally instituted as a means to defray Mooch's staggering medical expenses, "Pay It Forward" is now an institution in the NCKA community, and will continue to generate support for individuals in need both in and outside of our immediate kayak fishing community.

Oh, and did I mention he was a very good fisherman?  A generalist, Mooch found equal pleasure in pursuit of king salmon in dark spring coastal waters, trolling up lake trout under a blazing sun in the High Sierras or casting in secluded coves for crappie and bass on the many foothill lakes in Northern California.  Always willing to 'give it a try,' Mooch was also serious about kayak fishing safety, and wasn't afraid to pointedly school the newbies or even old-timers, when we did something risky and stupid (like NOT wearing our PFD's).

Practical Joker, Fishing Mentor, Confidante and Counselor, Favorite Uncle, Son, Brother, and most of all - Best Fishing Buddy. We will miss you Mooch. If a person is defined by his friends, then we are all defined in part by Joel, our best friend. And, in a way Mooch is also defined by us, his friends. In every sense, "Mooch Lives."

ElkHill

MOOCHLIVES  

moochFhuntAl bongoleg guys w dino Joel and Scott PIF 2010 MoochOGs MoochYT joel mosssalmon moochcrappie Joel  Adam DV Stormtrooper 2007 Joel modeling new Ocean Kayak BEnJoel moochparadisebutt joelMB flatty 2 moochtowARW moochmendo

JoelandBushy Love you brother Joel  BH

2dMoochie scores2011 Becky and Mooch

 

 

 

You must be registered to post a comment.


Login

Newsletter

Subscribe here to receive FREE email issues of Kayak Fishing Magazine.

Most Popular

Choosing a Fishing Kayak
Like many kayak fisherman, my first fishig kayak was a mistake and I only used it a few times.  There wasn’t a lot of information available.  Things have...
Effective Trolling With Your Kayak
  While trolling is a mainstay of saltwater fishermen and also popular for targeting suspended fish in deepwater lakes of the northern US and Canada, it’s not the way most...
Electric Kayaks – an in Depth Look
Bassyaks, Torqeedo and Torque I have been living with electric kayaks (EK) since July of 2009. I have done so in order to get a much better understanding of their potential,...

Random

How to Demo a Fishing Kayak
First, I would like to say that I am not part of the crowd that believes demoing a kayak is the end all solution in choosing a fishing kayak. In fact, I have seen over and over...
What Your Kayak Dealer Won't Tell You
The purchase of a fishing kayak might be one of the more expensive consumer purchases you might make, more importantly it is a purchase that will effect your very important...
Year Round Big Island Tuna
Hawai’i, in general, is unique because of its location in the middle of the deep Pacific. It’s like a giant bait station for pelagic fish to come and fatten up. Here the tuna...

Latest Kayak Reviews

Lifetime Sport Fisher
 
5.0
Cobra Kayaks Tandem
 
3.0
Perception Sport Pescador 10.0 Angler
 
4.0
Hobie Mirage Outback
 
4.0
Current Designs Tailfin
 
5.0
Hobie Mirage Outback
 
2.0
NuCanoe Frontier 12
 
5.0
Native Watercraft Mariner 12.5 Propel Anglers
 
4.0
Hobie Mirage Outback
 
5.0
Pelican Castaway 100
 
2.0
Stealth Pro Fisha 575
 
3.0
Field and Stream Eagle Talon
 
5.0

Latest Equipment Reviews

Body Glove 3T Barefoot Max
 
5.0
Body Glove 3T Barefoot Warrior
 
5.0
Body Glove 3T Barefoot Warrior
 
3.0
Columbia Drainmaker
 
5.0
Sperry SON-R Sounder Shandal
 
4.0
Garmin VIRB Elite
 
4.0
Polaroid XS100
 
4.0
Backwater Paddles Assault Hand Paddle
 
5.0
Backwater Paddles Assault Hand Paddle
 
5.0
Stohlquist Piseas
 
4.0
Wheeleez Tuff Tire Kayak Cart
 
5.0
Boga Grip
 
4.0