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by Paul Turi
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association November 2004 Newsletter)
Don’t forget the Jersey Coast Anglers Association will be hosting its annual “Sportsperson-of-the-Year” awards dinner/dance as a fundraiser on November 14, 2004 from 4:00-9:00 p.m. at the Crystal Point Yacht Club, RT. 70 & River Rd, Point Pleasant, NJ. We will honor this year and past years' recipients of our “Sportsperson-of-the-Year” award. Past honorees include legislators, environmental leaders, outdoor writers and other worthy recipients.
This year’s keynote speaker will be George Poveromo, Senior Editor of Salt Water Sportsman Magazine and host of George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing on ESPN2.
At our September general membership meeting we will be taking nominations for this year’s sportsperson of the year. So, if you or your club would like to nominate someone as this year’s honoree, please present a short biography as to why you or your club feels this person should receive this year’s award.
The ticket prices will be the same as last year. Individual tickets are $60 each and tables of 10 are $500, which is a $100 savings. This will be a semi-formal sit-down dinner with choice of entrees and a cash bar. So get a group together from your club or organization and come to the dinner/dance and have a great time.
Many clubs subsidize the cost of the tickets for their members. Some clubs pay for an entire table of 10, while other clubs will pay for the member’s ticket and the member only has to pay for his significant other. One club I know of pays $10.00 towards the purchase of tickets for their club members. I would urge other clubs to do the same so their club can be represented at the affair. Remember, this is a JCAA fundraiser and as such the proceeds for the affair go towards the representation of recreational anglers in Trenton and Washington.
There will be Door Prizes and a DJ.
If you or your club would like to donate a prize, please contact me, Paul Turi, at (609) 597-3193. Remember also, JCAA is a federal non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and any donation you make to the event is completely tax deductible. I am in desperate need of door prizes and silent and Chinese auction prizes!!! Please, whatever you can help us with will be greatly appreciated.
Dan Miller will be co-chairing the event this year and tickets can be obtained by calling Dan at (609) 641-7821.
If anyone would like to nominate someone as sportsperson-of-the-year, please write a short biography as to why that person should be sportsperson-of-the-year and present it at the next general membership meeting on October 26th. So far we have only received one nomination. The Hi-Mar Striper Club has nominated Len Fantasia as this year’s sportsperson-of-the-year and below is a letter JCAA has received stating the reasons why Len Fantasia deserves to be this year’s sportsperson-of-the-year.
“I am writing this letter to nominate Lenny Fantasia for the "Sportsman of the Year Award". Lenny is a man of unquestionable integrity and is committed to enhancing the quality of recreational fishing. Due to his undaunted efforts, fishermen enjoy an abundant catch throughout the season.
Despite the many threatening letters and antics, all of which have been attributed to the commercial fishing interests, he steadfastly remains loyal and devoted to his cause - to restore Menhaden to the local fishing areas. He has rejuvenated the sportsmen-like spirit of fishing.
Lenny began his mission in 1988, meeting with Marine Fisheries. Through Lenny's efforts, they were successful in getting the reduction boats moved 1.2 miles offshore. Bait boats were restricted in size, had to have the letter "B" placed on their boats, and had to stay 6/10th miles from land.
Approx 5 years ago, along with Greg Hall, Lenny began the "Menhaden Project" due to the increase in bait boats. The objective was to get the reduction boats 3 miles offshore and the bait boats out of the bay and 6/10th mile offshore. The results were that the reduction boats were banned from state waters and bait boats were closely monitored while still keeping 6/10th mile from land.
Lenny then turned his efforts to challenging the ASMFS with regard to their prejudice of not including recreational fishermen on their Board along with commercial fisherman. Needless to say, he won his point. Recreational fishermen now enjoy a position on the ASMFS Board.
Lenny is also a proponent of tag and release fishing. On one occasion, he caught a 37lb striper, weighed it at a dockside scale, tagged it and spent 15 minutes in the water "walking” the fish until it swam away to fight another day.
I can go on and on with regard to Lenny's arduous efforts on the part of recreational fishermen. However, I feel certain you can judge the caliber of Lenny Fantasia for the reasons I have attempted to put down on paper. I feel Lenny is worthy of this prestigious award.
Thank you in advance for any consideration given this request.”
Gene Nigro, President
Hi-Mar Striper Club
