YOUTH EDUCATION REPORT

By Greg Kucharewski

(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association (November 1999 Newsletter)

1999 YOUTH EDUCATION AWARD

The J.C.A.A. Youth Education Committee will present the 1999 Youth Education Award to the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association at the J.C.A.A. Sportsperson of the Year Award Dinner on November 14, 1999.

BECOMING AN OUTDOORS WOMAN AT IBSP

The J.C.A.A. Youth Education Committee lent support to the "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" workshop at Island Beach State Park. Twentyseven women and three husbands participated in the BOW workshop. Sixteen veteran surf anglers helped with surf casting instruction during the BOW workshop and Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament.

LOOKING FOR A CORPORATE SPONSOR

The Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s Youth Education Committee is looking for a corporate sponsor to help fund our safe boating campaign for the year 2000. Hopefully the corporate sponsor will help offset printing costs of 10,000 bumper stickers that will be used to increase drug awareness and safe boating. Distribution of the bumper stickers will be at Outdoor Sportsmen’s Shows and Boat Shows throughout the year by J.C.A.A. member clubs and organizations.

The year 2000 safe boating slogan is "STAY AFLOAT DON’T DRINK & BOAT".

J.C.A.A. MEMBERSHIP EVENTS LIST NEEDED

The Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s Youth Education Committee is asking J.C.A.A member clubs/organizations for a listing of scheduled youth and family events that are going to be held by your club or organization during the millennium. The purpose of this request is to alert other fishing clubs and organizations that would like to participate in your youth and family event. The J.C.A.A. Newspaper is a way to get the word out about what’s happening in your club. Use this opportunity to inform others about events your fishing club or organization is involved in. The Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s Youth Education Committee will support your event with "Hook On Fishing Not On Drugs" material. Please contact Greg Kucharewski with your listing of youth and family events and don’t forget the Sportsmen Shows (booth location) your fishing club or organization will attend. By providing this information your fishing club or organization can improve membership and increase consumer participation.

YOUTH FISHING ACTIVITY BULLETIN BOARD

HERE’S HOW A CIRCLE HOOK WORKS:

The most effective way to hook a fish with a circle hook is not to raise the rod in a quick motion, more or less to reel and lift at the same time. If you do the typical hook set, you will pull the hook out of the fish’s mouth. The fish grabs the baited hook and starts to swim away. The line tightens slowly and usually pulls the hook out of the throat and to the corner of the mouth, where the point rotates and pierces the jaw hinge or check. Once the fish is hooked, it cannot escape. According to manufacturers, advantages of the circle hook design include: increased catch rate, higher lip hook rate, which greatly reduces mortality; ease of use because the fish hooks itself; and less snagging in certain bottom fishing applications. Remember, avoid the typical hook setting practice.

Over a thousand circle hooks were provided for the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament and supplied by New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium’s New Jersey Sea Grant and tied by members of the Shore Surf Club.

COAST DAY SUPPORT

The New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium’s and New Jersey Sea Grant in conjunction with Jersey Coast Anglers Association’s, Youth Education Committee. Dr. conducted a youth fishing program in Cape May. Eleanor Bochenek, New Jersey Sea Grant, ran the program for approximately 30 children participated in the program held on October 3, 1999.

YOUTH CRABBING SEMINAR

Over 100 children attended the Jersey Coast Anglers Associations, Youth Education Committee’s Crabbing Seminar during the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament at Island Beach State Park. Children received "Hooked On Fishing Not On Drugs" stickers and a variety of fishing goodies supplied by funds received from the Jersey Coast Anglers Association and the Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament.

OUTDOOR SPORTSMEN SHOWS

The Jersey Coast Anglers Association's, Youth Education Committee, will be featuring special youth education seminars at upcoming sportsmen shows. Participating merchants at the hunting and fishing expositions will offer special promotions at their booths for children attending the Jersey Coast Anglers Association's Youth Fishing Seminars. Parents are also welcome to attend.

BE SAFE-HAVE FUN-ENJOY FISHING

Greg Kucharewski, a member of the Shore Surf Club, is the J.C.A.A. Youth Education Director. For information on aquatic youth education material write to: J.C.A.A. Youth Education Committee, 1201 Rt. 37 East, Suite 9, Toms River, NJ 08753 or phone the J.C.A.A. office at 732/506-6565 voice mail box #1

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