Each and every spring for 12 years (except during COVID), New Jersey’s first of the season one-day summer flounder tournament is run out of the Bass River in New Gretna; what first started immediately after Superstorm Sandy as the RFA Bass River Classic is now the Valhalla Flounder Open, presented by Valhalla Yacht Sales and Breeze’s Bar and Grill.
On Saturday, May 17th, 75 boats participated in this year’s Valhalla Flounder Open between the Barnegat Bay to Corson’s Inlet, with 62 summer flounder weighed in and one grand champion – Bent Hook captained by Jonathan Ginsburg – sweeping the top prizes to the tune of $9,120.
The Bent Hook team had a 6.62-pound fluke, tops of the entire tournament field, which was good for the $5,040 “Doormat Calcutta,” en route to a two-fish bag of 12.32 pounds for another $2,000 for the top prize, along with $2,080 for the “Big Bag Calcutta” of three fish at 16.19 pounds.
Second place and $1,250 went to team Finsulation captained by William Schwanda (9.15 pounds), followed by Jeff Reese’s Chubb Club in third for $750 (7.98 pounds). The crew from Ukie led by Paul Kuras (6.3 pounds) nabbed fourth and $500, while team Bulletproof captained by Tim Bush took $250 for fifth (6.26 pounds).
Other presenting sponsors of the annual Valhalla Flounder Open include Barlow Auto Group, Contender Boats and The Fisherman Magazine. Tournament proceeds to support the Fisheries Conservation Trust and furthering children’s medical research, combat veterans and fisheries science. Lear more at fisheriesconservationtrust.org
