The Annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament (GSFT) will take place in Island Beach State Park (IBSP), NJ on May 17, 2015. This event is one of the most popular surf fishing contests for the individual angler on the East Coast. It is sponsored by Jersey Coast Anglers Association, New Jersey State Federation Of Sportsmen’s Clubs, NJ Beach Buggy Association, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, NJ Division of Parks and NJDEP.
This year’s GSFT will be the second to be held in the spring. The 2014 event in May proved to be a success with more fish caught by the contestants. The most important part in planning this tournament is always to provide the most enjoyable day of surf fishing possible for the participating anglers.
Special arrangements are available for handicapped anglers. Balloon tire equipped beach wheelchairs are available for anglers with disabilities. Volunteers will be needed to assist anglers with special needs who fish on tournament day. To volunteer, or to make arrangements for a handicapped angler, please contact Greg Kucharewski at: gkucharews@aol.com
We need your help, so please sign up to be a judge in the tournament. Each judge will receive a special issue Governor’s Cup Surf Fishing Tournament judge’s hat. In addition, a stipend is available to help offset the cost of fuel burned while judging on the beach. Also, the IBSP beach pass is not required for judge’s 4x4 vehicles during the hours of the tournament. Please contact Mark Pantle at: pantlesr@yahoo.com for more information.
Tournament t-shirts and hats will be available for sale inside the pavilion area after 10:00 am on tournament day.
There will be a raffle drawing for registered anglers in the tournament. Participants in the drawing must be present at the award ceremonies to qualify to win.
The GSFT Committee and several other organizations have donated funds to provide IBSP with 15 new beach accessible wheel chairs to replace the well-worn units that have been in use at IBSP. These chairs will be on display at the Pavilion at OBA#1 during the day of the tournament. More information on this program will appear in the tournament follow-up article in an upcoming JCAA Newsletter.
If you are interested in details of wheel chair use at the park, please contact the Island Beach State Park office at (732) 793-0506.
We hope you are planning to fish in the GSFT this year. If not, why not volunteer to help on the day of the tournament. Help is always needed at the registration desk, with sales of tournament hats and t-shirts, assisting anglers with special needs, and judging. Please contact Frank Dara at: fdar9@aol.com.
