New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife |
In 2001, 129 applications representing 21 different species were officially processed.
The 2001 Skillful Angler Awards Winners are as follows:
Smallmouth Bass - 5 lbs, 3 ozs caught by 29 year-old Paul Joyce of Jackson on August 18. Paul was fishing from his boat in the Manasquan Reservoir when he reeled this one in at 6:05 p.m. Twenty-pound test was used with a Daiwa rod and reel. He used a Lizard lure. The fish measured 20¾ inches in length. Girth size was 15-7/8 inches.
Striped Bass Hybrid - 11 lbs, 6 ozs caught by 13 year-old Mallory Smith of Millville on April 16. Mallory was fishing from a boat on the Maurice River when he landed this one at 2:00 p.m. Twelve-pound test was used with a Shakespeare Graphite rod and a Garcia Mitchell reel with herring. The fish measured 30 inches in length. Girth size was 16½ inches.
Carp - 50 lbs caught by 38 year-old Steve Babilino of Turnersville on May 31. Steve was fishing from the shore of Garrison Lake when he caught his fish at 5:00 a.m. Six-pound spider wire monofilament was used with a Quantum XR reel and a Quantum Snapshot rod with corn serving as bait. The fish measured 46 inches in length. Girth size was 36 inches.
Channel Catfish - 12 lbs, 13 ozs caught by 35 year-old Stephen Miklandric of Belle Mead on September 8. Stephen was fishing from his boat on Lake Assunpink when he caught the fish at 4:54 p.m. Seventeen-pound test was used with a Shakespeare Ugly Stick and a Shimano 4000 reel with a shiner as bait. The fish measured 30¼ inches in length. Girth size was 18½ inches.
Black Crappie - 3 lbs, 8 ozs caught by 44 year-old Forrest Black of Bound Brook on March 24. Forrest was fishing from his boat in the Spruce Run Reservoir when he landed the fish at 10:45 a.m. Six-pound test was used with a 5-foot Shakespeare Ugly Stick rod and spinning reel with live bait. The fish measured 16 inches in length with a 17½ inch girth.
Muskellunge - 28 lbs, 4 ozs caught by 34 year-old Steve Nemeth of Phillipsburg on July 31. Steve was fishing from the shore of the Delaware River when he reeled in the fish at 11:57 p.m. Twenty-five pound test was used with a Penn rod and Shimano reel with trout serving as bait. The fish measured 48 inches in length with a girth of 21 inches.
Chain Pickerel - 7 lbs caught by 41 year-old Ed Witkowski of Middletown on September 19. Ed was fishing from his boat on Deal Lake when he landed this one at 7:00 p.m. Four-pound test was used with a Shakespeare Ugly Stick rod and Shimano reel with a Black Spinner. The fish measured 32 inches in length. Girth size was 11 inches.
Brook Trout - 8 lbs, 6 ozs caught by 12 year-old Mike Denniston of Brielle on April 7. Mike was fishing from the shore of Spring Lake when he landed the fish at 3:30 p.m. Six-pound test on a Shakespeare rod and reel was used with a Rooster Tail. The fish measured 20 inches in length. Girth size was unavailable.
Brown Trout - 8 lbs, 5 ozs caught by 54 year-old Cletus Polk, Jr. of Mahwah on August 16. Cletus was fishing from the shore of the Manasquan Reservoir when he landed the fish at 11:30 a.m. Twelve-pound test was used with a 10-foot surf cast rod and an Arrow reel. A Rapala Husky Jerk #14 served as the lure. The fish measured 25 inches in length. The girth size was 14 inches.
Lake Trout - 26 lbs caught by 67 year-old Walter Neumann of Cliffwood Beach on July 16. Walter was fishing Round Valley Reservoir from his boat when he landed this one at 7:30 a.m. Fifteen-pound test was used with a Shakespeare Ugly Stick rod and a Penn reel with an Alphia Diamond. The fish measured 37 inches in length with a 23-inch girth.
Rainbow Trout - 8 lbs caught by 54 year-old Cletus Polk, Jr. of Mahwah on July 12. Cletus was fishing the shore of the Monksville Reservoir when he landed this one at 7:45 a.m. Twelve-pound test was used with an Arrow Surf Rod. A Rapala-Floating Floltant served as the lure. The fish measured 24½ inches. Girth size was 16 inches.
Walleye - 6 lbs, 15 ozs caught by 54 year-old William Pugsley of Randolph on May 20. William was fishing from his boat on Lake Hopatcong when he landed the fish at 10:00 a.m. A spinning rod and reel was used with a worm rig. The fish measured 25½ inches in length. Girth size was unavailable.
Striped Bass - 56 lbs, 15 ozs caught by 38 year-old Ron Faust of Lansdale, PA on October 31. Ron was surf fishing in Barnaget Light when he hooked the fish at 6:45 a.m. Twenty-pound test line was used with a 10' Shimano Spinner rod and Penn 7000 reel. Ron didn't share with us what he used for bait. The fish measured 48½ inches in length with a girth of 29 inches.
Black Drum - 78 lbs caught by 54 year-old Phil Fors of Brigantine on June 8. Phil was surf fishing the Brigantine North End when he reeled in the fish at 5:30 p.m. Thirty-pound test line was used with a 12' Break-A-Way Rod with clams as bait. The fish measured 52 inches in length. Girth size was unavailable.
Winter Flounder - 4 lbs caught by 27 year-old John Chan of Edison on December 8. John was fishing the Belmar Jetty when he caught the fish at 11:30 a.m. Ten-pound test was used with a Daiwa rod and reel with clam strip as bait. The fish measured 20 inches in length. Girth size was 16.5 inches.
Fluke - 10 lbs, 12 ozs caught by 39 year-old Patrick Donnelly of Brick on August 25. Patrick was fishing from his boat in Seaside when he caught his fish at 10:40 a.m. Twenty-pound test was used with a Shimano rod and a Garcia 5500 reel with bait. The fish measured 29 inches in length. Girth size was unavailable.
Kingfish - 2 lbs, 4 ozs caught by 59 year-old Barry White of Little Egg Harbor on October 16. Barry was surf fishing at Barnegat Light when he landed the fish at 8:00 a.m. Fifteen-pound test was used with a custom fiberglass rod and Newell reel. Clams served for bait. The fish measured 16½ inches in length. Girth size was 9 ¼ inches.
Tautog - 13 lbs, 4.8 ozs caught by 24 year-old Greg Eastburn, Jr. of Tuckerton on April 11. Greg was fishing on the boat, Miss LBI, when he reeled the fish in at 12:00 p.m. Thirty-pound test was used with a Gold Cup rod and a Penn 965 reel. A green crab served as bait. The fish measured 25¾ inches in length with a 20-inch girth.
Weakfish - 10 lbs, 12 ozs was caught by 46 year-old Stanley Klimek of Sayreville on May 3. Stanley was fishing from his boat in the Delaware Bay when he caught his fish at 7:00 p.m. Twenty-pound test was used with a custom rod and Penn reel. A Bucktail Jig served as the lure. The fish measured 29" in length. Girth size was unavailable.