Youth Education Report
This event is hosted by Mr. Vito Cardinale who owns Lake Julianna which he stocked with channel catfish and largemouth bass.
To register, visit this link at Eventbrite or contact Don Marantz at donmarantz@optonline.net or by phone at (908) 347-1435.
Karen Noe and Don Marantz are selling Kid’s Wish’N to go Fish’N towels to help fund our veteran and youth fishing programs. Support JCAA and youth fishing by volunteering. You can register as a JCAA associate member at this link.
The 34th Annual Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament (GSFT) will be held at Island Beach State Park on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Get ready to enter the largest surf fishing tournament along the Jersey Shore. Don’t miss a day of family fishing fun! Pick up a brochure about the tournament at Island Beach State Park or at your favorite tackle dealer. Remember, admission to the park is FREE for the tournament. For early registration, click here. Early registration will end April 19, 2025.
We would like to remind our physically challenged anglers that there is an area at OBA 1 with beach wheelchairs available. Anglers that are not able to walk in the sand can now get to the water and try surf fishing. The JCAA Youth Education Committee is helping novice and physically challenged anglers at the Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament. Celebrity Ford, Toms River, NJ will assist physically challenged anglers with a NEW 2025 4x4 VIP vehicle to transport anglers that will be fishing the reserved area in front of OBA 1. Members of the Vietnam Veterans of America (Chapter 12) and volunteer anglers from various fishing clubs will also aid physically challenged anglers. If you know a disabled veteran or angler that would like to fish the tournament, please phone Kevin Nolan, American Warrior Outdoors at (732) 504-5492.
The Jersey Coast Anglers Youth Education Committee is encouraging high school students to participate in the Island Beach State Park 34th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament. High school teams are already gearing up for the tournament. Five students per team plus a high school representative must accompany each high school team. If you know a school team that would like to register for this event, please email Karen Byrne at: karen.byrne@dep.nj.gov.
Please visit the JCAA website for updates and don’t forget to register for the Free NJ Saltwater Recreational Registry Program.
The State of New Jersey 34th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament at IBSP is looking for volunteer judges to ride the beach during the tournament and verify the length of fish caught by contestants.
Volunteers that would like to be a part of the tournament and measure fish will receive a 2025 judge’s hat and compensation for fuel on the beach. We already have some Play HOOK-e from PTSD veteran volunteers signed up to judge.
For details phone Gary Conk at (9609) 556-9241 or to become a volunteer judge, please contact Ken Hollins, Judge Chairman, at rugburnsbleed55@optimum.net.
NJ Fish & Wildlife's Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center is offering several programs this summer for students interested in exploring the salt marsh through hands-on activities. For more information on the Sedge Island Education Center, click here. For the Sedge Island Field and Research Experience program registration, register at this link.
The Hooked on Fishing - Not on Drugs Program’s Youth Fishing Challenge is a free statewide event to promote fishing among youths and their families. The 2-day 10th Annual Youth Fishing Challenge will be held on Free Fishing Day Saturday June 7, 2025 and on June 8, 2025. To participate in this event, please contact the site-specific host for registration details from the link provided above.
Newark Bait and Fly Casting Club Kid's Fishing Night, Marc Rogoff, Education Specialist from NJ Fish and Wildlife NJ “Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs” was their guest speaker for the night. Visit their website to view details about kids fishing and annual veteran fishing trip on the Charter Boat Mi-Jo.
The HRFA will supply all equipment and bait free for their annual ‘Hooked on the Hudson’ Kid’s Fishing Event. Fishing information and assistance will be available, and prizes will be awarded. View details here.
Fins For Freedom will take place on May 17, 2025. Fishing and the day's events will be held at Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina, 2 Simon Lake Drive Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716. For more information visit their website.
On March 4, 2025, veterans from all military branches of the armed forces enjoyed freshwater fishing at the Play HOOK-e 8th Annual “Take a Veteran Fishing Day.” The CVE fishing club and Ellesmere E residents hosted the annual event that helps veteran men and women take time to heal by teaching them fishing skills and introducing them to activities that can reduce PTSD symptoms. Over 30 veterans participated in celebrating at the event that honored veterans for their service. Five veterans from NJ traveled to attend the event and enjoy the camaraderie of other veterans while fishing.
Pat Costello, US Army Veteran improving his fishing skills said: “I loved being around other veterans as they cheered my big snakehead catch.”