DEP
Commissioner and Governor McGreevey Celebrate Surf Fishing
at Annual Tournament
(03/143) TRENTON --- Governor
James E. McGreevey presided over the Governor's 12th Annual
Surf Fishing Tournament on Sunday as an 11-year-old from
Ocean County took top honors from a field of more than 1,000
participants.
Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell joined McGreevey
in thanking the many prize sponsors, volunteers and participants
who helped make the day a success. The governor also announced
the raffle and tournament winners, awarded prizes and posed
for pictures with the winners and their families.
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.
During the past 12 years more than $90,000
has been raised for conservation efforts in and around Island
Beach State Park (IBSP). The following have been either
partially or fully funded by proceeds from this tournament:
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 including Hooked on Fishing- Not on Drugs
and Becoming an Outdoors-Woman.
Approximately 700 participants pre-registered
through the mail and more than 300 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 gathered at Island Beach State Park to
more than 1,200.
Albacore, striped bass, blackfish, bluefish,
red drum, kingfish, fluke and weakfish were eligible for
entry in the tournament. Of these, 9 striped bass, 4 blackfish,
17 bluefish, 4 kingfish and 4 fluke were the species submitted.
A total of 38 fish were caught with 24 of these receiving
awards.
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 was a category for fly-fishing, though no
entries were received. 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 11-year-old Travis
Laureigh of Bayville who caught a 35 ½-inch striped
bass with a plug. The youngster received a 10-foot custom
made monogrammed rod from Seeker Rods plus a plugging rod
and reel set from New Dolphin Bait and Tackle. Additionally,
his name will be engraved on the Governor's Cup, which will
be permanently displayed at Island Beach State Park.
Along with the many 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:
- Blackfish Category
Child (Female)
First Place - Claire Addill Delran 17"
Adult (Male)
Third Place - Claus Faller Beachwood 15 7/8"
Second Place - Alex Vegh Trenton 16 5/8"
First Place - Zoltan Egyed Trenton 18 3/8"
- Bluefish Category
Child (Female)
First Place - Rebecca Ramos Jersey City 21 3/8"
Teen (Male)
First Place - Justin Buckalew New Egypt 16 ½"
Adult (Female)
Second Place - Dorothy Harrison Wayne 16"
First Place - Jacklyn Warhol Fallsington, PA 17 5/8"
Adult (Male)
Third Place - Dave Devisscher Upper Black Eddy,PA 19 ½"
Second Place - Gary Gromack Lakewood 32 ½"
First Place - Ed Keyes Milltown 33 ¼"
- Fluke Category
Teen (Male)
First Place - Matt Camp Gloucester 16 ½"
Adult (Male)
Third Place - Tom Novack New Castle, DE 17 3/8"
Second Place - Victor Gasinski Fieldsboro 18"
First Place - Chuck Hartobey South River 18 7/8"
- Kingfish Category
Child (Female)
First Place - Samantha Silva Edison 13 ½"
Child (Male)
First Place - Vincent Altimari Tabernacle 13 3/8"
Adult (Male)
Second Place - Joseph Wilson Hackettstown 14 ½"
First Place - Raymond Slovinsky Whiting 16 1/8"
- Striped Bass Category
Child (Female)
First Place - Camille Seefelt Hamilton 32 7/8"
Adult (Male)
Third Place - David Hendricks Toms River 31"
Second Place - Sheldon Kay Califon 32"
First Place - Edgardo Espiritu Hillsborough 33 ½"
- The 2003 Governor's Cup Winner
Travis Laureigh Bayville 35 ½"
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