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Youth Education Report
by Greg Kucharewski
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association November 2003 Newsletter)
IT’S ZERO DARK THIRTY - DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILD IS?
Dennis Laureigh knew exactly where his son was the morning of the 12th Annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament. Travis Laureigh was reeling in a linesider that he hooked into at Island Beach State Park. After a short struggle he landed his prize catch and removed his lucky black Bomber plug. The catch was recorded by one of the many New Jersey Beach Buggy Association volunteer judges that ride the beach in four wheel drive vehicles. Judges only record eligible fish that are stated in the tournament rules and Travis’s Striped Bass met all the requirements of a winning entry. Travis caught a 35 ½ inch Striped Bass weighting 14 pounds 4 ounces. Dennis Laureigh stated that his family fished the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament together for the past two years. Travis started fishing at five years old and began surf fishing when he turned ten years old. The Laureigh’s are a fishing family team and visit Island Beach State Park once or twice a week to enjoy the outdoors and surf fish. Travis was not the only youngster fishing the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament. He had plenty of competition from teenagers and other children his own age and younger. Travis won the tournament out fishing veteran anglers and tournament hot-shots that prepare for the tournament well in advance by checking out the cuts and sandbars along the shore at Island Beach State Park. I spoke with Travis after the tournament and asked him how he liked fishing and he answered, “It’s really cool and a lot of fun just trying to catch a fish.” The next day when Travis returned to his sixth grade class his classmates knew of his victory and were excited to hear about the size of his fish. His teacher became interested about Travis’s weekend of fun and asked him to complete a writing assignment about his fishing experience. In my opinion, the whole family deserves an A+ for promoting strong family values and healthy outdoor activities. Travis was awarded several prizes at the Governor’s Cup award ceremony and his name will be inscribed on the Governor’s Cup. But, the prize he said he will treasure the most is the SEEKER Rod that Butch Nappie, SEEKER RODS, donated. Travis said he liked the custom fishing rod because it had Governor McGreevey’s name inscribed on the design wrap and nobody else has a fishing rod like it. Congratulations to Travis Laureigh! He became a veteran angler at eleven years old by winning the largest one-day surf-fishing tournament along the Jersey Shore.
JCAA YOUTH EDUCATION AWARD
Rosemary Beales will receive the Jersey Coast Anglers Association 2003 Youth Education Award for her continued promotion of teaching middle school students and their families about the “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs” program. Rosemary is a certified instructor for the Future Fisherman Foundation, and since 1993 we have collaborated our efforts in a program titled, “Hooked on Fishing… Not on Drugs.” Rosemary has enhanced this nationally recognized program with marine and environmental science activities. Her efforts have made this program more educationally and recreationally gratifying. She also received the New Jersey Association of Supervisors of Curriculum and Development Award and was the recipient of the Best Practice Award for the State of New Jersey. The award will be presented at the JCAA Annual Sportsperson-of-the-Year Award Dinner, November 9th, 2003.
BECOMING AN OUTDOORS WOMAN
The day before the 12th Annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament a BOW Surf Fishing Workshop was conducted by the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife. Several volunteers from a variety of outdoor organizations and fishing enthusiasts assisted with teaching thirty-eight women and their guests about the sport of surf fishing. The program started at 9:00 a.m. and ended at 4:00 p.m. with novice anglers ready to test their new skills and compete for the Governor’s Cup. During the instruction period women learned about terminal tackle, fish biology, where fish find food, rods and reels, outdoor gear, how to read the beach, baits and lures, knot tying, NJ fishing rule/regulations, casting, how to clean a fish and fishing the beach. A few men and women managed to catch a fish and release them at the water’s edge. Not bad for their first time surf fishing. BOW participants returned the next day to fish in the reserved area that was marked for physically challenged angles and the BOW participants. Next year we hope to expand the BOW Surf Fishing workshop and offer an advanced course to the program. The BOW Surf Fishing program is very successful and NJ Fish & Wildlife Officials are always looking for creative ideas to make the program interesting for everyone attending the surf fishing.
WATER WORKS WONDERS AT IBSP
Over 200 children received “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs” goodie bags for participating at the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife and Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s drug awareness activity booth at the Governor’s 12th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament. Wayne Tonneson, NJ Conservation Officer and NJ State Coordinator for the Future Fisherman Foundation’s “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs” program, demonstrated saltwater fly tying and taught children basic fly tying. Many children had a chance to witness Wayne tying flies that you can use as a decorative fly pin. I was lucky enough to receive a fly pin from Wayne and I display it proudly on my lucky fishing cap.
Special thanks go out to Morgan Murphy, Billy Williams, Mr. Tim, and Eleanor Bochenek for assisting at the Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s booth. We also thank the many volunteers, judges and sponsors of the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament that make the tournament a great success.
A very successful “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs” and RBFF Water Works Wonders Passport to Fishing and Boating program was also presented at the pavilion area before the awards ceremony.
If your fishing club or organization would like information about JCAA youth education seminars, please e-mail Greg Kucharewski at Gkucharews@aol.com and enter HOFNOD in the subject line.