Brick Native Honored At Governor's Cup Fishing Tournament

(Ray Bukowski, NJ DEP photo)

ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK, NJ -- Ray Bukowski grew up fishing.

His dad, a Brick Township High School teacher, was an avid fisherman, and when Ray Sr. retired from his teaching career, he worked at Pell's Bait & Tackle on Mantoloking Road, dispensing fishing advice and information along with bait and tackle.

Ray, a 1988 graduate of Brick Township High School, fished the local waters, too.

"I have been a baymen, a waterfowl guy my whole life," he said in an August 2012 interview with the Patch about his role as the area supervisor in charge of Island Beach State Park. "I fished and surfed here. I'm a boat guy. I have a captain's license."

And it was only fitting that someone who grew up fishing at the Jersey Shore would be the one to help the state pick up the pieces at the park after Hurricane Sandy slammed the state in October 2012.

On Sunday, Ray Bukowski was honored by the New Jersey Beach Buggy Association for his work at the park during the 25th annual Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament. Bukowski is now the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection's assistant commissioner for compliance and enforcement.

The New Jersey Beach Buggy Association, which provides the judges for the tournament along with a lot of other volunteer help, has been a fixture at the park for decades. Its members have been driving its beaches and fishing them since the 1950s, and fighting to protect them since the start.

In gratitude for Bukowski's efforts, the NJBBA gave him a plaque and made him an honorary life member of the organization.

In addition to Bukowski, Paul Smith, the longtime treasurer of the Governor's Surf Fishing Tournament and past president of the Jersey Coast Anglers Association, was honored for the years he gave in support of the tournament, which he had been a part of since its inception.

The 25th edition of the tournament was won by Dakota Hahn of Toms River, who caught a 43.5-inch striped bass, the largest of 245 fish caught. There were about 600 anglers from all over New Jersey as well as out of state competing, according to the state Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Hahn, who posted a photo of the striper about 7:30 a.m. Sunday on his Facebook page, said the fish weighed 30 pounds and was caught on a chunk of bunker (also known as menhaden). He received two fishing rod-and-reel combinations, one of which was a 2016 TICA rod; a pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses and a plaque. His name also will join the 24 names that have preceded his on the Governor's Cup, which is permanently on display at Island Beach State Park.

The tournament began in 1992 and until 2013 was held the first Sunday in October. In 2014, the tournament was moved to the third Sunday in May. Some years the governor has made an appearance at the tournament; on Sunday, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno was on hand for part of the festivities, which included music played by NJ 101.5 at the tournament headquarters, which is the bathing pavilion at the main bathing beach.

The news release from the division said bluefish blitzes made for a great day of fishing. DEP Commissioner Bob Martin along with DEP Natural and Historic Resources Assistant Commissioner Rich Boornazian assisted with the awards ceremony.

In addition to the grand prize, 19 anglers received fishing rod-and-reel combinations for their prize-winning fish in the striped bass and bluefish categories. Winners are determined by the length of the fish.

There were categories for children, teen and adult anglers, including sub-categories for male and female anglers. The event was sponsored by the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife and Division of Parks and Forestry, the New Jersey State Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association, and the NJ Beach Buggy Association. In addition, prizes were donated by Costa Del Mar Inc., Chestnut Neck Boat Yard, Fish and Wildlife's Hooked on Fishing - Not on Drugs Program, Jenkinson's Aquarium, Legal Limits, Manns Bait Company, Silver Horde, and Stanley Jigs, and Bass Pro Shops.

All funds raised by the tournament go toward a variety of good causes, including the purchase of specialized wheelchairs that provide the disabled and elderly beach access, construction of access ramps for disabled saltwater anglers, surf fishing instruction programs and equipment, and marine education and restoration projects.

More than $130,000 has been raised since the inception of the tournament.

The full list of 2016 winners follows. Winners are determined by the length of the fish measured from the tip of the closed mouth to the fork of the tail, with ties broken based on the time the fish was caught.

BLUEFISH
Child (Male)
First Place - Caden Michalski, Edison, 36 inches
Second Place - Nathan Schwarz, Westchester, Pa., 34.5
Third Place - Allen Magre, Haskell, 34.25
Child (Female)
First Place - Jacklyn Janiec, Bloomingdale, 32.5
Second Place - Mackenzie Gordon, Toms River, 32 at 8:55 a.m.
Third Place - Olivia Boris, McDonald, Pa., 32 at 10:45 a.m.
Teen (Male)
First Place - Aiden (AJ) Elmore, Little Egg Harbor, 38
Second Place - Eric Mayers, Cranbury, 36
Third Place - Thomas Heffelfinger, Toms River, 34
Teen (Female)
First Place - Savanna Rodriguez, Reading, Pa., 36
Second Place - Shanna Hudler, Toms River, 30.5
Adult (Male)
First Place - Justin Barbier, Woodland Park, 39.5
Second Place - Keith Scharago, Beachwood, 38 at 7:15 a.m.
Third Place - Brandon Hewitt, Little Egg Harbor, 38 at 8:05 a.m.
Adult (Female)
First Place - Kaitlyn Bach, Toms River, 37 at 7:35 a.m.
Second Place - Donna McConnell, Somerset, 37 at 11:10 a.m.
Third Place - Alyssa DiMarco, Delran, 36-5/8

STRIPED BASS
Adult (Male)
First Place - Dakota Hahn, Toms River, 43.5
Second Place - Rich Bergman, Atco, 38.75
Third Place - Zoltan Eayed, Trenton, 31.5

*Only three striped bass were entered. Striped bass must be a minimum of 28 inches to qualify.