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Fluke Tourney Breaks Records
by John Gieser - Asbury Park Press 6/11/02
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association July 2002 Newsletter)
Records fell in every direction in the Jersey Coast Fluke Tournament held Saturday.
A record field of 1,003 boats and an estimated record 5,000 anglers competed in the event. They caught a record number of big fluke.
The heaviest of all -- and a record -- was a 9.9-pound giant caught by Don Hillegass of Beachwood. He weighed his fish at Southwinds Marina, Lacey.
Hillegass' fish and the other 11 top fish weighed at each of the 12 weigh stations throughout the state won $1,000 prizes.
Hillegass's trophy measured 29 1/2 inches long, 2 1/2 inches longer than the second-place, 9.4-pounder that Bryan Pieros of Whitehouse Station caught and weighed at Southwinds.
The heaviest fluke caught last year in the Jersey Coast Anglers Association-sponsored tournament was a 9.05-pounder taken by John Fawcett of Barnegat. It was also weighed at Southwinds.
In 2000, Vernon Walker Jr. of Mays Landing caught the top fish - a 7.91-pounder - and weighed it at Ocean City. Jack Vitali's 7.65-pounder was the heaviest fish in 1999. It was weighed at Clark's Landing Marina, Point Pleasant.
The third heaviest fish in the tournament this year was an 8.88-pound fluke caught by Bill Duggan of Little Egg Harbor. It measured 27 1/2 inches long, and was the heaviest brought in to be weighed at Fisherman's Headquarters, Ship Bottom.
The fourth heaviest fluke was an 8.80-pounder caught by Ken Fujimori of Berkeley. It measured 25 inches long, and was weighed at Southwinds. The fifth heaviest was an 8.31-pounder caught by Mike Oniel of Lawrenceville. The 28-inch fish was the largest weighed at Fisherman's Den, Belmar. The only other fluke over 8 pounds, was an 8.25-pounder caught by Frank Cocciolillo of Forked River. It measured 26 1/4 inches and was weighed at Southwinds.
Other $1,000 winners included: Masahiro Nouchi, Jersey City, 4.40 pounds, weighed at M.& M. Tackle and Bait, Jersey City; Rudolph Kastner, Fair Haven, 7.78 pounds, weighed at Julian's Bait and Tackle, Atlantic Highlands; Don Parr, Brick, 7.05 pounds weighed at Clark's Landing, Point Pleasant; Michael Smith, Little Egg Harbor, 7.66 pounds, Great Bay Marina, Little Egg Harbor; Tom Boudy, Brigantine, 5.57 pounds, weighed at the Sen. Frank S. Farley Marina, Atlantic City; Bill Burnick, Hatboro, Pa., 6.36 pounds, weighed at Fin-Atics Bait and Tackle, Ocean City; David Venti, Woodland, Pa., 5.66 pounds, weighed at Avalon Point Marina, Avalon; George Slobodjian, Twin Oaks, Pa., 7.20 pounds, weighed at Jim's Bait and Tackle, Cape May; and Gabe Trout, Gibbstown, 5.19 pounds weighed at Higbee's Marina, Fortescue.
The unique part about the Jersey Coast Fluke Tournament is that it is not over, and the biggest prize of all -- a 194 Cobia boat, Yamaha outboard engine and LoadRite trailer worth $32,000 -- could be won by anyone entered in the tournament.
There will be a drawing from the pool of 1,003 boat entries at 8 p.m. June 14 at the Trump Marina Hotel Casino in Atlantic City. The winners of the last seven grand prizes did not catch a fish in competition.
The only stipulations are that someone from the boat's team must register between 1 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. June 14 to enter the JCAA drawings, and that at least one person from the team must be present for the grand prize drawing and any of the door prizes.
One year, the winner of the grand prize did not claim the boat, motor and trailer, and it was awarded to the second name drawn.
In addition, there will be a drawing for a Dodger Viper offered as a promotional event by the casino. To be eligible for the drawing on the car, participants must register at the casino before June 14.