Participation was about 60 total anglers this year. 39 anglers shy of last year's mark and short of our goal to raise $500.00 for Reclam The Bay. Only 2 total signups on Long Beach Island which came from Jingles Bait and Tackle which is off by about 25 participants from last year total (just on the island.) A few signups here in Forked River at both Grizz's and Fish Bonz - not one in Pt. Pleasant, one signup at Rip Tide Bait and Tackle in Brigantine and mostly all from Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park. The rest came online. Greg from Fisherman's Headquarters said all tournaments are down due to the economy. What can you do? We gave it our best shot. We were on ESPN radio with Tom P, had articles and tournament notices in all the major fishing pubs., did cooking demos, fishing shows, joined fishing clubs and expected to build on the 100 fishermen from last year but it went the other way due to what I guess is economic factors - which is hard to argue. One thing that was disappointing was that many of our winners from 2009 and 2010 didn't participate again this year. Thanks to all the weigh stations that participate in helping us to raise money for a great cause and have a fun tournament, especially Grumpy's Tackle on Seaside Park who had 20 signups and 30 weigh ins. Either way, we had fun, raised some money, had 11 total winners - and held the world's only salt water garbage fish tournament, that we know of anyway, for the third year in a row. Total prizes are announced below.

What we did see was dogfish much bigger than last year. We had a bunch of dogfish weighed in that were over 14 pounds - the biggest going 17.45 pounds, weighed in at Grumpy's. That beats last year and our largest dogfish from 2009 was only 10 pounds - so maybe more people are targeting them or they are just getting bigger. We also had our biggest skate ever, but the sea robin seemed smaller this year, not getting near last year's biggest.

Category

Weight

Weigh Station

Contestant

Notes

Prize

1st place Sea robin

2.2 pounds - 16.5 inches

Mike also bagged a 2 pounder but each angler is only eligible for one placing in each category.

$175.00

2nd place Sea robin

1.90 pounds - 17 inches

Grumpy's Tackle

(caught last day of tournament)

$100.00

3rd place Sea robin

1.76 pounds - 16 inches

Grizz's Bait and Tackle

Bill is known up and down the east coast as one of the finest Sea Robin fishermen in recent history.

$50.00

1st Runner Up Sea Robin

1.75 pounds - 15.5 inches

$25.00 Gift Certificate - Grizz's Bait and Tackle, Forked River, NJ

1st place Dogfish

17.45 pounds

The biggest dogfish weighed to date in all three years of the tournament. Caught while chunking for browns.

$175.00

2nd place Dogfish

16.5 pounds

This beats last year's first place fish.

$100.00

3rd place Dogfish

15.45 pounds

$50.00

1st Runner Up Dogfish

14.05 pounds

$25.00 Gift Certificate to Fish Bonz, Bait and Tackle.

$25.00 Gift Certificate - Fish Bonz Bait and Tackle - Forked River, NJ

1st place Skate

5.16 pounds

Fisherman's Supply/Grumpy's Tackle

Apologies to Mike on the lateness of this post - (remember, nothing is official until we collect the forms) and thanks to Ronny from Fisherman's Supply and Tom at Grumpy's with help on this weigh in.

$175.00

2nd place Skate

4.5 pounds

Grizz's Bait and Tackle

I just bumped into Mike at Walmart gearing up for another run. It could be game over for the rest of you.

$100.00

3rd place Skate

4.1 pounds - 27 inches

$50.00

1st Runner Up Skate

3.86 pounds

Rudy Egberts 3.84 pounder, weighed at Fishermans Headquarters fell just 2, 100ths off 4th place.

$25.00 Gift Certificate - Lacey Marine, Forked River, NJ