The Hudson River Fishermen’s Association (HRFA) annual Catch and Release Striper Derby – renamed the Fred Rung Memorial Striped Bass Derby – was held from April 17 through May 15. A strictly no-kill derby for striped bass only, fish caught during the Fred Rung Memorial Striped Bass Derby in legal waters of the Hudson River and its tributaries also qualified for a special “3R” Calcutta which benefitted The Fisherman’s annual Northeast Striped Bass Study.
The Grand Prize winners:
- 1st Place $600 – Heather Baez (39.83″)
- 2nd Place $300 – Jerry Crean (39.67″)
- 3rd Place $150 – Keith Baez (39.67″)
- 4th Place $75 – Chris Palmer (38.67″)
- 5th Place $50 – Chris Vargo (38.5″)
- Largest from Shore $150 – Feby Philip (30.75″)
The Jeff Dement Award Winners included Jerry Crean (39.67″) for a $150 prize for the largest tagged striper, while Chris Palmer earned $300 for the most tagged fish (103). Chris also wins a basket of fishing stuff from The Fisherman and also gets to tag-along with Professor John Tiedemann aboard a Monmouth University research vessel during a striped bass acoustic tagging trip in the Sandy Hook area.
Next up for the HRFA is their 1st Annual Saltwater Fly Fishing Derby to be held on June 12 starting at 6 a.m. at Sandy Hook. The event is open to all HRFA members and their guests for a $25 entry fee (split $15 donation to the HRFA and $10 to the winner). Online registration can be found at thehrfa.org. For more information contact Michael Sardinas at 201 232 5988 or Masardinas@yahoo.com.
