SOUTH AMBOY MAN EARNS TOP HONORS AT GOVERNOR’S
SURF FISHING TOURNAMENT
(06/55) TRENTON - An angler from South
Amboy hooked a 33 ¾-inch striped bass and reeled in the
prestigious Governor’s Cup at the 15th annual Governor’s
Surf Fishing Tournament at Island Beach State Park in Berkeley
Township.
By catching the biggest fish of the day, David Salvagno,
bested 925 anglers who competed Sunday in the annual event, which
raises funds for marine-resource conservation and education in
and around Island Beach State Park and encourages youngsters and
adults to learn more about surf fishing. More than two dozen other
anglers also won prizes in various species categories. All 115
entries were judged for overall length of the fish.
Presiding over
the tournament, Governor Jon S. Corzine and DEP Commissioner Lisa
P. Jackson reminded participants that the Nov. 7 ballot offers
all New Jersey voters an opportunity to demonstrate their concern
for the quality of the state’s parks, wildlife areas and
historic sites. Public Question 2 asks voters to consider a constitutional
amendment that would provide a dedicated source of funding for
long-overdue maintenance and capital improvements at these treasured
sites - without requiring any new taxes.
As grand-prize winner,
Salvagno will have his name engraved on the Governor’s Cup,
permanently on display at Island Beach State Park, and received
a plaque and two rod-and-reel combinations. In 2005, Jackson Township
resident Carl Kogel earned top honors with a 34 ½-inch bluefish.
To
date, the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament has raised
more than $120,000. The funds have helped purchase specialized
balloon-tire beach wheelchairs to provide beach access for the
disabled and elderly, educational displays for the park’s
Interpretive Center, an access ramp connecting parking area A7
to the beach, an automatic heart defibrillator unit, two mobile
fishing equipment trailers for fishing-education programs statewide,
educational materials and field-study equipment for various environmental
education programs.
Following is a complete list of winners:
Blackfish
Category
Adult (Male)
First Place - John Salato, Toms River; 22”
Second
Place - Zoltan Egyed, Trenton; 20”
Fluke Category
Child (Male)
First Place - Jonathan Owens, Tinton Falls; 16 5/8”
Teen
(Male)
First Place - Brian Coopersmith, Washington; 17 5/8”
Second
Place - Alex Showell, Sweetwater; 16 ½”
Adult (Male)
First Place - Ron Shock Jr., Dumont; 17 5/8”
Second
Place - Kevin Martin, Bayonne; 17 ½”
Kingfish Category
Child (Male)
First Place - Nicolas Spadaro,
Rutherford; 14 7/8”
Second
Place - Noah McDonald, Williamstown; 14 ¾”
Teen (Male)
First Place - George Leager, Philadelphia; 14 ¾”
Second
Place - Dante Fusco, Mercerville; 13 ¼”
Adult (Male)
First Place - Paul Maden, Pitman; 15 ½”
Second
Place - Eric Polovina, Pompton Plains; 15 1/8”
Bluefish Category
Child (Female)
First Place - Samantha
Silva, Edison; 19 ½”
Second
Place - Rachael Vincent, Jackson; 15 7/8”
Child (Male)
First
Place - Noah Marcus, Berkeley Heights; 18”
Second Place -
Nick Miraglia, Somerset; 17 ½”
Teen (Female)
First
Place - Rachael Wohl, Voorhees; 19 ¾”
Second Place
- Danielle McGoldrick, Pocono Lake, Pa.; 17”
Teen (Male)
First Place - Paul Dippold, Toms River; 18”
Second
Place - Troy Beyrouty, Dayton; 15 ½”
Adult (Female)
First Place - Beverly Dwyer, Whiting; 21 ¼”
Second
Place - Michelle Pullen, Bordentown; 18 1/8”
Adult (Male)
First Place - Brian Koenig, Mount Laurel; 21 ½”
Second
Place - Gregory Rasar, Burlington; 21”
Striped Bass Category
Adult (Female)
First Place - Debbie
Burlingame, Neptune City; 28 ½”
Adult
(Male)
First Place - David Salvagno, South Amboy; 33 ¾” 2006
Governor’s Cup Winner
Second Place - Mark Newhart, Brown
Mills; 33 ¼”
The event was sponsored by the DEP’s
Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks & Forestry,
the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Jersey
Coast Anglers Association and the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association.
For
more information about the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament,
visit www.njfishandwildlife.com.
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