The 21st Manhattan Cup blasted off on Friday, June 3 from its base at Liberty Landing Marina in New York Harbor and was one for the record books. The largest striped bass in tournament history topped the leader board as John Gambardella caught and released a 54.39-pound striped bass aboard Capt. Guy Buono’s Krunch Sport Fishing out of Staten Island. Unbelievably, Gambardella had never caught a striped bass before, making this out to be a true fish of a lifetime.
The coveted Master Sargent Christopher J. Raguso Memorial Trophy for the largest bass caught and released by a warrior went to Richie Torres for the 44.28-pound bass he caught aboard Capt. Brian Rice’s Jersey Devil Sportfishing. Torres won the Manhattan Cup last year with a 52-pound bass and came back to defend his championship with the Jersey Devil team.
The winning striper in the Sportfishing Division (private boats entered as teams) went to Rob Boyce aboard Dave Glassberg’s Critter Catcher with a 40.05-pound striper and the largest striper in the Bait Division fell to The Fisherman’s Jim Hutchinson Jr. fishing with Torres and Rice aboard Jersey Devil. The winner of the Flyrod Division was Anthony Davino fishing with Capt. Anthony Grassi aboard Fin Chaser Makaira, and the largest caught in the Artificial Lure Division was a 17.02-pound bass by Ryan Schnupp on the Snubaroo. Jim Wartski with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs won the largest striped bass in the Celebrity division with a 34.77-pound striper aboard Capt. Adrian Moeller’s Bass Appeal.
The Manhattan Cup is an all-release charity event created to honor American heroes in need of support. According to Manhattan Cup co-chair Gary Caputi, the tournament was initially launched to assist first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the wake of 9/11, but after a dozen years the focus switched to members of the U.S. military. “Warriors returning from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq having difficulty reacclimating to civilian life and at the greatest risk of suicide,” Caputi said, adding “Fishing in the company of people who appreciate their dedication to duty and their personal sacrifice opened up a new world to many of the veterans who have fished the Cup in the past.
In the words of tournament founder Capt. Frank Crescitelli, “The Manhattan Cup was established to use fishing as a force for good.” This year’s Manhattan Cup saw 32 warriors in attendance on the local fishing grounds.
There are also special warrior and celebrity angler categories with separate trophies and a beautiful striped bass mount provided by Gray Taxidermy for the top tagging boat. Tags were provided by the tournament’s conservation partner Gray Fishtag Research and a portion of the proceeds support the Northeast Striped Bass Study coordinated with Gray and The Fisherman Magazine.
The Manhattan Cup is an all-release tournament that encourages tagging during the event so the weights of winning fish are determined using the accepted length/girth formula (length X girth X girth / 800) with photographic proof of the measurements.
All 32 warriors competing in the event were also given a beautiful rod and reel outfit to continue their fishing exploits courtesy of tournament sponsors Tsunami Awesome Tackle and Bimini Bay Outfitters with company president Bob Feldsott in attendance for the presentation.
“Everyone involved in putting on the Manhattan Cup would like to thank our generous sponsors without whom we could not put on this amazing tribute event,” Caputi said, while thanking Raymarine, Yamaha, Blue Wave Boats, Staten Island Yacht Sales, Valhalla Boat Sales, D&R Boat Sales, Tsunami Tackle, Bimini Bay Outfitters, Sage, The Fisherman, Costa del Mar, Black Rifle Coffee, Liberty Landing Marina and their parent company Suntex Marinas, Princeton Tec, Van Staal Reels, Tony Maja Products, Guides Secret Tackle, Fin Chaser TV, Maui Jim, Run Off Tackle, AFW Brands, Manhattan to Montauk Sportfishing Services, Gray Taxidermy, TCS Reps.
“And a special thanks to the hardest working group of volunteers to ever put on a charity event. Our thanks come straight from the heart,” Caputi added.
For details go to manhattancup.com.
