HRFA Catch, Tag & Release Striper Derby Results - The Fisherman

HRFA Catch, Tag & Release Striper Derby Results

The Hudson River Fishermen’s Association (HRFA) held their 2nd Annual Catch and Release Striper Derby from April 17 through May 15, and despite the ongoing pandemic limiting overall angling participation in the region this spring, the contest was well-received.

Thirty-four participants took part in this year’s catch and release striper contest, with HRFA tournament organizers saying uncooperative winds and weather coupled with lower than normal water temperatures contributed to a slower than normal 2020 contest.  “Those fishing further north in the Hudson River had much more success than those fishing Haverstraw or south,” HRFA noted in their contest release. “We opened the Derby up this year to tributaries of the Hudson River and received a bunch of photos of bass captured in the Hackensack River from Dirk van Everdingen.”

There were just 12 stripers registered into the Derby in week 1, seven entries in week 2, and nine entries in week 3.  By the fourth week of the contest the striped bass action turned hot and heavy up around the Newburg area and contributed to 27 entries in the final week, 22 of which were from Chris Palmer who tagged all but one of those.

“Chris reported that he captured and released many more than that,” HRFA said. In total 2nd Annual Catch and Release Striper Derby participants tagged 35 stripers to become part of the American Littoral Society Database, with all Calcutta entrants helping sponsor the satellite tagging of Hudson River stripers as part the 3R’s campaign of The Fisherman Magazine in support of the Northeast Striped Bass Study with Gray FishTag Research.

1st Place ($500)         Chris Palmer – 42.67” avg.

2nd Place ($250)        Douglas Dean – 42.5” avg.

3rd Place ($125)         Shane Dean – 38.3” avg.

4th Place ($75)           Mike Banahan – 37.4” avg.

5th Place ($50)           Feby Philip – 34.0” avg.

First place in the shore division ($150) was Feby Philip, while the Northeast Striped Bass Study Calcutta winner was Chris Palmer who took $125 in cash and a prize package donated by The Fisherman. Palmer also nabbed an additional $150 for most tagged stripers of the contest (21), as well as the largest tagged fish of the Derby earning him a trip out of Atlantic Highlands with the American Littoral Society later this season.

Weekly winners in HRFA’s 2nd Annual Catch and Release Striper Derby also earned prizes including $25 gift certificates to Ramsey Outdoors, Tackle World or Art’s Tackle & Fly, or two $20 raffle tickets for a chance at winning a 17-foot Mad River Canoe donated to the HRFA by Chris Letts.

For more information go to thehrfa.org.

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