Ocean City Fishing Club Names 2017 Scholarship Winner

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Jacob Simone recently received a boost as he prepares to study marine biology at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina. The 18-year-old who recently graduated from Ocean City High School with honors is this year’s winner of a $500 scholarship from the historic Ocean City Fishing Club (OCFC), the club announced on Monday.

For the past 11 years OCFC has awarded a scholarship to a graduating Ocean City High School senior. Selected by the school’s faculty and administrators, the student must seek to continue his or her education in biology, environmental sciences, oceanography, or related fields.

Simone is already well-versed on the subject of fish and pelagic wildlife. He works during summers and spring breaks as a mate aboard a 32-foot charter boat berthed at Seaview Harbor Marina near Longport.

As mate on the Reelizer, a Luhrs Tournament Fisher captained by Vince Reale, Simone helps out on inshore trips and blue-water runs to the canyons. He rigs lines, prepares bait, gives encouragement to anglers hooked up with a big bluefin tuna, and filets the catches.

“I never get to reel the fish in,” said the tall young man with a bit of a goatee. “But when people catch a fish, I’m happy because I feel like I caught it myself.”

He has some advice for charter customers.

“First, always listen to the captain,” Simone said. “And when you’re on the boat deck, you should listen to me.”

He also enjoys their generous tips.

“Basically I get paid in tips and I greatly appreciate it,” Simone said. “But even without them, I’d still enjoy fishing.”

Captain Reale praised the scholar who works on his boat.

“Jake Simone is an absolutely wonderful young man,” Reale said. “He’s very prompt, responsible, astute, intuitive, and gracious. Always willing to learn and help in any way. And when it comes to fish stories, I have totally met my match with Jake. I could not ask for a better mate.”

Located near Myrtle Beach, Coastal Carolina University is a national sea-grant institution. When Simone isn’t sitting in lasses or cramming for exams down there, he hopes to earn extra money as a mate on a Palmetto State party or charter boat. His career goal is to do environmental research.

The 2017 scholarship recipient lives in Absecon with his mother and father, Tracy and John Simone.

Margaret Feil, of Ocean View, is the fishing club’s secretary and chairwoman of the scholarship committee. Founded in 1913, OCFC is the oldest, continually operating fishing club in the country.

Attached images were provided by the Ocean City Fishing Club:

Photo # 1: Jacob Simone discusses his future plans with Ocean City Fishing Club secretary Margaret Feil during a visit to the club’s pier.

Photo #2: Jacob Simone is ready for his next charter trip aboard the 32-foot Reelizer docked at Seaview Harbor Marina near Longport. (Margaret Feil photo)