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JCAA 7th Annual Fluke Tournament a Proven Success
916 Boats Competing
Richard Katchuk Wins Cobia Boat, Yamaha Engine & Shoreland'r Trailer
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association July 2001 Newsletter)
Anglers living within the tri-state
area of New Jersey and beyond showed their support for the Jersey Coast Anglers
Association by entering the largest one-day fluke fishing tournament along the Jersey
Shore. The JCAA is a non profit organization
that represents the environmental needs of marine sport fishermen, promotes economic
equality for all marine anglers using our aquatic resources and is deeply involved in
introducing our young people to fishing as an alternative to gangs, drugs and violence.
On June 9, 2001, a total of nine
hundred and sixteen boats with up to six anglers each were registered for the JCAA 7th
Annual Fluke Fishing Tournament. We estimate
that over five thousand anglers used their best fishing skills to compete for cash prizes
and a variety of fishing equipment that would satisfy any fishers’ dream. The grand awards ceremony was hosted by Resorts
Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ on Friday June 15 and our accommodations for the evening
were spectacular. Early arrivals enjoyed sit
down seating in Resorts spacious Starlight 1,425 seat Theater. Latecomers spilled over to
the ballroom, which also had two large screen video feeds and open bars. Gary Caputi, a freelance Sport-fishing writer,
once again did an outstanding job as the Master of Ceremonies. Gary set a new record, giving out 75 door prizes,
a boat, and motor and trailer and announcing 88 port prizewinners in about an hour. Tournament participant’s enjoyed the
luxurious setting of Resorts Casino Starlight Theater and Ballroom to witness the drawing
of the Grand Prize: a 18 foot 6 inch Cobia Boat with a 115 Horsepower Yamaha Outboard
Motor on a Shoreland’r Trailer; and fabulous 75 other door prizes worth over ten
thousand dollars from our sponsors. The
Cobia Boat, Yamaha Engine and Shoreland’r winner for the 7th Annual Jersey Coast
Fluke Tournament is Richard Katchuk. His boat
number was 398 and the name of the boat is About Flukein' Time. Right on Richard! Mr. Katchuk held with tradition he had not weight
in a fish in the tournament. We have yet to
have a port prizewinner with the grand prize. It
just shows you that all you have to do is register in the JCAA Fluke Fishing Tournament to
be a big winner. Congratulations to Richard
and his family. We hope they enjoy the Cobia
Boat with Yamaha Outboard Motor and Shoreland’r Trailer.
This tournament could not have been
possible without all the time and effort put in by Rich Pasko, our Tournament Director. Rich’s volunteer work made this the biggest
tournament ever in New Jersey. Phil Celmer,
Rich’s assistant and our JCAA office manger, was in the office until all hours of the
night ensuring all the data was correctly recorded.
The JCAA board members would like to thank the families especially the
wives, Felicia and Rana of these two gentlemen for being understanding while they worked
on this tournament.
Sincere thanks go to all of our
sponsors. We appreciate their continuing support. The
major sponsors were; Resorts Casino Hotel, Cobia Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Shoreland’r
Trailers, Boater’s World Marine Centers, Raymarine, Canyon Gear Outfitters and
Stillwater Lures, Penn Reels, Reel Saver, The Fisherman Magazine, The New Jersey Angler,
Fisherman’s Headquarters and Starbrite. Major door prizes donors were Ocean Waves
Sunglasses, Penn Reels, Grizz’s Bait and Tackle, Pell’s Bait and Tackle, Manns
Lures, Lou Truppi, Canyon Gear, Stillwater Lures, Fisherman’s Headquarters, Butch’s
Tackle Eagle Claw, Boater’ World, Berkley Striper Club, Plano Tackle, Absecon
Saltwater Anglers, Sebago Industries, and many of the party boats of Belmar, namely Big
Mowhawk, Skippers, Captain Cal, and Big Marie,
The JCAA board members would like to thank everyone once again who volunteered time at this event, Especially Ed and Marilyn Cherry, Conrad and Ruth Treusch and many, many others.