| New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife |
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The 1996 Skillful Angler Awards Winners are as follows:
* Black Crappie - 4 lbs, 8 ozs caught by 27-year-old Andy Tintle of Pequannock on May 16. Andy was fishing Pompton Lake by boat when he landed the fish at 3:30 p.m. Eight pound test was used with a Shakespeare rod and a Quantum reel. The lure was a Berkley Power Worm. The fish measured 19 1/4 inches in length with a 15 7/8 inch girth. Andy also holds the state record for black crappie which is one pound larger than the previous record taken from a Hunterdon County farm pond in 1980.
Brook Trout - 4 lbs, 7 ozs caught by 11-year-old Alex Turse of Cherry Hill on the Opening Day of Trout Season, April 6. Alex was fishing from the shore of Hopkins Pond in Haddonfield when he landed the fish at 8:45 a.m. Six pound test was used with a Shakespeare rod and a Zebco reel. A nightcrawler served for bait. The fish measured 22 inches in length with a 15 inch girth.
Brown Trout - 14 lbs, 12 ozs caught by 30-year-old Martin Tanis of Fairlawn on May 31. Marty was fishing from the shore of the Monksville Reservoir when he landed the fish at 2 p.m. Four pound test was used with a Lamiglass Ultralite rod and a Daiwa reel. Live herring served for bait. The fish was 31 inches in length with a 20 inch girth.
Chain Pickerel - 4 lbs caught by 45-year-old Daniel Petitte of Pine Hill on April 12. Dan was fishing from the shore of Elm Town Lake when he landed this one at 12:30 a.m. Ten pound test was used with a Berkley rod, a Shimano reel and a Rapala lure. The pickerel measured 25 inches in length with a 15 inch girth.
Channel Catfish - 13 lbs caught by 48-year-old Tom Armbruster of Phillipsburg on June 1. Tom was fishing from the shore of the Delaware River when he got the fish at 10 p.m. Eight pound test was used with a Shakespeare rod and a Shimano reel. A live eel served for bait. The fish measured 31 inches in length. Girth was unavailable.
Lake Trout - 9 lbs, 8 ozs caught by 25-year-old Bill Wackermann of Stewartsville on August 11. Bill was fishing Round Valley Reservoir by boat when he landed this one at 7 a.m. Twelve pound test was used with a BPS rod and an Abu Garcia reel. A Sutton Spoon was the lure. The fish measured 29 3/4 inches in length. Girth was not available.
Largemouth Bass - 8 lbs, 6 ozs caught by 29-year-old Rodney Hutchison of Phillipsburg on April 18. Rodney was fishing from the shore of the Delaware River when he reeled this one in at 2:30 p.m. Fourteen pound test was used with a Berkley rod and a Shimano reel. A shiner served for bait. The fish measured 23 1/2 inches in length with a 19 inch girth.
Northern Pike - 16 lbs, 12 ozs caught by 42-year-old Gary Walukiewicz of Trenton on April 20. Gary was fishing from the shore of Spruce Run Reservoir when he hooked into the fish at 2 p.m. Twelve pound test was used with a Silstar rod and a Penn reel. A shiner served for bait. The fish was 39 inches in length with a 17 1/2 inch girth.
Smallmouth Bass - 5 lbs, 1 oz caught by 59-year-old Bill Wurfel of Robbinsville on September 25. Bill was fishing from his boat in the Manasquan Reservoir when he hooked the fish at 11:30 a.m. Fourteen pound test line was used with an All Star rod, a Shimano reel and a lizard lure. The fish was 21 inches in length. Girth was unavailable.
Striped Bass Hybrid - 8 lbs, 9 ozs caught by 45-year-old Al "Froggy" Kolasa of Hopatcong on May 6. Al was fishing from his boat in Lake Hopatcong when he landed this one at 10:30 a.m. Ten pound test was used with a Loomis rod, a Garcia reel and a Sluggo lure. The fish measured 24 1/2 inches in length with an 18 1/2 inch girth. Al is a senior member of the Knee Deep Hunting and Fishing Club of Lake Hopatcong and was participating in their annual contest when he landed the fish.
* Denotes current state record.
Albacore Tuna - 74 lbs, 2 ozs caught by 36-year-old Peter Ernstberger of Whitehouse Station on September 9. Pete was fishing the Hudson Canyon when he hooked the fish at 7:30 a.m. Sixty pound test was used with a Star rod, a Penn reel and a Green Machine lure. Length and girth are unavailable. Peter, incidentally, is no stranger to the Skillful Angler Program. He was honored for a 74 pound albacore tuna (also taken from the Hudson Canyon) in 1994! On another note, the boat Peter was fishing from when he hooked this year’s winner (and also his 1994 catch) belonged to Captain Tony Horling who also is no stranger to the program. Tony was honored in 1992 for a 42 pound cod and last year for a 35 pound, 9 ounce pollock!
Black Sea Bass - 6 lbs, 4 ozs caught by 43-year-old David Ryon of Pottsville, PA on June 18. Dave was fishing a wreck by boat when he landed this one at 1:30 p.m. Twenty pound test line was used with a boat rod and Penn reel. Clams were used for bait. The fish measured 24 inches in length with a 16 inch girth.
Bluefish - 23 lbs, 8 ozs caught by 41-year-old Jack Exel of Pittsgrove on October 13. Jack was fishing from his boat in Delaware Bay when he caught the fish at 3:30 p.m. Twelve pound test was used with a Berkley rod and a Garcia reel. Bunker served for bait. The fish was 39 inches in length with a 21 1/2 inch girth.
Blue Marlin - 455 lbs caught by 20-year-old John Hilla of Brielle on August 19. John was fishing Poor Man’s Canyon from Captain Matt Muzlay’s boat the Wild Cat on the first day of the 1996 Mid-Atlantic 500K when he landed the fish at 11:07 a.m. Eighty pound test was used with a Penn rod and reel, and a Sir Ace lure. The fish measured 110 inches in length. Girth was unavailable. John ended up winning the tournament and to the best of our knowledge, is the youngest angler to ever win this event.
Cod - 37 lbs, 8 ozs caught by 40-year-old Stanley Klimek of Sayreville on April 14. Stanley was fishing a wreck by boat when he caught the fish at 7 a.m. Thirty pound test was used. Rod and reel are unknown. Clams served for bait. The fish measured 45 inches in length with a 25 inch girth. Stanley is also the skillful angler winner for the winter flounder, kingfish and weakfish categories, and has won several categories in previous years for his outstanding catches!
Fluke - 14 lbs, 11 ozs caught by 30-year-old Thomas Sehnal of Clark on August 4. Tom was fishing from his boat at the Middle Grounds when he landed the fish at 12 p.m. Twelve pound test was used with a Berkley rod and a Penn reel. He used a white bucktail and squid for bait. The fish was 33 1/2 inches in length.
Kingfish - 1 lb, 15 ozs caught by 40-year-old Stanley Klimek of Sayreville on April 21 (the same day he got the winning winter flounder!). Stanley was fishing from a friend’s boat in Raritan Bay when he took the fish at 10 a.m. Ten pound test was used with an Ultralite rod and a Mitchell reel. A bloodworm served for bait. The fish was 16 inches in length with a 7 inch girth.
Striped Bass - 57 lbs, 4 ozs caught by 62-year-old Bill White of Port Norris on October 22. Bill was fishing the Bug Light in Delaware Bay from his boat when he hooked the fish at 8:30 a.m. Twenty pound test was used with a Silstar rod and a Shimano reel. Bait is unknown. The fish measured 51 3/4 inches in length with a 31 inch girth.
Tautog - 20 lbs, 9 ozs caught by 37-year-old Mark Kacek of Lakehurst on June 19. Mark was fishing from Captain Sam Rescigno’s charter boat the Mary M-III off Barnegat Light when he reeled the fish in at 12:50 p.m. Thirty pound test was used with a Daiwa rod and a Penn reel. Crabs served for bait. The fish measured 32 inches in length with a 23 1/2 inch girth. By the way, Captain Sam who was responsible for the excursion, was honored in 1993 for a 30 pound, 5 ounce pollock!
Weakfish - 10 lbs, 4 ozs caught by 40-year-old Stanley Klimek of Sayreville on May 12. Stanley was fishing from a private boat in Delaware Bay when he landed the fish at 8 p.m. Thirty pound test was used with a custom rod and a Penn reel. The lure was a Bucktail Jig. The fish was 33 inches in length. Girth was unavailable.
Winter Flounder - 2 lbs, 12 ozs caught by 40-year-old Stanley Klimek of Sayreville on April 21 (one week after he caught the winning cod!). Stanley was fishing from a friend’s boat in Raritan Bay when he caught the fish at 11 a.m. Ten pound test was used with an Ultralite rod and a Mitchell reel. A bloodworm served for bait. The fish measured 17 1/2 inches in length.
Congratulations to all of our
winners!
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