This annual event continues to be tradition for many surf anglers at the start of the fall fishing season.  Quite a few of the registered anglers participate in this tournament every year.  Some fished at the inception of the event, competing in the youth divisions, and now years later enter with their own children. 

            Some individuals donate a considerable amount of time to make this tournament a success each year.  Participant anglers and observers only see the activities on the day of the tournament, but a great amount of work and planning goes on throughout the year.  It is up the volunteers from the NJBBA, JCAA, and NJ Federation of Sportsmen’s clubs to make it happen!

            Unfortunately, sponsoring state agencies do not currently have the financial resources to do everything that is needed for a successful event.  This has put an increased burden on the importance of volunteers to carry the work load. 

            This year we had ample help with registration and other administration duties on the day of the tournament, but we saw the possibility of a breakdown in another aspect of the event.  The beach judges, who measure fish caught by the participating anglers, are probably the most important group of volunteers on tournament day.  There are usually between 25 and 40 judges to cover the length of the beach in the park.  This year only 10 persons showed up to volunteer as judges. 

It was fortunate that there were a good number of fish caught, and measured, and that the pace was steady.   Judging procedures could have turned into a real disaster if there had been any kind of fast paced catch rate, such as a wide spread bluefish blitz.   All of the tournament sponsors must be aware that this type of problem could sour the public, and the Governor of the State of New Jersey, on future participation. 

            The joint committee, who plans and expedites each year’s tournament, meets several times during each year.  Issues such as rules, entry fees, tournament brochures and posters, mailings, prizes, tournament hats and shirts, and judging procedures must be decided many months prior to each tournament.  

            The three sportsmen’s organizations that co-sponsor the tournament each have large statewide memberships.  If the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament is going to continue to be a success, more year round participation from these organizations is a necessity.  This high profile event has provided great publicity for all of the groups involved for 15 years.  There has never been any incident that has tarnished the tournament in the eyes of the public.  Now is not the time for our organizations to drop the ball and ruin a proven success.