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1998 Skillful Angler Awards Winners


1998 marks the 16th anniversary of the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife's Skillful Angler Program. The program honors the many anglers who catch both freshwater and marine fish which aren't of record size but are impressive and worthy of recognition. At the end of each year, special recognition is given to the anglers who caught the largest fish in each of the freshwater and marine species categories.

In 1983, the program began with 31 applicants; in 1998 there were 82 applications submitted for fish of 19 different species. Since the program's modest beginning, the Division has granted 1,444 anglers with skillful angler status.

Interesting Facts for 1998:

The most popular species caught by skillful anglers in 1998 was fluke with 14 entries received.

There were no entries for muskellunge, American shad, rainbow trout, black sea bass, cod, black drum, blue marlin, white marlin, pollock, mako shark, weakfish and any of the tuna species this year.

One skillful angler winning entry is a state record - tautog (25 pounds).

This year, the walleye category is tied. Both entries weighed 7 pounds.

The 1998 Skillful Angler Awards Winners are as follows:

Freshwater Species

Largemouth Bass - 8 lbs caught by 6-year-old Michael Ainslie of Flemington on September 7. Michael was fishing from the shore of a local farm pond when he reeled this one in at 8:30 a.m. Eight pound test was used with a Zebco rod and reel. He used a Mister Twister lure. The fish measured 25 inches in length. Girth was unavailable.

Smallmouth Bass - 4 lbs, 12 ozs caught by 27-year-old Bill Wackermann of Stewartsville on October 3. Bill was fishing Merrill Creek Reservoir by boat when he reeled this one in at 1 p.m. Eight pound test was used with a Shimano rod and reel. A jig served as the lure. The fish measured 20 1/2 inches in length. Girth was unavailable.

Striped Bass Hybrid - 9 lbs, 12 ozs caught by 55-year-old Dominic Sarinelli of Hopatcong on April 25. Dom was fishing from a boat in Lake Hopatcong when he landed this one at 7 a.m. Six pound test was used with a Browning rod and a Daiwa reel. He used herring for bait. The fish measured 25 3/4 inches in length with a 20 inch girth.

Carp - 26 lbs, 9 ounces caught by 31-year-old Charles McBride of Wharton on January 20. Charlie was fishing from the shore of the Delaware River at the Rt. 80 bridge when he got the fish (time not specified). Six pound test was used with a Shakespeare rod and a Shimano reel. Shiners served for bait. The fish measured 41 inches in length with a 26 inch girth.

Channel Catfish - 13 lbs, 13 ounces caught by 44-year-old Jerome Fryer of Hamburg on July 30. Jerry was fishing from the shore of Scenic Lake when he got the fish at 4:45 p.m. Six pound test was used with a Shimano rod and a Zebco reel. Mud worms served for bait. The fish measured 27 1/2 inches in length with a 21 inch girth.

Black Crappie - 2 lbs, 6.5 ozs caught by 29-year-old Keith Kitson of North Plainfield on April 21. Keith was fishing from the shore of Greenwood Lake when he landed the fish at 6:45 a.m. Eight pound test was used with an Abu Garcia rod and a Shimano reel. The lure was a Rooster Tail. The fish measured 15 3/8 inches in length with a 13 inch girth.

White Crappie - 2 lbs, 3 ozs caught by 66-year-old Mike Wydra of Millville on April 18. Mike was fishing from the shore of Union Lake when he landed the fish at 6 p.m. Three pound test was used with a fly rod and reel. A Wooly Worm was the lure. The fish measured 16 inches in length with a 10 inch girth. Mike is also the kingfish category winner this year.

Chain Pickerel - 7 lbs, 2 ozs caught by 36-year-old Sam Stia, Jr. of Trenton on July 13. Sam was fishing from his boat at Assunpink Lake when he landed this one at 8:37 p.m. Ten pound test was used with a Vertex rod, Shimano reel and a power bait worm. The fish measured 27 inches in length with a 15 inch girth.

Northern Pike - 20 lbs caught by 64-year-old Theodore Symon of New Brunswick on October 15. Ted was fishing from the shore of Farrington Lake when he hooked into the fish at 10 a.m. Ten pound test was used with a Shimano rod and reel. A night crawler served for bait. The fish was 43 1/2 inches in length. Girth was unavailable.

Brook Trout - 6 lbs, 1 oz caught by 43-year-old Don Birutta of Belvidere on July 1. Don was wading in the Pequest River when he landed the fish at 10:30 a.m. A Shakespeare rod and a Mitchell reel were used. A worm served for bait. The fish measured 23 1/2 inches in length. Line test and girth were unavailable.

Brown Trout - 14 lbs, 4 ozs caught by 46-year-old Susan Fosbre of Dunellen on April 10. Sue was fishing Round Valley Reservoir by boat when she landed the fish at 3:30 p.m. Eight pound test was used with a Berkely rod and a Mitchell reel. The bait was a jointed Rapala lure. The fish measured 34 inches in length with an 18 3/4 inch girth.

Lake Trout - 21 lbs, 6 ozs caught by 45-year-old Anthony Guerrera of Flagtown on February 2. Tony was fishing Round Valley Reservoir by boat when he landed this one at 11:30 a.m. Fourteen pound test was used with a Shimano rod and a Penn reel. A Flutter Spoon served as the lure. The fish measured 39 inches in length with a 22 1/2 inch girth.

Walleye - 7 lbs caught by 65-year-old Walter Neumann of Cliffwood Beach on December 15. Walt was fishing from the shore of Monksville Reservoir when he landed the fish at 1:15 p.m. Ten pound test was used with a Seeker handmade rod and a Sigma reel. A shiner served for bait. The fish measured 26 3/4 inches in length with a 15 inch girth.

Walleye - 7 lbs caught by 44-year-old Daniel Pryor of Bridgewater on November 10. Dan was fishing from the shore of the Delaware River when he landed the fish at 7 p.m. Eight pound test was used with a graphite rod and a spinning reel. A live shiner served for bait. The fish measured 24 1/2 inches in length with a 15 inch girth.

Saltwater Species

Striped Bass - 58 lbs, 4 ozs caught by 24-year-old David Au of Basking Ridge on October 8. David was fishing the Delaware Bay by boat when he hooked the fish at 10:30 a.m. Twenty pound test was used with a Penn rod and reel. Frozen bunker served for bait. The fish measured 51 1/2 inches in length. Girth was unavailable.

Bluefish - 24 lbs, 7 ozs caught by 30-year-old John Perruso of Middletown on June10. John was fishing from his boat at the tip of Sandy Hook when he caught the fish at 6:15 a.m. Twenty pound test was used with a custom rod and a Penn reel. Live bunker served for bait. The fish was 36 1/4 inches in length with a 25 1/8 inch girth.

Winter Flounder - 2 lbs, 4 ozs caught by 20-year-old Dominic Semliatschenko of Red Bank on April 22. Dominic was surf fishing at Sandy Hook when he caught the fish at 1:20 p.m. Ten pound test was used with a Kwik Stix rod and a Penn reel. Sandworms served for bait. The fish measured 17 inches in length. Girth was unavailable.

Fluke - 14 lbs, 3 ozs caught by 37-year-old Douglas Abromitis of Allentown, PA on June 14. Doug was fishing from a boat at Sandy Hook when he landed the fish at 9 a.m. Twenty pound test was used with a Penn rod and reel. Fluke belly served for bait. The fish was 30 inches in length with a 26 inch girth.

Kingfish - 1 lb, 12 ozs caught by 66-year-old Mike Wydra of Millville on September 1. Mike was fishing the Delaware Bay by boat when he hooked the fish at 10 a.m. Fourteen pound test was used with a Garcia rod and reel. Bait type was unavailable. The fish measured 15 1/2 inches in length with an 8 inch girth. Mike is also the category winner for white crappie.

*Tautog - 25bs caught by 70-year-old Anthony Monica of Hammonton on January 20. Tony was fishing from a boat off Ocean City when he reeled the fish in at 1:30 p.m. Thirty pound test was used with a custom rod and a Penn reel. Bait was unavailable. The fish measured 34 1/2 inches in length with a 28 1/2 inch girth.

* Denotes current state record and certified IGFA World Record.

Congratulations to all of our winners!


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