Changes sailing along at Big Break Marina

May 28, 2004

"It's just the bait shop." That's the word from Big Break Marina owner Dave Biron this week regarding rumors around the area that the whole marina is closed for business. Two weekends ago the tenant who owns the bait shop at the marina closed his doors, due to a disagreement with the property owner.

"We're doing excellent at the marina," Biron said. "As a matter of fact we have weekend activities booked up into '05."

As one of Oakley's few marinas, Big Break is known locally for its weekend bass tournaments. For many years, even before Biron purchased the property from DuPont three years ago, the marina has given local and outside organizations a place to host fishing contests.

The Big Break waters along Oakley's Delta coastline are nationally famous for black bass, as well as sturgeon and many other types of fish. A few years ago a national black bass organization hosted a tournament at the marina bringing people from all over the country to a televised tournament.

"We've had a busy year so far at the marina," Biron said, adding that along with the usual tournaments the marina has hosted private parties, a car show, a swap meet, barbecues and a church group who held their Easter service on the Delta. "It was a beautiful site for a Sunday service," Biron said.

Coming up this summer, Biron said, aside from the regularly scheduled tournaments most weekends, there will be a tournament involving 300 boats Aug. 21 and 22.

Since taking over the Marina, Biron has added a canopy and staging area for the tournaments including a PA system. He said that he has also gone from a less-than-half-full docking area to the slips being almost booked up. "For the first time in several months, we have space and that is mostly because people are taking their boats out more," Biron said.

Biron said that he feels his marina has a fairly good impact on the community. "The Comfort Suites has called and personally thanked us because we are helping to fill up their hotel every weekend," he said.

Big Break Marina is also the recipient of a state grant that will allow him to build in guest docks to attract boaters to stop in and then check out what Oakley has to offer. Biron said that Big Break was chosen from among 458 marinas that applied for the grant.

Big Break Marina also has been accepted to bring in a Union 76 gas pump so boaters can stop in and fill up their tanks. When Biron purchased the marina he had hoped that he would be able to encourage a restaurant to build on the premises. That hasn't happened yet, but Biron said that he is still working on bringing a steak and seafood restaurant in.

Another program that Biron said he is pleased with is a Teenage Fishing Club that started with three kids a few months back and now has more than 30 in the group. The kids get together and fish at the marina, host group barbecues and have even hosted their own authorized tournament with professional bass fishermen.

"I really love having the kids here. We sponsor the group with hats, T-shirts and tackle. It's a great place for kids to hang out and we keep an eye on them to make sure they stay out of trouble," he said.

All and all, Biron said things are going well at the marina. He feels that waking up every day and working on Oakley's Delta is like being in one of the most beautiful places in the world and he is having a "good time" doing what he is doing.

He currently has over 150 applicants who want to move into the bait shop. He said that those requests came in without even advertising the space yet. He wants to find the best person who will suit the community's needs, so it may take some time to sort out who will be moving in, Although he said he wants to get someone as soon as possible for the summer season.

To find out more about the marina and the activities, check out their Web site at www.big-break-marina.com.

Roni Gehlke's column on life in Oakley appears each week in the Brentwood News.

Distributed by the Contra Costa Times

Return to Oakley in the News