| New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife | |
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For more information contact:
Jim Sciascia at 609-984-6295
More than 1,000 participants took part in the Governor's 9th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament on Sunday, October 1 at Island Beach State Park in Ocean County. Sunshine and warm temperatures allowed participants to take advantage of a beautiful autumn day outdoors with family and friends.
"I would like to thank the many sponsors, prize volunteers and participants who have helped make the surf tournament a success for the past nine years," said Division Director Bob McDowell. "Their cumulative efforts have helped raise nearly $60,000 for a variety of conservation projects such as the construction of a beach access ramp, two mobile fishing education carts and specialized wheelchairs for the disabled and elderly."
The event was sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry, the New Jersey Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Jersey Coast Anglers Association and the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association.
Approximately 700 participants pre-registered through the mail and almost 350 registered on the morning of the tournament. Many of the entrants invited guests to observe the fun, bringing the total number of spectators and participants to about 1,300.
Albacore, striped bass, blackfish, bluefish, red drum, fluke, kingfish and weakfish were eligible for entry in the tournament. Of these, striped bass, blackfish, bluefish, fluke and kingfish were the species submitted.
Overall length determined the grand prize winner as well as place winners for each of the species categories. There were children, teen and adult angler categories, including sub-categories for male and female anglers. In addition, there were categories for fly fishing and Becoming an Outdoors-Woman students (female and male novice anglers who attended the surf fishing and fly fishing workshops held Saturday, Sept. 30). The inclusion of first, second and third place winners was dependent upon the number of entries submitted in each species category.
Grand prize went to Joe Earley of Toms River, New Jersey for a 32 5/8" striped bass. Mr. Earley received the Governor's Trophy along with a Penn rod and reel combo, various gift certificates and other assorted prizes. Additionally, his name will be engraved on the Governor's Cup, which will be permanently displayed at Island Beach State Park. More than 50 surf rod and reel outfits were awarded as prizes. DEP Commissioner Bob Shinn was present to make the awards to the successful anglers.
Included in the prizes were 15 rod and reel combinations donated by Penn Reels. The Orvis Company of Paramus donated a fly fishing rod and reel combo to the winner of the fly fishing category. Though the category had no entrants, the prize will be held and offered next year. Ultimus lures donated all of the free early entry prizes. Along with the tournament prizes offered, the registration forms of pre-registrants and same-day entrants were placed into special drawings for additional prizes.
A complete list of winners follows:
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Category First Place - Rita Carey Forked River, NJ 24 1/2" Striped bass Fly Fishing Category -- No entry Orvis of Paramus donated a Silver label 909 fly rod with a Vortex 9-10 large arbor reel including line and backing (retail value approximately $1,000). This prize will be held over for next year's tournament. Kingfish Category Teen (Female) Second Place - Brielle Talarico (16 years old) Sicklerville, NJ 13 1/2" Kingfish First Place - Kerry Cameron (14 years old) Churchville, PA 13 5/8" Kingfish Adult (Male) Second Place - Jerry Talarico Sicklerville, NJ 14 1/2" Kingfish First Place - James Baisley Stony Point, NY 15 1/8" Kingfish Fluke Category Child (Male) Second Place - Cody Myers (9 years old) Delran, NJ 16 1/4" Fluke First Place - Jason Jayanty (11 years old) Jersey City, NJ 22 3/4" Fluke Teen (Male) Third Place - Josh Dudash (15 years old) Beachwood, NJ 15 1/2" Fluke Second Place - Chris Clawson (13 years old) Hamburg, NJ 15 7/8" Fluke First Place - Robert Zangari (14 years old) Cherry Hill, NJ 16 1/4" Fluke Adult (Female) Third Place - Magda Swift Morristown, NJ 16" Fluke Second Place - Dorothy Harrison Wayne, NJ 16 3/4" Fluke First Place - Carole Carey Florence, NJ 18" Fluke Adult (Male) Third Place - James Rosso Lambertville, NJ 21 1/4" Fluke Second Place - Anthony Ingram Levittown, PA 22" Fluke First Place - Jason Garey Toms River, NJ 24 1/8" Fluke Blackfish Category Teen (Male) Third Place - Joe Rosetti (16 years old) Bloomfield, NJ 14 1/8" Blackfish Second Place - Michael Battista (16 years old) Howell, NJ 15 1/4" Blackfish First Place - John Salato IV (14 years old) Toms River, NJ 16 3/4" Blackfish Adult (Female) First Place - Arlene Parrino Middletown, NJ 15 1/2" Blackfish Adult (Male) Third Place - Alex Vegh Trenton, NJ 16 1/8" Blackfish Second Place - John Salato Toms River, NJ 17 1/4" Blackfish First Place - Zoltan Egyed Trenton, NJ 19 1/2" Blackfish Bluefish Category Child (Female) Second Place - Rachel Jochem (12 years old) Tabernacle, NJ 14" Bluefish First Place - Katie Abdill (8 years old) Delran, NJ 14 3/4" Bluefish Child (Male) Third Place - Travis Watson (7 years old) Sussex, NJ 17" Bluefish Second Place - Joshua Buckalew (9 years old) New Egypt, NJ 17 3/4" Bluefish First Place - Steven Senese Jr. (12 years old) Manville, NJ 17 7/8" Bluefish Teen (Male) Third Place - Mike Henry Jr. (14 years old) Fairless Hills, PA 16 1/4" Bluefish Second Place - Bill Nastasiak (14 years old) Pt. Pleasant, NJ 16 1/2" Bluefish First Place - Andrew Nastasiak (14 years old) Pt. Pleasant, NJ 16 5/8" Bluefish Teen (Female) Third Place - Jessica Dickson (15 years old) Jackson, NJ 15 1/4" Bluefish Second Place - Krisla Batesko (16 years old) Lakehurst, NJ 15 1/2" Bluefish First Place - Autumn Parkerson (13 years old) Toms River, NJ 16 1/4" Bluefish Adult (Female) Third Place - Lynn Catalano Browns Mills, NJ 16 3/8" Bluefish Second Place - Sharon Becker Little Egg Harbor, NJ 16 1/2" Bluefish First Place - Elizabeth Haines Berwick, PA 16 5/8" Bluefish Adult (Male) Third Place - John Pedone Toms River, NJ 17 1/2" Bluefish Note: time of catch was 9:54 a.m. Second Place - Don Szymanski Basking Ridge, NJ 17 1/2"Bluefish Note: time of catch was 7:00 a.m. First Place - Timothy Fleury Franklinville, NJ 17 7/8" Bluefish Striped Bass Category Child (Female) First Place - Jaime Jonach (11 years old) Toms River, NJ 28 1/4" Striped Bass Note: Jaime also caught a 24 1/2" Striped Bass Child (Male) Third Place - Vincent Pomponio (8 years old) Howell, NJ 26 1/2" Striped Bass Second Place - Zach Paone (8 years old) Toms River, NJ 28" Striped Bass First Place - Mark Anthony Langal (8 years old) Lanoka Harbor, NJ 29 1/4" Striped Bass Teen (Female) First Place - Arelys Rodriguez (16 years old) Absecon, NJ 26" Striped Bass Adult (Female) Second Place - Hope Cordes Brooklyn, NY 25 1/2" Striped Bass First Place - Deborah Mitchell Toms River, NJ 27 3/8" Striped Bass Adult (Male) Third Place - Bob Blaszak Wharton, NJ 30 1/4" Striped Bass Second Place - Mike S'dao Port Murray, NJ 31" Striped Bass First Place and Winner of the 2000 Governor's Cup Joe Earley Toms River, NJ 32 5/8" Striped Bass