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Past and Future
by Paul Smith GSFT Committee
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association January 2004 Newsletter)
The Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament is now considered a "must do" annual event for many anglers from every part of New Jersey. The ultimate goal for each angler is to catch the largest fish of the day and be awarded the coveted Governor's Cup. To be presented the Cup personally by the Governor of New Jersey is a dream for many of the participants.
Even though many winners are seasoned surf anglers, there have been twelve different winners of the Cup in the 12-year history of this event. There is truly an opportunity for every participating angler to catch the largest fish of the day. Cup winners include adult male and female anglers and, in 2003, an 11-year old boy proved to be the best of the day.
There are also awards for fish caught in various categories by anglers of different age groups. The Governor, or dignitaries from the Department of Environmental Protection, awards many prizes to these lucky anglers. There are several anglers who now win prizes as adults, but won their first as children, or teens, a decade ago.
It is interesting to see some of the very young anglers arrive with their parents at the registration desk at 5 AM on the day of the tournament. The adults may look half-asleep, holding a cup of coffee, but the kids are animated and eager to get to the beach. It is particularly gratifying to see some of these same young anglers accepting prizes at the awards ceremony.
The prime objective of this tournament is to provide a day of enjoyment for all of the participants. Many anglers have also been introduced to the quiet beauty of Island Beach State Park for the first time while taking part in this event. Some do not realize this represents what the shore environment was like before the onslaught of progress.
One of the unexpected benefits of the Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament (GSFT) has been a continued source of funding for many important projects. The following have been accomplished with funding from the GSFT
· Educational materials and field study equipment to use in support of the Barnegat Bay Kayak Tour and Environmental Education Enhancement Program. This program is designed to introduce adults and children to the natural wonders of Barnegat Bay and help them become more aware of the importance of a healthy and clean environment.
· Purchase of specialized balloon tire beach wheelchairs, which provide beach access for the disabled and elderly.
· Planning and design of the beach access ramp connecting parking area A7 to the beach in Island Beach State Park. This wheelchair accessible walkway provides access to the beach for many anglers with physical limitations.
· Purchase of a saltwater touch tank and associated educational equipment for the Island Beach State Park Interpretive program.
· Educational displays used in the Interpretative Center at Island Beach State Park.
· Purchase of classroom materials necessary to train 30 instructors for the Hooked on Fishing- Not on Drugs (HOFNOD) program in New Jersey
· Construction of two, mobile fishing equipment trailers for use in fishing education programs throughout the state of New Jersey. Rods, reels, and other necessary fishing equipment were purchased for the trailers and both are restocked each year as needed.
· Fishing equipment for the annual “Becoming an Outdoor Woman” surf and fly-fishing programs. The BOW surf-fishing program will be held at Island Beach State Park on Saturday, October 5 this year.
· Fishing equipment for the Sedge Island fishing and environmental education program.
· An automatic heart defibrillator unit for Island Beach State Park. Island Beach State Park was the first state park in New Jersey to be equipped with this vital piece of life-saving equipment.
· Continued funding has been granted to the JCAA Youth Education Committee for its various statewide presentations in conjunction with the “Pathways to Fishing” and “Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs” programs.
· There was a very successful Surf Fishing Clinic program at Island Beach State Park in the summer of 2003. Over 200 anglers learned the basics of surf fishing and the marine environment during weekly sessions throughout the summer. Park personnel and knowledgeable volunteers skillfully ran the program.
Everyone realizes that this tournament has become a huge success story on several levels. The one element lacking is enough willing persons to take part in the joint committee that plans the event and makes it happen as planned each year. We have committee members from each of the sponsoring organizations, which are JCAA, NJ State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, and the NJ Beach Buggy Association.
Some of the current GSFT committee members have been working on this tournament since its inception. We need additional volunteers from JCAA to take part in the GSFT committee on a year-round basis. I know there are many competent persons in JCAA member clubs who are interested in promoting surf fishing and the other goals of this event. We need several to step up and become part of this prestigious annual undertaking. Please contact Paul Smith at p.n.smith@att.net for more information
