The wind was blowing hard out of the northeast on Sunday, October 3 as the 19th Annual Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament got under way, but that didn't deter any of the nearly 800 anglers at Island Beach State Park who were seeking to win the coveted NJ Governor's Cup.

Anglers braved waves, wind and blowing sand, but managed to tough it out and have a good day of fishing. New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno did some fishing on the beach in the morning herself, and later returned to Tournament headquarters to meet participants, and take part in the awards ceremony. Gary Grimm of Flanders, NJ was the overall Grand Prize and Tournament Cup winner catching a 30½" striped bass. Mr. Grimm received a plaque along with two rod-and-reel combinations, and will have his name engraved on the Governor's Cup, which is permanently on display at Island Beach State Park. Nineteen additional anglers also received rod and reel outfits for their prize-winning fish in the various species categories. Everyone who registered for the tournament was entered into a raffle drawing, which was held prior to the awards ceremony. Pre-registrant entrants were also able to enter a raffle to win a surf rocket www.surfrocketfishing.com.

Winner Gary Grimm receives the Governor's Cup from Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and tournament sponsor representatives, from left to right, Paul Harris (NJBBA), Frank Dara (NJSFSC), and Mark Taylor (JCAA). Click to enlarge

Overall fish length determined the grand prize winner, as well as place winners for each of the species categories. There were categories for children, teen and adult anglers, including sub-categories for male and female anglers. The first, second and third place winners were determined by the number of entries submitted in each species category.

The NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry, the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association, and the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association sponsored the event.

More than $120,000 has been raised since the inception of the tournament for marine conservation projects, surf fishing and marine education programs and beach access improvements.

A complete list of winners follows:

2010 Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament Results

KINGFISH CATEGORY

Teen (Female)
First Place - Erin Pawlowski; Forked River; 13½"

Adult (Male)
First Place - Gregory Rasar; Burlington; 15 1/2"
Second Place - Ed Keyes; Milltown; 13 3/4"
Third Place - Owen Williams; Phila., PA; 13 3/8"

BLUEFISH CATEGORY

Teen (Female)
First Place - Claire Abdill; Delran; 16 5/8"
Second Place - Catherine Silvernail; Yardley, PA; 15 1/2"
Third Place - Rebecca Marcus; Berkeley; 15"

Adult (Female)
First Place - Audrey Bock; Florence; 16 1/2"
Second Place - Terry Demiduke; Pitman; 16"
Third Place - Samantha Polivina; Hazlet; 15 1/8"

Teen (Male)
First Place - TJ O'Neill; Westfield; 16 3/4"

Adult (Female)
First Place - Mary Ruth Hart; Manassas, VA; 18 1/4"
Second Place - Amanda Caskey; Smithfield, VA;16 3/4"
(Time Tiebreak) Third Place - Kelly Cameron; Churchville, PA; 15 3/4"

Adult (Male)
First Place - Rayomond Evans; Phila., PA; 18"
Second Place - Chris Rogers; Toms River; 17 3/4
Third Place - Dennis Laureigh; Bayville; 17 1/4"

BLACKFISH CATEGORY

Adult (Male)
First Place - Lawrence Margiotta; Thiells, NY; 16 1/2"
Second Place - Zoltan Egyed; Trenton; 16 1/2"
Third Place - Rob Chin; Howell Twp.; 14 1/4"

STRIPED BASS CATEGORY

Adult (Male)
First Place - Gary Grimm; Flanders; 30 1/2"
Second Place - Jozef Ciepiela; Linden; 30 1/4"
(Time Tiebreak) Third Place - Francis Burns; Mt. Holly; 29 5/8"