JCAA $75,000 Fluke Tournament
Sets New Standard
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association - July 1997 Newspaper)

The 3rd Annual JCAA Fluke Tournament held on May 24 set a new standard for a popular fishing tournament that has quickly become the biggest in New Jersey. This year, the Fluke Tournament peaked at $75,000 in prizes, including a Grand Prize of a 19-foot Cobia boat with a 115 h.p. Yamaha outboard engine. The tournament also attracted many national sponsors, such as Pentax, Olympus Cameras, Edy's Grand Ice Cream and many others.

This year's tournament also saw the creation of the Junior Division for fishermen under 14 years old. The Grand Prize drawing in this division was a $1,000 Scholarship check awarded by Olympus Cameras. For the biggest fluke at each weigh-in station, the young anglers won $100 worth of Edy's Grand Ice Cream.

For the third consecutive year, the winner of the Grand Prize did not even catch a fluke during the tournament. Thomas Kowitski from Waretown, New Jersey, was the luck angler whose name was drawn for the 19-foot Cobia and Yamaha engine. The boat was rigged through the courtesy of Hobby Lobby Marina in Toms River. Bob and Tom Tweer were key contacts in preparing the Grand Prize. John Ranker, a representative from Cobia, p[pulled Kowitski's name at the awards ceremony at Island Beach State Park on the following weekend, May 31.

The winner of the $1,000 Scholarship check from Olympus Cameras was Christopher Yanucil from Hamilton, New Jersey.

Bill Vibbert, Superintend at the State Park, worked with the JCAA to waive all entrance and parking fees for all fishermen registered in the JCAA tournament.

Special thanks to JCAA Youth Education Chairman Greg Kucharewski and John DeFilippis of Atlantic Saltwater Flyrodders for the seminars they conducted during the awards ceremony.

More than 600 boats were registered in the JCAA tournament and the total registration would have been much higher with a warmer spring and later tournament date. JCAA directors are considering moving the tournament date into the month of June. It is also assumed that more boats would be in the water a week or two after Memorial Day. It is likely that the Junior Division will also be expanded.

TOURNAMENT WINNERS

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