2013 Governors Surf Fishing Tourney

Mark your calendars and get your registrations in now for the Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament! This year's tournament is scheduled for Sunday, October 6 at Island Beach State Park and marks the 22nd year of this popular family event.

The tournament offers participants an excellent opportunity to enjoy a fun day of fishing with family and friends. Anglers can also feel great about the use of their registration fees, as all funds raised are used for very worthwhile purposes. These include the purchase of specialized wheelchairs that provide the disabled and elderly beach access, surf fishing instruction programs and equipment, marine education and restoration efforts, and surf fishing access.

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. Fishing equipment is awarded to winners who catch the largest fish in a variety of species and age group categories.

Anglers planning to participate in the tournament should register early! Early registrants will save $5 on adult registration, and will be eligible to enter the early entry raffle for a surf rocket, www.surfrocketfishing.com/ . The early entry incentive ends September 13, 2013. After this date, anglers will be required to register at the tournament.

The pre-registration fee for the tournament is $15 for ages 18 and up and the registration fee on Tournament day is $20. The registration fee for ages 13-17 is $5 and registration is free for ages 12 and under.

For more information or to download a registration form visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/gsft.htm .

The Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament is sponsored by the NJ DEP's Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Forestry, as well as the NJ State Federation of Sportsman's Clubs, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association, and the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association.

* Tournament anglers may be asked to verify their compliance with the New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry Program. If you have not already registered please make sure you do before hitting the beach the day of the tournament. Registration is quick, easy and free. Anglers simply need to log on to http://www.nj.gov/dep/saltwaterregistry/ and follow the instructions on the page.

Yeah baby! Thanks for posting clam chucker I hope the conditions are good.

Past winners:
Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament Cup Winners
1992 David McGoldrick Pocono Lake, PA 29.5” Albacore
1993 Dennis Granville Robbinsville 34 3/16” Striped Bass
1994 Andrew Ciok Bayonne 23 ¾” Albacore
1995 Michele Palumbo Brick 31 ½” Striped Bass
1996 David Stimon Hamilton 35” Bluefish
1997 Ron Butkiewicz Plainfield 34 4/16” Bluefish
1998 Peggy Peterson Toms River 34 ½” Bluefish
1999 Dorothy Harris Wayne 29” Red Drum
2000 Joe Earley Toms River 32 5/8” Striped Bass
2001 David Hilgar Fallsington, PA 35 1/8” Striped Bass
2002 Pete Calvero Hazlet 44” Striped Bass
2003 Travis Laureigh (11 yr old) Bayville 35 ½" Striped Bass
2004 Sal Amato Pompton Plains 37" Striped Bass
2005 Carl Kogel Jackson 34½” Bluefish
2006 David Salvagno South Amboy 33 ¾” Striped Bass
2007 Martin Mosen Collingswood 37 3/8” Striped Bass
2008 Richard Abdill Delran 21” Fluke
2009 Gene Brendel Nutley 32” Striped Bass
2010 Gary Grimm Flanders 30.5” Striped Bass
2011 Michael Nightingale East Windsor 33 3/8” Striped Bbass
2012 Bill Sheppard Seasside Park 20 3/8” Bluefish

Thanks for posting that Monty. Its kind of weird last year the best catch was a 20" bluefish. That's only the 3rd time in 20 years a bluefish won the tourney. I may make the drive north for it. Hoping this fall will be a little better than last fall was.

A reminder that the tourney is this Sunday. Praying that the fishing will be good then.

I go every year ...but now that the 3 day pass is $75 ...not worth it ....

^^^^^ A lot of guys I know were complaining about that. It makes the yearly buggy pass into a better value.
Sunday tourney


The 22nd Governor?s Surf Fishing Tournament will draw hundreds of anglers to Island Beach State Park on Sunday. The event is sponsored by the DEP along with the Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA), and the N.J. Beach Buggy Association. The angler catching the longest fish wins the Governor?s Cup, and valuable fishing tackle prizes will be awarded in many categories.
Adults enter the competition for $20, while those 15 to 17 years old pay $5, and there?s no charge for younger anglers. Registration opens at 5 a.m., at Pavilion No. 1. State fishing registrations may be checked, so make sure you?re up to date by visiting http://www.nj.gov/dep/saltwaterregistry/. For details of the contest, visit www.njfishandwildlife.com.

Final results from nj.com


Sunday's Givernor's Surf Fishing Tournament at Island Beach State Park had to be one of the toughest in the 22-year history of that contest. Most of the many categories went unfilled, and there wasn't even a noteworthy fish to take the Governor' Cup. A mere 18 1/2-inch bluefish won for Barry South of Morrisville, Pa. on a time basis. Since only length counts in this tournament, his 6:45 a.m. catch won over the same length blue caught by Douglas Ralph Jr.of Jackson at 12:20 p.m. Actually, the largest fish was probably the 18-inch blackfish landed by Zoltan Egyed of Trenton. A complete list of winners follows:
Kingfish Category



Teen (Female)

First Place – Alyssa Kuryluck, Bensalem, PA 15 ?"



Adult (Female)

Second Place – Audrey Estelow-Bock, Florence, NJ 10"

First Place – Lindsey Nordaby, Mays Landing, NJ 13 ?"



Adult (Male)

Third Place – Nathan Hagaman, Egg Harbor City, NJ 13 ?"

Second Place – Frank Bodner, Piscataway, NJ 14 3/8"

First Place – John Hagaman, Egg Harbor City, NJ 14 3/4:"





Blackfish Category



Adult (Male)

Third Place – Larry Margiotta, Theills, NY 15"

Second Place – Robert Campi, Flemington, NJ 17 1/8"

First Place – Zoltan Egyed, Trenton, NJ 18"





Bluefish Category



Teen (Male)

First Place – Jeffrey Hawksworth, Atco, NJ 16 ?"



Adult (Male)

Third Place – Robert Nielse, Flanders, NJ 18 1/8" caught at 6:45am

Second Place – Douglas Ralph, Jr., Jackson, NJ 18 ?" caught 12:20pm



First Place & 2013 Governor's Cup Winner

Barry South, Morrisville, PA 18 ?" Bluefish caught 6:45am