18th Annual NJ Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament Oct 4 2009

[DarkSkies]

Hey guys and girls it's Tournament time! Sunday is the day, and the day before they'll have the Women's surf fishing clinic on Oct 3.

Here's a little about the tournament from the JCAA website:

http://www.jcaa.org/JCNL0909/0909GSFT.htm

18th Annual NJ Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament

by Paul Smith, Tournament Committee

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association September 2009 Newsletter)

The Annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament (GSFT) is held at Island Beach State Park, NJ on October 4th 2009. Approximately 1,000 anglers of all ages annually enter this tournament. This event is one of the most popular surf fishing contests for the individual angler on the East Coast. It is sponsored by Jersey Coast Anglers Association , New Jersey State Federation Of Sportsmen’s Clubs, NJ Beach Buggy Association, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, NJ Division of Parks and NJDEP.
For the last seventeen years anglers from New Jersey, and several neighboring states, have started the fall fishing season by competing in the Annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament. Winners in many categories are presented prizes by various dignitaries, including the Governor of New Jersey, as part of ceremonies following the Tournament. For the last sixteen years, anglers from New Jersey, and several neighboring states, have started the fall fishing season by competing in the Annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament. Winners in many categories are presented prizes by various dignitaries, including the Governor of New Jersey, as part of ceremonies following the Tournament.
The angler catching the longest eligible fish of the day is awarded the prestigious Governor’s Cup. The Cup has each year’s winner engraved upon it and is on view in the lobby of the Island Beach State Park administration building. There is a real possibility that any one of the competing anglers may be fortunate enough to capture the Governor’s Cup. There have been men, women and one youth win the Cup over the years, but never a repeat winner. This shows that it really is possible for anyone to win! You may enter this year’s Tournament by picking up an official entry form at your favorite bait and tackle store or by visiting the New Jersey Fish & Wildlife website: www.njfishandwildlife.com
Registration Fees:
Ages 18 & over - $10 for early entry if postmarked by Sept. 14 ($15.00 fee on Tournament Day)
Ages 13-17 - $5.00
Children 12 & under are FREE!
Same day registration will begin at 5:00 am at Pavilion #1.
Schedule6:30 a.m.-1:00p.mFishing1:30 p.m.-2:00p.mRaffle Drawing2:00 p.m.Awards Ceremony
Special arrangements are made for handicapped anglers. Balloon tire equipped beach wheelchairs are available for anglers with disabilities. Volunteers will be needed to assist anglers with special needs who fish on tournament day. To volunteer, or to make arrangements for a handicapped angler, please contact Greg Kucharewski at 732-840-9197.
Tournament hats and t-shirts will be on sale in Pavilion #1 on Tournament day! There will be a limited number of these t-shirts and hats with a special Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament design. Don’t forget to stop at the Pavilion, after fishing, to purchase your hat and shirt!
Various sporting organizations, state agencies and Tournament supporters will have exhibits at the Pavilion throughout the tournament day. There are also fishing and environmental exhibits and demonstrations presented at the Pavilion on Tournament day.


The goals of the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament are to:

• Improve access to public fishing areas
• Enhance public recreational facilities that provide fishing opportunities.
• Support the protection of marine and shore area ecosystems. Support activities, special events and programs that will further public appreciation and understanding of marine angling and shore area ecosystems.
• Promote public educational, interpretive and research opportunities concerning marine and shore area ecosystems.

Funds generated from past events have been used to purchase specialized wheelchairs that provide the disabled and elderly with beach access and toward the construction of an 800-foot long access ramp for saltwater anglers. Fishing equipment has been provided for the Outdoor Woman program, Surf fishing Clinic series in IBSP, as well as for various youth educational projects. Educational displays of various types in the park’s Interpretive Center, on several self-guided trails, and equipment for the Barnegat Bay Kayak Tour and Environmental Education Enhancement Program were partially funded with Tournament proceeds. Island Beach State Park also received funds from the GSFT to purchase the first mobile automatic heart defibrillator used in the New Jersey Park system.
The Governor’s Cup Surf Fishing Tournament committee is looking for judges. We need your help so please sign-up to be a judge in the tournament. Each judge will receive a special issue Governor’s Cup Surf Fishing Tournament ball cap with “judge” embroidered across the back. In addition, this year a stipend is available to help offset the cost of fuel burned while on the beach judging. Also, the IBSP beach pass is not required for judges during the tournament. Anyone interested, please contact me at RBthePirate@verizon.net or 609-685-6403. Thanks in advance, Eric Paulson President New Jersey Beach Buggy Association.

[DarkSkies]

And a little bit about JCAA. Some of the most politically active fishermen in the area either belong to or are past members of JCAA.


Introduction

The Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA) is an association of more than 75 saltwater fishing clubs that represents the position of marine sport anglers, champions their causes and protects their rights in matters pertaining to fishing, fisheries, and environmental quality. In doing so, JCAA often works in concert with major environmental organizations and other influential associations of sports clubs.

The Jersey Coast Anglers Association is a non-profit organization formed in 1981. The original objective of the Association was to combine a loose fragmented group of marine sportfishing clubs in order to form and promote a united consensus on issues relevant to saltwater anglers in New Jersey. The mission of the Association has remained unchanged, but is now expanding with the goal of joining force with organizations having similar objectives in states along the East Coast. While the Association is a relatively young organization it has emerged as the most effective organization of its kind on the East Coast.

The organizational structure includes an executive board, working committees, and delegates representing member clubs. The Association operates using a 'bottom up' approach. The direction, policies, and positions of the Association are determined by member club delegate’s votes. The board members and committees then carry out the directives determined by the member clubs. The underpinning principles that guide the Association are the health of the fishery and the environment first, along with a balanced approach to participation in the fishery by all user groups.

The limited financial resources available to the association are directed to getting results, not funding bloated salaries. The Association originally operated from borrowed or public meeting places. In recent years the Association secured office space in Toms River New Jersey to establish a central point of operations and house the growing inventory of fisheries documentation and business equipment. Until early 1996 the Association had operated with all volunteer personnel. The expansion of activities in 1995 indicated the need for assistance in maintaining the continuous support services and infrastructure vital to allow the Association to pursue its goals. In early 1996 the Association hired part time office clerical help to address these needs.
Representation


<SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">One of the most important accomplishments of the Association has been to establish itself as a respected advisory voice in Trenton and Washington. In this capacity the Association can provide effective and evenhanded fisheries management policies and proposals on behalf of recreational anglers. These activities include appointments to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council, NJ Fisheries Information Development Council and the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council. We have members on various state and federal advisory boards and panels. These include the Governor’s Task Force to reduce Mercury in the Environment and all three of the state’s EPA Estuary Programs. These positions involve development and advising in the development of fisheries management plans for and environmental protection at the state and federal jurisdictions.

Another major accomplishment of the Association has been to form partnerships with other leading organizations whose missions are in line with, or overlap, the objectives of the Association. These partnerships are critical in establishing a united voice on the broad issues affecting marine sportfishing. The Association is a member of Clean Ocean Action, the American Littoral Society, The Marine Fisheries Conservation Network, Clean Water Network, the United Federation of Sportsmen, New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen Clubs, and the American Sportfishing Association, among others.

[DarkSkies]

http://www.jcaa.org/about.htm

Programs

Apart from the continuous involvement in fisheries management issues, the Association is also involved with projects that target a specific purpose. Achieving gamefish status for Striped Bass in New Jersey is an example of this type of program. The Striped Bass Gamefish Bill was signed by then Governor Jim Florio JCAA meeting in tribute to the efforts of the Association in passage of this legislation. The issue of gamefish status continues to be pursued at the federal level. The Association also pressed for legislation to control the overharvest of menhaden, which is a critically important forage fish in near shore waters.

A healthy fisheries environment is critical to all species. The Association is well recognized in the fight for a clean marine environment that benefits the general public as well as the fishing public. The Association is strongly opposed to ocean dumping of industrial and municipal wastes. This position was forwarded in conjunction with leading environmental organizations. As a result of these efforts the Association was a co signature of the Clean Water Act of 1992. The Association also remains opposed to the Army Corps of Engineers plan to dump toxic sediments at inshore sites where they can damage the ecosystem.

The Associations Youth Education Committee is widely recognized for its commitment to tomorrow's anglers. The programs promoted by this committee serve to nurture interest in fishing and provide the additional benefit of solidifying the family in the sport of fishing by introducing young people to fishing as an alternative to gangs, drugs, and violence. The Youth committee has developed a number of programs designed for different learning environments.

A public school program based on 'Pathways to Fishing' and 'Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs' themes was designed to teach the teacher, thereby providing a self-renewing program. A special program for Charles Brisbane Child Rehabilitation Center for kids trying to recover from the ravages of substance abuse. Committee members have assisted Rutgers University in developing a fishing curriculum to teach basic fishing techniques and respect of the marine environment. These materials are made available to schools and civic organizations to teach kids the wholesome outdoor sport of fishing.



The Association is proud to be a cosponsor of the Annual New Jersey Governor's Cup Fishing Tournament. This event provides a day of family oriented fishing fun combined with the youth educational seminars mentioned above. Monies generated go toward funding projects to improve access and enhance fishing opportunities for the general public. An example of the benefits from this program is the Handicapped access project at Island Beach State Park. The initial phase of this project provided special wheelchairs that allow handicapped individuals with the ability to navigate the sand so they too can enjoy a day at the beach. The second phase included extended access ramps from parking areas to the waters edge, further expanding access for the handicapped.
Officers

PresidentMark Taylor732-929-25911st V.P.Capt. Gene Nigro732-291-56882nd V.P.Bruce Freeman732-793-7871TreasurerDoug Tegeder732-341-5674Cor. SecretaryPaul Turi609-597-3193Rec. SecretaryTom Siciliano609-296-3774Membership SecretaryBruce Smith732-695-3431

Committees & Chairpersons

LegislativeTom Fote732-270-9102Operations ManagerSharon McKenna732-506-6565Office ManagerPhil Celmer609-693-3414Fluke TournamentSharon McKenna732-506-6565Access (North) Access Central and SouthJoe Chrzanowski609-693-8042BlackfishPat Donnelly732-295-1755Bluefish HabitatPat Donnelly732-295-1755Large PelagicJohn Koegler610-687-2208MenhadenEd Cherryedwardwc@verizon.netStriped BassEd Cherryedwardwc@verizon.net Science and ResearchBruce Freeman732-793-7871SponsorshipFrank Richetti732-477-3120WebmasterPhilip V. Celmerwebmaster@jcaa.orgYouth EducationGreg Kucharewski732-840-9197

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[DarkSkies]

In previous years there was a special fluke allocation for this tournament which allowed participants to catch and keep fluke after the season was closed. I was informed that will not be happening this year, so legal bass and bluefish, along with other miscellaneous sea life, will be on the menu.

It's a great family day, and the day before (Sat) there will be another tournament in Seaside. Great family fun.

I looked for the link that someone sent me but could not find it. I'm pressed for time today, so I hope this notice is sufficient. Thanks, people.