2023 NJ Skillful Angler Recognition Awards

[NJ219bands]

In 2023, I won 18 NJ Skillful Angler Recognition Awards, including a first place, Specialist Angler, and Elite Angler Award. Not bad for a 76 year old who only fished from shore in overcrowded, fished out public fishing areas.

[Broad Bill]

Congratulations on your accomplishments, outstanding! What categories were you recognized for and which species did the first place recognize?

[Gerry Zagorski]

Wow that’s quite an accomplishment. Congrats and well done!

[NJ219bands]

Originally Posted by Broad Bill

Congratulations on your accomplishments, outstanding! What categories were you recognized for and which species did the first place recognize?

First place catch and release kingfish caught in Manasquan Inlet on April 20 on a plain hook Ava A-17. 13 brown bullheads caught in Colonial Lake and Carnegie Lake with canned whole kernel corn. Someone beat my bluefish caught in Manasquan Inlet with a spoon in May. Two bluefish that I tagged in Manasquan Inlet last year were recaptured. Got 253 fish 🐟 tag returns now. Caught 97% less fish 🎣 this year than last year.

[Broad Bill]

Curious on average are most of your 253 tagged returns caught in the same general area you released them or more further south or north of where you initially caught and tagged them? I know that's a hard question to answer but just in general what would be your guess?

[NJ219bands]

Originally Posted by Broad Bill

Curious on average are most of your 253 tagged returns caught in the same general area you released them or more further south or north of where you initially caught and tagged them? I know that's a hard question to answer but just in general what would be your guess?

When I first started tagging in 1985, I tagged thousands of fish 🐟 on the Barnegat Inlet north jetty that were recaptured from NH to NC to the canyons to Troy Dam, NY, to Patapsco River, MD, to Oyster Creek, NJ. Since 2012 I only tagged fish 🐠 at Manasquan, NJ, and most were recaptured nearby. This year ALS has dart tags that I may try but Berkeley Striper Club had a very low recapture rate probably due to tag shedding. A striper expert showed me photos of striped bass that were injured by spaghetti tags. They should be banned.

[Capt. Debbie]

Congratulations!

Originally Posted by NJ219bands

In 2023, I won 18 NJ Skillful Angler Recognition Awards, including a first place, Specialist Angler, and Elite Angler Award. Not bad for a 76 year old who only fished from shore in overcrowded, fished out public fishing areas.