There was only one doormat caught in Saturday's JCAA Fluke Tournament, but the $50,000 prize for the largest fluke exceeding 12 pounds wasn't approached by the 262 boats fishing out of nine ports in the statewide contest. Harvey Karp of Kearny boated a 28.5-inch, 10.28-pound doormat in the Hudson River to win at the Jersey City port in Liberty Landing Marina -- where the only other fluke close to doormat size finished second.
That 28-incher was boated by Bob Croker of Old Bridge on his brother Scott's Triton from Keyport. Capt. Joe Massa was aboard as they finished second for the second straight year. Last year it was Scott that caught the big fish that was weighed in the crowded Sandy Hook port. I suggested that they should have selected the Jersey City port which usually has one of the smallest entry lists -- which they did this year, only to end up in what turned out to be the hottest port. Only the top two anglers were from North Jersey, while the rest of the 10 places went to boaters from far south of there in Brick.
Despite all the boats fishing the Sandy Hook port at Gateway Marina in Highlands, there were very few fluke weighed there. Robert Moskal of Scotch Plains won the port with a 5.48-pound fluke as none of the top ten at the much larger port would have even placed at Jersey City. Indeed, the smallest place winner in the state (1.87 pounds) took the last spot at Sandy Hook.
Dave Lilly of Hazlet pounded Ambrose Channel from one end to the other and rarely saw a net move on other boats. Live baits, including spot, didn't produce, but he finally got into a little flurry late in the late -- though he didn't get back to Gateway in time with a 6-pounder.
The JCAA's complete list of winners follows at the end of this blog.
Capt. Ron Santee, of the Fishermen from Atlantic Highlands, said weekend fluke fishing was poor, but he's not complaining after what he considers to be one of the best fluke seasons in years.
There was a much better report from the ocean, as Capt. Ryan Bogan of Jamaica II from Brielle said fluking was slow during the week due to east winds and a big ground swell before bouncing back Saturday. Sean Elumba of Stamford, Ct. had his fluke limit by 9:03 a.m., and Dave Tootchen of Philadelphia did so 20 minutes later. The largest fluke of the week was an 8.2-pounder by Duane Lochteh of Philadelphia, who wasn't in the monthly pool.
HERE ARE THE JCAA WINNERS FOR 2016
* Denotes $50 Port Calcutta Winner
** Denotes $100 Port Calcutta Winner
$ Denotes $50 Overall Tournament Calcutta Winner
$$ Denotes $100 Overall Tournament Calcutta Winner
1. Jersey City
Name Hometown Entry # Weight Length
1st Karp, Harvey * ** $, $$ Kearny, NJ 87 10.28 28.50
2nd Croker, Robert Old Bridge, NJ 208 9.80 28.00
3rd Masso, Cody Brick, NJ 140 8.10 27.00
4th Gavrun, Michael Brick, NJ 82 7.45 25.50
5th Viola, Pat Brick, NJ 180 7.40 27.25
6th Gonzalez, Tony Brick, NJ 188 7.10 25.75
7th Buchanan, Thomas Brick, NJ 217 6.53 26.25
8th Murphy, Thomas Brick, NJ 70 6.16 24.75
9th Mitchell, Chuck Brick, NJ 12 5.71 25.50
10th Cordano, Daniel Brick, NJ 119 5.71 24.75
74.24 263.25
2. Sandy Hook
Name Hometown Entry # Weight Length
1st Moskal, Robert * ** Scotch Plains, NJ 136 5.49 23.50
2nd Kuncewitch, Joe Old Bridge, NJ 232 5.42 22.50
3rd Porter, Robert Andover, NJ 21 4.03 21.50
4th Morrell, Robert Port Monmouth, NJ 194 3.74 22.50
5th Ginda Joe Colonia, NJ 233 3.46 21.50
6th Conway, George Atlantic Highlands, NJ 23 3.45 21.50
7th Van Winkle, Tom Trevose, PA 107 3.39 20.50
8th Swartz, Dale Pittstown, PA 29 2.47 19.50
9th Gurski, James Nazareth, PA 114 2.31 19.50
10th Luciano, Nicholas Hillsdale, NJ 73 1.87 18.00
35.61 210.50
3. Shark River Inlet
Name Hometown Entry # Weight Length
1st Heiser, Greg * ** Milford, NJ 91 6.72 26.25
2nd Eden, James Lebanon, NJ 123 6.60 25.25
3rd Henry, John Robbinsville, NJ 55 6.53 26.00
4th Ferrante, Jason Pittstown, NJ 219 6.29 25.25
5th Temple, David North Hanover, NJ 5 6.00 24.75
6th Smith, Ryan West Orange, NJ 255 5.87 25.25
7th Brown, Bud Fairless Hills, NJ 243 5.36 23.50
8th Mizsak, George Hamonton, NJ 189 5.32 24.75
9th Gogan, Joe Groverville, NJ 151 4.98 22.00
10th Sykes, Peter Wall, NJ 172 4.88 23.25
58.53 246.25
4. Manasquan River
Name Hometown Entry # Weight Length
1st Sivo, Peter * ** Middletown, NJ 2 8.56 26.00
2nd Risden, Mack Tabernacle, PA 252 8.19 27.00
3rd Lake, Bob Brick, NJ 125 7.60 26.00
4th Kirchofer, Reese Pt Pleasant, NJ 240 7.02 25.50
5th Weinstien, Robert Brielle, NJ 251 6.70 24.50
6th Calve, Drew Toms River, NJ 242 5.715 24.50
7th Crilly, Jeff Toms River, NJ 203 5.68 23.50
8th Seraphin, Sean Pottstown, PA 178 5.62 23.75
9th Bogan, Ray Pt Pleasant Beach, NJ 264 5.20 23.00
10th Spinella, Bob Boonton, NJ 260 5.04 23.00
65.32 246.75
5. Barnegat Bay
Name Hometown Entry # Weight Length
1st Trimble, Tom * Toms River, NJ 115 8.69 28.00
2nd Bonilla, Pete Whiting, NJ 174 5.98 24.50
3rd Kostick, John Jr Lakewood, NJ 65 5.44 24.50
4th Patierno, Tom Brick, NJ 33 4.75 22.25
5th Paone, Zac ** Toms River, NJ 226 4.55 22.12
6th Itjen, Doug Barnegat, NJ 74 4.20 22.00
7th Broome, George Jr Forked River, NJ 49 3.30 20.38
8th Majewski, Alex Barnegat, NJ 244 3.06 19.50
9th Schacht, Walter Beachwood, NJ 59 3.01 20.38
10th Checiniski, Leon Barnegat, NJ 138 2.75 19.50
45.73 223.13
6. Long Beach Island
Name Hometown Entry # Weight Length
1st Paetzold, Jeff * ** Browns Mills, NJ 211 6.35 24.50
2nd Rooney, David Howell, NJ 262 5.95 23.75
3rd Cliver, Kevin Sellersville, PA 170 5.94 23.75
4th Amato, Steve Little Egg, NJ 228 5.80 24.50
5th Hiros, William Pemberton, NJ 150 5.11 22.50
6th Cognigni, Brian Burlington, NJ 165 4.79 22.75
7th Paolella, Dean Springfield, NJ 141 4.37 21.88
8th Phillips, Stephen Pemberton, NJ 105 4.21 22.38
9th Rust, Edwards Cherry Hill, NJ 32 3.61 21.63
10th Algore, Ron Manchester, NJ 177 3.14 20.00
49.25 227.63
7. Great Bay
Name Hometown Entry # Weight Length
1st Sullivan, Rick * Browns Mills, NJ 265 6.13 25.50
2nd Siciliano, Tom Little Egg Harbor, NJ 44 5.49 23.50
3rd Hagaman, Nathan Egg Harbor City, NJ 246 5.40 23.75
4th Van sciver, Albert ** Mt Laurel, NJ 193 3.52 21.00
5th Russell, Walt Hainesport, NJ 5 3.39 20.75
6th Nelson, Craig Chesterfield, NJ 99 3.11 20.00
7th Kosty, Andre Philadelphia, PA 97 2.60 19.50
8th none
9th none
10th none
29.64 154.00
8. Ocean City
Name Hometown Entry # Weight Length
1st Welch, Greg ** Townsend Inlet, NJ 210 5.24 24.00
2nd Smith, Brian * Sewell, NJ 117 4.84 24.00
3rd Burgess, Richard Avalon, NJ 62 4.69 23.50
4th Powell, Denise Seaville, NJ 199 3.98 21.50
5th Farabee,Bob Egg Harbor, NJ 7 3.89 22.00
6th Sajtlava, Raeann Monroeville, NJ 48 3.55 21.25
7th Fitzick, Tom Somes Point, NJ 106 2.75 19.50
8th Diorio Luis Milmay, NJ 127 2.61 20.00
9th none
10th none
31.53 175.75
9. Cape May
Name Hometown Entry # Weight Length
1st Mullen, Bill * ** Lester, PA 6 4.60 21.50
2nd Wilson, Gary Bensalem, PA 196 3.70 21.25
3rd Harley, Dan Hatboro, PA 159 3.44 20.25
4th Cornew, John Lindenwold, NJ 101 3.05 21.00
5th Ezixkson, Jack Paoli, PA 31 3.00 20.50
6th Hunter,Steve South Harrison, NJ 116 2.95 20.50
7th Simcox, Bill North Wales, PA 51 2.39 19.00
8th Madden, George Albion, PA 43 2.39 18.50
9th Crown, Joe Phoenixville, PA 83 2.36 19.00
10th none
27.88 181.50
Total Weight/Length-Ft 417.72 161