Surfcasters compete for the coveted Governor’s Cup for the 27th time this month, while high schoolers enter year two.
Every spring one of the largest and most prestigious surf fishing tournaments in our state is the Annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament held at Island Beach State Park. This year the tournament will be held on May 20 and will mark the 27th consecutive time anglers will be competing for the prestigious Governor’s Award.
The individual who catches the overall largest fish wins the Governor’s Award and has his/her name engraved on the Governor’s Cup, which is permanently displayed at the Park. There are a variety of species that are eligible for entry and all fish must meet minimum length tournament requirements. These are striped bass (28 inches), bluefish (14 inches), weakfish (13 inches), black drum (16 inches), red drum (18-27 inches), and kingfish (10 inches).
For the second year in a row there will once again be a separate high school division that will pit school against school. The winning school will receive the prestigious honor of claiming a separate high school cup. The school’s name will be engraved on it, and the cup will be on display at the Park. In addition the winning school will receive a first place plaque that can be displayed in their school. There will also be 2nd and 3rd place plaques awarded, and each student registering for the tournament will receive a commemorative t-shirt from the State of New Jersey.
The student “tournament within a tournament” follows the same rules as the general tournament; high schools can enter with as many students on their team as they like. The number of participants is unlimited. Teams can also be entered from members of a Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs group, or a non-formal group. The State has waived the tournament entry fee for student teams and admission to the park is free for registrants.
Last year Lacey Township High School took home first place and “The Cup” as Matthew Miranda caught a 22-3/4-inch bluefish. Second place went to Manasquan High School as Tommy Freda caught a 22-1/2-inch bluefish, while third place went to Toms River South as Tyler Winton caught a 22-inch bluefish. It was an exciting tournament as less than an inch separated the top three schools. It was tough fishing however, as no bass or big blues were caught by any of the participants in either tournaments that were running simultaneously.
In all 23 teams from seven high schools totaling 45 students participated in the event. Last year schools could enter as many five member teams as they liked. At the end of the tournament all the high school teams met at Pavilion #1 to meet and greet each other. Teams had sandwiches provided by the Shark River Surf Anglers and drinks provided by the Reel Seat in Brielle. Other sponsors of the tournament included The Fisherman Magazine, the Folsom Corp, Fish Hawks Saltwater Anglers Club, and Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs NJ.
Personally, I am thrilled to see the high school component of the Governor’s Tournament take off. Being part of a fishing club is a great way for our kids to learn about, respect, and enjoy our salt- and freshwater environments. Many of our industry partners recognize the value of these high school clubs as they pave the way for our young students to break into this industry. At Manasquan, TAK Waterman, Bimini Bay Outfitters, Tsunami, Maxel, the Reel Seat in Brielle, and the Shark River Surf Anglers are all onboard as sponsors. This gives my kids a real connection that they are proud to be associated with and to display.
If you have a high school fishing club in your school and are interested in participating this year go to www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/gsft.htm for the online brochure and registration form. To help sponsor a component of the high school tournament by making a donation for the kids, contact Karen Byrne, NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife, Aquatic Education Coordinator at 609-748-4347 or Karen.Byrne@dep.nj.gov.
Remember that all anglers 16 or older fishing in the 27th Annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament will need to complete the NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry prior to the event at www.saltwaterregistry.nj.gov.
Who knows, maybe this year we will be right smack in the middle of a big bass run on bunker and some true trophy catches will be made.
Good luck!
| WHO’S WHO – 2017 TEAMS & ADVISORS |
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Columbia High School: Joe Doubek East Orange Recreation: Kaleena Koon. Lacey Township High School: Manasquan High School: Point Pleasant High School: Shawnee High School: Rich Zaleski Toms River High School South: |
