On Sunday, May 18, Jason Zimerla of Manchester won the Governor’s Cup surf fishing tournament at Island Beach State Park (IBSP) with a 39-6/8-inch black drum. In addition to a plaque and having his name engraved on the Governor’s Cup on permanent display at IBSP, Zimerla also received a SaltX2 Reel, SaltX matching rod, and Toadfish rod donated by Tsunami.
Formerly held in the fall, the Governor’s Cup is now held every spring to take advantage of a wider variety of species available at the Jersey Shore. It was a 29-3/8-inch bluefish that earned the team from Emerson High School from Bergen County first place in the High School Team category with nine schools competing, and five entering fish into the tournament. Toms River High School South (29-inch bluefish) finished in second, followed by Lakeland Regional High School (28-4/8-inch bluefish) in third. Emerson High receives a first-place plaque and their name will also be engraved on the High School Team Trophy on display at IBSP.
This was the second year the Tournament had a Military Veterans Category for the veteran who landed the overall largest tournament-eligible and legal-sized fish. Tony Lopez of Camden won this category with a 28-4/8-inch bluefish and received a Sandstorm rod donated by Grumpys Tackle.
In addition to the grand prize, twenty-one anglers received rod and reel combinations for their prize-winning fish in the summer flounder, bluefish, and striped bass categories. Categories are further broken down for children, teen, and adult anglers, including sub-categories for male and female anglers. The event was sponsored by NJDEP’s Division of Fish & Wildlife and the State Park Service, the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association, and the NJ Beach Buggy Association.
FIRST PLACE FINISHERS
Summer Flounder
Teen Male: Gavin Petersen, Toms River HS South (18”)
Adult Female: Pam McGee, Newton (16”)
Adult Male: Ramon Oliveira, Newark (22-6/8”)
Bluefish:
Child Male: Bryson Keyes, Flemington (26”)
Teen Male: Cayden Sellitto, Little Falls (31”)
Adult Female: Pamela Thompson, Monroeville (36-6/8”)
Adult Male: Ed Flores, Bayonne (36”)
Striped Bass:
Teen Male: Rylan Cotte, Forked River (31”)
Adult Male: Robert Fogarty, Philadelphia, PA (30-1/8”)
Black Drum:
Adult Male: Jason Zimerla, Manchester (39-6/8”)
