Sportsperson of the Year Dinner/Dance

by Paul Turi

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association December 2005 Newsletter)

On Sunday, November 13^th, JCAA held its annual Sportsperson-of-the-Year award dinner/dance at the beautiful Crystal Pt. Yacht Club in Pt. Pleasant.  This year’s honoree was Bruce Freeman.  Bruce was nominated for this award by the Berkeley Striper Club and was elected by JCAA member clubs at our general membership meeting in October.

 Bruce has spent almost forty years working to protect the marine resource along the Atlantic coast.  He worked for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services Bureau of Sport Fisheries, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife.  Bruce designed the original bonus tag program for striped bass.  In 1989 he also helped convince the Director of Fish and Wildlife to support legislation to make striped bass a game fish.  Bruce puts in numerous hours both as an employee and a volunteer beyond what is required by his job.  He attends many functions beyond his work responsibilities. 

On behalf of the JCAA and its member clubs, I would like to congratulate Bruce on being elected this year’s sportsperson-of-the-year.

 Our guest speaker this year was Martin McHugh, Director of the New Jersey Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Paul Smith, on behalf of Greg Kucharewski, Chairman of JCAA’s Youth Education Committee, presented this year’s Youth Education Award to the Absecon Saltwater Anglers.  Jim Van Daly, president of Absecon Saltwater Anglers, asked Larry Carlson to accept the award on behalf of their club because Larry’s dedication and hard work he puts into the youth education program within Absecon Saltwater Anglers. 

This affair is JCAA’s second largest fundraiser, and as of this writing I can report that it was very successful.  This event could not have taken place without the generosity of the many people and companies that donated the various items that were auctioned off and given away as door prizes.  I would be remiss if I did not mention each and every one of them because JCAA could not exist without their generosity and support.  

The following is a listing of all our sponsors who donated prizes, and on behalf of JCAA, I would like to thank each and every one of them:

Innovative Textiles, Luhr Jensen, Jarvis Walker, Maxima America, Yakima Bait Co. (Wordens Lures), Anglers Book Supply, Matzuo America, Top Brass Tackle, Optimum Bait, O. Mustad & Son, Solunar Sales Co., Ironwood Pacific, Inc., Fred Waltzinger, Chambliss Marine, Capt. Jim Hull (“Suzie Girl”), Schuyler Tuna Club, Absecon Saltwater Anglers, Julian’s Bait Co, Inc., O.B. Fish Co., LLC, “Sea Fox”, Schneider’s Restaurant, “Miss Belmar”, Fisherman’s Den, “Skipper”, Bernadette Turi, Fisherman’s Headquarters, Johnson Industries, Don & Sue Marantz, Craig & Linda Jarman, Roger & Janice Staib, MT Master Plumber Plumbing & Heating, LLC, Regis Hair Salon  (Lawrenceville), Fisherman Magazine, NJ Angler Magazine, Bimini Bay Outfitters, Rogue Rods, Canyon Gear, Al Ristori, Lou Graziola, Forked River Tuna Club.

Special thanks to the Fisherman Magazine for the beautiful Steve Goione prints they donated for each table. 

Special thanks also to Dr. Pat Donnelly for the terrific job he did again this year as our Master of Ceremonies.    

I would also like to thank all the fishing clubs that took a table:  Manasquan Fishing Club, 4 B's, Newark Bait & Fly Casters, Saltwater Anglers of Bergen County, Hudson River Fishermen's Association, Hi-Mar Striper Club, Forked River Tuna Club, Berkeley Striper Club, Absecon Saltwater Anglers, Jersey Coast Shark Anglers.

I would also like to thank the many individuals and organizations who also attended and who have shown their support of the JCAA.  

Also, special thanks to Dan Miller who handled the ticket sales and Ed Cherry who helped me with the many donations that came in.  I would also like to thank Don & Al Marantz, Mark Taylor, Tom Fote, Tom Siciliano, Frank Richetti, Rich Pasko, Phil Celmer and Bruce Smith. 

I hope I have gotten everyone and every company and organization that participated to make this event a successful one this year.   If anyone has fallen through the cracks and I have neglected to mention them, I apologize in advance.  I have made every effort to keep accurate records, but, unfortunately, not everything gets into my hands the way I would like it to.

Again, on behalf of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association, thank you, everyone!

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