If you haven’t caught your first striper of the year, I’m sure it will be any day now. I’m thrilled for the opportunity to write this guest editor log and am sure by the time this goes to print and online I’ll have gotten my first bass.
But it’s not always just about the fish.
A phrase often heard to soothe the pain of a skunking, or the complete opposite when recapping an epic trip with fishing buddies or family. In the past 12 years though the most appropriate and true sense of those words to me defines The Manhattan Cup.
Held in early spring since 2002 a dedicated and talented group, basically the best anglers around the NY Bight and beyond, knew that our waters held more than just one of the most unique fisheries on the East Coast. They knew that fishing itself and the passion behind it could change lives for the better.
The first time I fished “the cup” in 2013 the Freedom Tower was getting her finishing touches, and a new generation of brave men and women that would turn to the Manhattan Cup on their road to healing. Ones that left the comfort of home to go to far off lands to seek justice and defend our freedom. In the dozen years since, I’ve witnessed lives change in a day. Their scars both seen and hidden in the forms of TBI’s and PTSD are a direct result of the love for their country being put before themselves. The pride I have in being a husband and father is only matched with the pride of being on the team that makes this event happen the first Friday in June each year.
As dozens of boats parade out of Liberty Landing Marina to be met by FDNY’s Marine One blasting her water cannons in front of the Statue of Liberty it takes your breath away. Teams of veterans, new and seasoned anglers and sponsors from The Fisherman Magazine, Yamaha, Raymarine, Quantum Fishing, and more drop the throttle to pursue the biggest and best bragging rights a fisherman could ask for.
With no boundaries for where to fish, every corner of water from the western Long Island Sound to the boulder fields of Shrewsbury fishing is being used as a force for good. Captains who donate their boat and time for the day guide teams to where they know the fish are. A strictly catch and release event, measurements of stripers and blues caught are recorded to determine the winners of each species in bait, artificial and fly categories along with the overall largest striper winning the Manhattan Cup. This year we are excited to be using a cutting-edge technology from Fishtechy which will streamline the process. Using AI, this app can calculate the measurements by a proof ball included in a picture. It’s going to be a game changer, and we are proud to be its proving grounds.
Back at Liberty Landing as score sheets are tallied, drinks are flowing, and an amazing spread of food consumed a bigger and more important award is yet to be awarded. That is the Christopher Raguso award for the largest striped bass caught by one of our honored warrior guests. Chris, a former member of the FDNY and Commack Fire Department, husband, father and Master Sgt in the 106th Combat Rescue Wing along with other members of his team died over the skies of Syria in 2018 when their helicopter crashed. His legacy of service, sacrifice, love of his family, and our local waters is memorialized and celebrated each year.
Friday June 6th is a day you don’t want to miss. There are several ways to be involved. As a captain, you and a mate of your choosing would take two to disc anglers on your boat to fish for the day with equipment you supply. As a team of anglers, we supply the boat and captain and you compete against other teams in fly, artificial, or bait categories. You can fish all three categories. You can fish your own boat with a team of up to four anglers to compete in the Sportfish category against other teams fishing their own boat.
We always welcome companies and individuals to join our growing family of sponsors that can join us for the day or wish to lend their support. Please reach out to me at the contact info below to discuss opportunities or with any questions about the day. We have a breakfast buffet at registration, supply everyone with a gourmet boxed lunch, and it’s open bar and a mind-blowing view, dinner, auction and raffles after fishing is done.
I promise you; this is an event that changes lives and one you will never forget. Hope to see you there!
Mike Dean
917-873-6651
Mdean329@gmail.com
