Great loss - Vito Busalacchi - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

lamb · 12-26-2018, 02:20 PM

With a heavy heart, wanted to let everyone know -
kayak community has lost one of the pioneers, and one of the nicest guys I ever had a pleasure knowing.

Vito Buaslacchi passed away on Sunday 12/23/2018.

I'm sure all the old guard knows Vito. He was in his 9th decade of life, and till the last day, he's been fishing off of his kayak. The last couple of years, he stopped hitting La Jolla, as he couldn't deal with the surf. But at least twice a week, he was launching from Mission Bay, paddling out the MB jetties and fishing PL/MB/PB.

Vito was a hard core fisherman, and truly wonderful human being.

He'll be burred at sea at a private family ceremony.

Condolences to Donna, and the rest of Busalacchi family.

RIP Vito!

T-Rex · 12-26-2018, 03:04 PM

Very sad news. Vito was a true gentleman. Now I know why I hadn’t seen him fishing La Jolla for a while. Thoughts and prayers to his family.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Iceman · 12-26-2018, 03:30 PM

This tugs so hard at my heart. Vito has always been my hero. He was as hard core as they get and always fun to be around. He will always be an inspiration. God Bless you Vito and safe travels my friend.

kirkdavis · 12-26-2018, 04:14 PM

I had no idea of his name, and I certainly thought he was decades younger than what you are reporting. I met that very nice gentleman probably half a dozen times outside Mission bay in the last year or so. We always chatted for a few minutes (about fishing of course), then each went our own way. Seems like he wasn't too concerned about whether he caught fish that day...he just loved being out there like the rest of us. He put a lot of miles on that yak. I am always outside the bay by daylight, and I believe he always beat me out, and he would go down as far as the green towers on Point Loma.
I last saw him just a month or so ago, and am saddened by the fact I won't be seeing him again.
May he rest in peace.
It gives us hope that we can pursue our dreams to a ripe old age!

steveooo · 12-26-2018, 04:42 PM

Oh man, this is rough news. Vito was a regular encounter on trips to La Jolla, always fun to chat with, a very fishy guys, and super helpful when I was just a newb. We should all be so lucky as to enjoy this sport as late into life as Vito did.

God Speed Brother.

kurt · 12-26-2018, 06:30 PM

A true gentleman, kind soul, and all around class act. I feel lucky to have known him, and he'll be missed. Rest in peace, Vito.

Holy Mackerel · 12-26-2018, 07:44 PM

RIP Vito, always a friendly voice on the water.

LEEZO · 12-26-2018, 08:38 PM

He lived a couple houses from my parents. He was always hosing down a salty kayak out in front of his home. Had the pleasure of chating with him a couple times. He was a legend and will be missed. RIP Vito

swinginFish · 12-26-2018, 11:37 PM

I started kayak fishing in LJ in 2001. On one of my earliest outings I start chatting to a guy on the water and, after sharing names, we realized we knew each other from school-related work more than a decade earlier in Escondido. Ever since then, Vito and I would re-encounter each other on the water in LJ and recount both fishing and work-related incidents (Vito had the more interesting stories). While there's likely a former Escondido truant or two who might still have harsh feelings for Vito, the bottom line is his loss leaves a vacuum that is impossible to fill. He was, in short, a wonderfully animated, well-meaning and invariably gracious guy who knew what was what on the water and elsewhere. Those of us known or recognized as the so-called "old guard" were quite lucky to count Vito as part of our posse, and vice versa. I fear the day's passed when "Yo Vito!" would ring across the water. Those were fine times, fine times. RIP paison, RIP!
Avery

Deamon · 12-27-2018, 12:50 AM

Vito! The friendliest, most gracious kayak man. He’d want them bass for his pasta meals. Always alone when I’d run into him, but we’d immediately fish together every time! RIP Vito.

Jim

katchfish · 12-27-2018, 12:25 PM

The Godfather of kayak fishing!

I'm honored to know him.

Good times, glad to spend time on the water with him.

R.I.P. Sir.

Pat · 12-27-2018, 07:39 PM

Ciao my friend, you will be missed.

RK · 12-27-2018, 09:41 PM

Rest in paradise one of my favorite fisherman and friends of all time! Vito my brother you truly were a legend and an inspiration to us all! You will be deeply missed but always remembered. Very sad news but thank you for sharing Adi

Dennis · 12-28-2018, 06:58 AM

RIP Vito! He was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, and fished with. A true loss for the community.

PAL · 12-28-2018, 08:39 AM

Too many legends fading away. Rest well Vito!

Lit-up1 · 12-28-2018, 10:40 AM

You will be missed-RIP- thanks for putting me on the fish..

landwhale · 12-28-2018, 01:57 PM

I had the pleasure to meet Vito a few times and admired his friendly attitude and iron man nature. Rest in peace Vito!!!!!

MITCHELL · 12-29-2018, 12:24 AM

Rip... in the happy hunting grounds....

Johnp · 12-30-2018, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAL

Too many legends fading away. Rest well Vito!

My Dad was one of those old legends! An Italian pole fisherman from the early days. He and Vito were friends and met with others from the little Italy neighborhood for lunch. Dad passed in early November of this year. Sad to see the greatest generation passing away. If you go to the waterfront bar you will see Dads pictures on the wall. They may be trading fishing stories in heaven!
I talked with Vito on the water the day he was making his maiden voyage on that Hobie Revolution. We chatted outside the surf zone for a bit, when I finally got out to the zone, I met another legend and great guy that was taken way before his time. Rod Bennet, hot bite that day. Rod had two WSB on the yo yo and handed off two more to me, As he was overladen. RIP Dad, Vito, and Rod

DESTROYER · 01-02-2019, 05:31 PM

Vito will be missed! Shared the water and some good bites with him several times. Hope he is have a frosty cold one with my Dad in the clouds. RIP Don Vito!

12-26-2018, 02:20 PM	#1
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	Great loss - Vito Busalacchi With a heavy heart, wanted to let everyone know - kayak community has lost one of the pioneers, and one of the nicest guys I ever had a pleasure knowing. Vito Buaslacchi passed away on Sunday 12/23/2018. I'm sure all the old guard knows Vito. He was in his 9th decade of life, and till the last day, he's been fishing off of his kayak. The last couple of years, he stopped hitting La Jolla, as he couldn't deal with the surf. But at least twice a week, he was launching from Mission Bay, paddling out the MB jetties and fishing PL/MB/PB. Vito was a hard core fisherman, and truly wonderful human being. He'll be burred at sea at a private family ceremony. Condolences to Donna, and the rest of Busalacchi family. RIP Vito! __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

12-26-2018, 03:04 PM	#2
T-Rex Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rancho Santa Margarita Posts: 770	Very sad news. Vito was a true gentleman. Now I know why I hadn’t seen him fishing La Jolla for a while. Thoughts and prayers to his family. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________

12-26-2018, 03:30 PM	#3
Iceman Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: 1-2 miles off the point Posts: 6,948	This tugs so hard at my heart. Vito has always been my hero. He was as hard core as they get and always fun to be around. He will always be an inspiration. God Bless you Vito and safe travels my friend. __________________

12-26-2018, 04:14 PM	#4
kirkdavis Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: SD County Posts: 360	Sad news indeed I had no idea of his name, and I certainly thought he was decades younger than what you are reporting. I met that very nice gentleman probably half a dozen times outside Mission bay in the last year or so. We always chatted for a few minutes (about fishing of course), then each went our own way. Seems like he wasn't too concerned about whether he caught fish that day...he just loved being out there like the rest of us. He put a lot of miles on that yak. I am always outside the bay by daylight, and I believe he always beat me out, and he would go down as far as the green towers on Point Loma. I last saw him just a month or so ago, and am saddened by the fact I won't be seeing him again. May he rest in peace. It gives us hope that we can pursue our dreams to a ripe old age! Last edited by kirkdavis; 12-26-2018 at 04:32 PM. Reason: Added thought

12-26-2018, 06:30 PM	#6
kurt Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: 2 inches above sea level Posts: 503	A true gentleman, kind soul, and all around class act. I feel lucky to have known him, and he'll be missed. Rest in peace, Vito. __________________ "All I got was a rock"

12-26-2018, 04:42 PM	#5
steveooo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,921	Oh man, this is rough news. Vito was a regular encounter on trips to La Jolla, always fun to chat with, a very fishy guys, and super helpful when I was just a newb. We should all be so lucky as to enjoy this sport as late into life as Vito did. God Speed Brother.

12-26-2018, 07:44 PM	#7
Holy Mackerel Señor member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,627	RIP Vito, always a friendly voice on the water.

12-26-2018, 08:38 PM	#8
LEEZO Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Coronado Posts: 179	He lived a couple houses from my parents. He was always hosing down a salty kayak out in front of his home. Had the pleasure of chating with him a couple times. He was a legend and will be missed. RIP Vito

12-26-2018, 11:37 PM	#9
swinginFish Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 173	... Vito ... I started kayak fishing in LJ in 2001. On one of my earliest outings I start chatting to a guy on the water and, after sharing names, we realized we knew each other from school-related work more than a decade earlier in Escondido. Ever since then, Vito and I would re-encounter each other on the water in LJ and recount both fishing and work-related incidents (Vito had the more interesting stories). While there's likely a former Escondido truant or two who might still have harsh feelings for Vito, the bottom line is his loss leaves a vacuum that is impossible to fill. He was, in short, a wonderfully animated, well-meaning and invariably gracious guy who knew what was what on the water and elsewhere. Those of us known or recognized as the so-called "old guard" were quite lucky to count Vito as part of our posse, and vice versa. I fear the day's passed when "Yo Vito!" would ring across the water. Those were fine times, fine times. RIP paison, RIP! Avery

12-27-2018, 12:50 AM	#10
Deamon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,972	Vito! The friendliest, most gracious kayak man. He’d want them bass for his pasta meals. Always alone when I’d run into him, but we’d immediately fish together every time! RIP Vito. Jim __________________ Recreational Fisherman's Catch...2% Commercial Fisherman's Catch- 98% Recreational Fishing Kayakers Catch- .00001% "The reality is that the wall was built to keep all Asians ~specifically Japanese and those that think they're japanese~ out of the U.S"

12-27-2018, 12:25 PM	#11
katchfish Paddle for Mahi Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Doing the happy paddle! Posts: 849	The Godfather of kayak fishing! I'm honored to know him. Good times, glad to spend time on the water with him. R.I.P. Sir. Last edited by katchfish; 12-27-2018 at 12:34 PM.

12-27-2018, 07:39 PM	#12
Pat Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 283	Ciao my friend, you will be missed.

12-27-2018, 09:41 PM	#13
RK Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 736	Rest in paradise one of my favorite fisherman and friends of all time! Vito my brother you truly were a legend and an inspiration to us all! You will be deeply missed but always remembered. Very sad news but thank you for sharing Adi

12-28-2018, 06:58 AM	#14
Dennis Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South of La Jolla... Posts: 1,193	RIP Vito! He was one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, and fished with. A true loss for the community. __________________ Hmmmm.....

12-28-2018, 08:39 AM	#15
PAL Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 754	Too many legends fading away. Rest well Vito!

12-28-2018, 10:40 AM	#16
Lit-up1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Point Loma Posts: 384	Vito You will be missed-RIP- thanks for putting me on the fish.. __________________

12-28-2018, 01:57 PM	#17
landwhale Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Seal Beach Posts: 506	I had the pleasure to meet Vito a few times and admired his friendly attitude and iron man nature. Rest in peace Vito!!!!! __________________

12-29-2018, 12:24 AM	#18
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,277	That smile looks real familiar..... Rip... in the happy hunting grounds.... __________________ Duke Mitchell

01-02-2019, 05:31 PM	#20
DESTROYER Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: "The Table" Posts: 976	Vito will be missed! Shared the water and some good bites with him several times. Hope he is have a frosty cold one with my Dad in the clouds. RIP Don Vito!