ANGLERS "SING THE BLUES" AT THE 13TH
ANNUAL GOVERNOR'S SURF FISHING TOURNAMENT
Bluefish Were Plentiful This Year
(04/115) Trenton -- More than 890 anglers
participated in the 13th Annual Governor's Surf Fishing
Tournament on Sunday, October 3 at Island Beach State Park
(IBSP) in Ocean County. Bluefish were abundant at this year's
tournament. Contestants caught more than 190 bluefish, with
eighteen anglers receiving awards for this fast and hard-fighting
fish.
"I would like to thank the many prize sponsors, volunteers
and participants who help us celebrate the importance of
fishing in New Jersey's culture and economy," said
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. "Their cumulative
efforts have helped raise more than $95,000 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."
Proceeds from this tournament contribute to specialized
balloon tire beach wheel chairs that provide beach access
for the disabled and elderly at IBSP; educational displays
used in the Interpretive Center at IBSP; a beach access
ramp connecting parking area A7 to the beach at IBSP; an
automatic heart defibrillator unit for IBSP; two mobile
fishing equipment trailers with rods and reels for use in
fishing education programs throughout the state; and educational
materials/field study equipment for various environmental
education programs.
Overall 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.
Albacore, striped bass, blackfish, bluefish, red drum,
kingfish, fluke and weakfish were eligible for entry in
the tournament. Of these, 20 striped bass, three blackfish,
192 bluefish, two fluke and two kingfish were submitted.
A total of 219 fish were entered and 29 anglers received
awards.
Grand prize went to Sal Amato of Pompton Plains for a
37-inch striped bass. Mr. Amato received a plaque along
with a Penn rod and reel combo and a gear bag. Additionally,
his name will be engraved on the Governor's Cup, which will
be permanently displayed at Island Beach State Park.
Sal Amato's winning striped bass catch came just days
after the New Jersey Legislature approved new striped bass
size limits to prevent a ban on striped bass fishing by
the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The new
requirements signed into law on Monday, September 27 by
Governor James E. McGreevey allow anglers to take two fish
each day-one measuring 24 inches or greater to less than
28 inches and the other measuring 34 inches or greater.
Twenty eight surf rod and reel outfits were awarded as
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.
The event was sponsored by the DEP'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.
A complete list of winners follows:
Bluefish Category
Child (Female)
Third Place - Ashley Gruning ; Jackson; 21 5/8"
Second Place - Summer Krol; Toms River; 22 1/8"
First Place - Gabrielle Grasso; Nutley; 23 ½"
Child (Male)
Third Place - Vincent Altimari; Tabernacle; 18 7/8"
Second Place - Troy Beyruty; Dayton; 21"
First Place - Evan Kirder; Pennsville; 22"
Teen (Female)
Third Place - Nicole Amordatis; Voorhees; 22"
Second Place - Mary Ruth Hart; Manassas, VA; 23 ½"
First Place - Rachel Wohl; Voorhees; 23 5/8"
Teen (Male)
Third Place - Paul Dippold; Toms River; 21 ½"
Second Place - Salvatore Briganti; Wayne; 22 ½"
First Place - Chris Paiva; Bowie, MD; 25 ¾"
Adult (Female)
Third Place - Freida Miller; Mercerville; 22 ¼"
Second Place - Beverly Dwyer; Stillwater; 28 ¼"
First Place - Michelle Krol; Toms River; 31 ½"
Adult (Male)
Third Place - Peter Clavero; Hazlet; 28 ¼"
Second Place - Ralph Pacella; Stony Point, NY; 28 ½"
First Place - Andrew Ciok; Bayonee; 29 ¾"
Blackfish Category
Teen (Male)
First Place - Salvatore Briganti; Wayne; 21 1/8"
Adult (Male)
First Place -Alex Vegh; Trenton; 16 7/8"
Fluke Category
Adult (Male)
Second Place - Bruce Larison; Bensalem, PA; 17 ½"
First Place - Michael Korsak; Bordentown; 18 ¼"
Kingfish Category
Child (Male)
First Place - Troy Laureigh; Bayville; 14 ¼"
Adult (Male)
First Place - Ed Suchy; Hatboro, PA; 14 5/8"
Striped Bass Category
Child (Female)
First Place - Rebecca Hulse; Toms River; 27 7/8"
Child (Male)
First Place - Garrett Hulse; Toms River; 26"
Adult (Male)
Third Place - Gary Gromack; Lake wood; 34 ¼"
Second Place - Scott Fahey; Toms River; 35"
First Place - Sal Amato; Pompton Plains; 37"
The 2004 Governor's Cup Winner
Sal Amato; Pompton Plains; 37" striped bass
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