Derby 2003

198 anglers put up with some pretty challenging weather conditions over the two day event. Rain in the morning of Saturday the 12th. Then it cleared up in to a beautiful day. Some anglers stayed out there overnight with lines in the water. Sunday was supposed to be warm and it turned out to be cold and windy. Whitecaps on the Hudson kept about 50 boats hunkered down on the south side of the Tappan Zee Bridge. Photos below.

1	Linton, Mark	25.08	38.75	4/13-0935	released
2	Chudkosky, Walter	23.94	37.50	4/12-1209	released
3	O'Shea, Jerry	21.72	37.00	4/12-1658
4	Rickli, Thomas J.	18.09	34.50	4/13-1518
5	Coxon, Michael	18.04	35.00	4/13-1626
6	Goyette, Robert	17.83	35.50	4/12-1300
7	Martin, Alex	17.41	35.50	4/13-1428
8	Pearson, Randy	16.02	35.50	4/13-1626
9	Morioka, Akihiro	15.33	33.25	4/12-1455	released
10	Sokolohorsky, Boris	14.49	32.00	4/12-1427
11	McGuire, Jayne	14.23	31.25	4/12-1548
12	Malm, Bill	13.82	31.00	4/13-1524
13	Drayton, Collette	13.5	32.00	4/13-1615
14	Fujitani, Kazunari	13.3	32.00	4/12-1455	released
15	Gabrielson Jr, Robert	13.24	32.50	4/12-1635	released
16	Grippo, Don	12.15	31.00	4/12-1451
17	Banahan, Mike	12.05	31.00	4/12-1541
18	Martin, Chris	12.04	30.25	4/13-1054
19	Povella, Joseph	11.71	31.75	4/13-1626
20	Frank, Mike	11.13	31.50	4/12-1459
21	Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi	10.75	31.50	4/12-1455
22	LaForge, John	10.24	28.25	4/13-1658	released
23	Nakatsuji, Mitsuru	9.22	28.50	4/12-1454	released
24	Weglinski, Steve	9.18	28.00	4/13-1617
25	Lewis, Noah	7.83	28.75	4/12-1516	released
26	Rhein, Alecia	5.37	24.00	4/13-1700	released
27	LaForge, John	5.01	24.00	4/12-1700	released
28	Knox, Glen	4.63	22.50	4/13-1647
29	Knox, Roger	3.41	26.50	4/13-1645
30	Boniface, David	3.36	20.00	4/13-1658	released
31	Weglinski, Walter	3.23	20.50	4/13-1616

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The Team that made this Derby happen

John Vargo "Boating on the Hudson"

Janet Irizarry and Steve Cross of the "Striped Bass" restaurant

Chas Stamm "Hudson River Fishermen's Association, NJ"

We wanted to put together a tournament that stressed "Catch and Release" The challenge was how to make it happen. The Hudson River Fishermen's Association put together a team of experienced anglers who specialized in "Catch and Release" fishing techniques. Their ideas and careful handling of the fish made this event a success.

The time of the year and the cold water, helped with the fact that every fish brought in to be released, survived.

Many fish were released by anglers before bringing them in as the leading fish were announced over marine radios on channel 68 and 88a. This prevented the need to bring a fish in if it were not going to be a contender.

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HRFA member Fred Rung brought his 26 foot Osprey in from Blairstown NJ to work the event. Fred rigged up a special holding tank for the fish to be released. The tank was fitted with a hose for spraying fresh, aerated Hudson River water over the gills of the fish. This was used to revive them while traveling out to the release area. The system worked perfect!

Fred, with the help of HRFA Director Glenn Blank had a 100% survival rate for the two day event.

	The system was simple. A washdown pump to a hose in a cooler. Next year we hope to have more boats rigged up this way. In the years to come we hope all our anglers will do the same to bring their fish in.
The simple live well worked well!	Click on the Photos !	Bye Bye!
Note the extra "V" Glenn cut in the tail to identify her.		That's a $1,000.00 Fish!
	HRFA Director Glenn Blank releases the winning 25 pound Striper!
Our goals were to begin a successful "Catch and Release" tournament for striped bass here on the Hudson. We proved it can be done. This was our first year. We learned a lot. Next year will be better. Here are some more photos of the event.
	Just click on any photo for a larger image

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John Vargo taking a well deserved break Sunday morning.

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A nice one comes in to the dock.

They're Lining up!

More Photos Hi Resolution!

Click Here!

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1st Place

$1,000.00

Mark Linton

HRFA Director Chas Stamm Presents Derby Winner Mark Linton with a check for $1,000.00 for his first place finish in the First Annual Striped Bass Derby

Mark's Fish

25.08 Lbs 38 3/4 in.

2nd Place

$500.00

Walter Chudkosky

HRFA director Chas Stamm Presents a check for $500.00 to Walter Chudkosky for his second place finish.

Walt's Fish

23.94 Lbs 37 1/2 in.

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3rd Place

$250.00

Jerry O'Shea

Jerry was not present at the awards ceremony. He has been mailed his 3rd place winning check for $250.00

Jerry's fish

21.72 Lbs 37.00 in.

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Winner of Golden Fishing Rod

For Releasing the Largest Fish of the Derby, HRFA Director Chas Stamm presents the custom made "Golden Fishing Rod" to

Mark Linton.

Mark's Fish

25.08 Lbs 38 3/4 in.

Released!

to fight again


The Release Team Glenn Blank and Fred Rung	Record Keeping Chas, Patrice, & Mary Ellen	The Weigh-in Team Carl Hartman And Nils Eckhart	The Awards Presentation Chas Stamm

Colette!	Good Looking Fish!

Is that Bob Jr.?		Walt & Grandson

	*The docking facilities at the Striped Bass Restaurant could not have been better. Plenty of room for many boats to come in and weigh their fish.*
Bob Gabrialson Jr. pulls in to weigh his catch.