1st Annual Fall AtlanticAnglers.com / Harbor Tackle Rockfish Tournament Results

[Pier_man0909]

well, here is my report from the tourney. got to harbor tackle at 3 am, cleaned them out of bunker and got a ride on to the orv entrance. lines in around 5 am, CRABS! then the sum came up and the crabs died down a little. Phil (nice meeting you) caught a 29" next to me but I didn't have such luck. I caught 5 skates and a little bird. as the day progressed the hope got dimmer and dimmer and I wasn't feeling good at all so I decided to pack it up and I left at 11:30. I didn't have enough bait anyways so I figured I'd just cut my losses. my new rod is sweet, I just need to get used to it. I have been throwing a 10 foot stump for the last 10 yrs and a 12'6 fast action is quite a change.

[Sam]

A great turnout with 45 participants hitting the beach in search of the Fall Striped Bass.

The winners are:

• Longest Rockfish - Dave Swenson --- 49" Saturday 10:35 am
  
• Second Longest Rockfish - Dan Davis --- 40 1/2" Saturday 3:01 pm
  
• Most Rockfish Caught (at least 28") - Nancy Fullard --- 36" Saturday 6:57 am

There were eight fish caught total. The prize for most rockfish caught by one angler was an eight way tie. In the case of a tie, the first fish caught wins.

Congratulations to all anglers who caught fish.

- Nancy Fullard: 36" Saturday 6:57 am
- Steve Coleman: 30 1/2" Saturday 8:20 am
- Phil Krute: 29" Saturday 9:20 am
- Dave Swenson: 49" Saturday 10:35 am
- Roger Gross: 31 1/2" Saturday 1:00 pm
- Scott Cooper: 31" Saturday 2:10 pm
- Dan Davis: 40 1/2" Saturday 3:01 pm
- Chis Krest: 29" Sunday 10:45 am

I would like to thank everyone involved in this event including Terry and Bev at Harbor Tackle, Ron and Cliff for helping out with the judging on Saturday and each participant who made this tournament possible.

[Sam]

Very nice setup you've got there, Matt. I hope you feel better soon.

Good to see you again.

[igormothra]

WAY TO GO MOM!!!!!!! And a big congrats to everyone who caught a rock!!!!!

[Sam]

I had a great time. It was cold, but nothing too unbearable. Thanks to everyone who had food, drinks and great conversation.

Sorry about not being to get down south... Sent the better half (actually, it was her idea).

[Coop]

Had a great time in the tourney,,,Sam and the folks from Harbor Tackle did a awsome job.

I fished with Herb, not sure of his screenname, and Tom (Penn Pal),,,I managed a 31 on Saturday and a 27 and 25 on Sunday,,,fished real hard trying to get that second fish but came up a tad short on the 27,,,crabs were horrible, especially at night,,,ended up going through a whole flat and had to use floats exclusively at night,,,I wasn't going to fish the entire time but decided to stay, a little chilly at night but I am glad I did,,,a good time,,,thanks for the breakfast Tom and Herb,,,it was darn good,,,nothing like the smell of bacon in the am,,,look forward to fishing with you guys again.

Talked with Phil throughout the tourney keeping me informed what was going on up the beach on the northern end,,,he told me oceanoma landed a 36,,,congrats on a great catch!!! ,,,and getting into the money with the first,,,couldn't happen to a better person,,,I knew you were going to get one with the time you have put in !,,congrats again,,,congrats to Dave catching that monster winning fish and others that caught fish,,,BTW, thanks Phil for picking up a flat for me,,,with the big blow a day before the tourney, I was really concerned about getting bait,,,thought I was going to have to use clam the entire time,,,thanks again.

Look forward to the next one.

[Coop]

Woops, forgot the pics.

[DaveH]

Thanks for sharing the photos,crongrats to everyone!Wish I could have been there.

[fish-aholic]

Good job everyone!!!!!!!!! Again I really wish I could've been out there!!!!!!!!

[Steve]

Great fishing NANCY!!!!!!!!!
Way to show those guys!!

Oh, of course, congrats to the "other" winners.

Ok, now I'll predict next year's results....
hehehehe

CG, you da man!

I know it had to be cold, every one of you that went out there deserve a fish dinner just for being there. Must have been a great time for all!

[ocsnapper]

Awesome job to Sam, and a special thanks to Terri and Bev from Harbor Tackle.
Not that I was able to get out there but I know that everyone that did had a great time can't wait to read and see the post. hope to fish with everyone soon in about 1 1/2 weeks my truck should be all broken in by then.

[Bohica]

Great job everyone, I wish I could've made it.

Way to go oma!!

[Randy Stinchcomb]

Congrats, great Job by all wish we could have been there

[Critter Gitter]

Thanks for great tourney Sam and Harbour Tackle. I have some pics later when I get home after work. Caught my only fish about 10:30 am Sat. Trying to get a second fish was more pressure than the first but never happened and I fished as hard as these old bones would allow. Single fireball rigs with large hook held bait forever from the crabs about 10in off bottom but my only fish was on a typical drum bottom rig. Coop, I see you were using fireball rigs-was your fish on one of those? Anyone else have any experience with catching stripers on fireball rigs? I had 2 or 3 out entire time and nothing touched them except spinys and skates but with so few fish around not sure it was the rig.
Carrie, sorry I did not have much to say but not sure I ever had to say something in front of a camera on the beach before. Not sure where that big fish came from but I think she was lost. Thanks again for freindly competition as I know you folks put a lot of work into this thing along with dealing with NPS regs and such. On my way out yesterday I found the prettiest cut in the bar I have seen all year and just had to fish till after dark but had no takers. Not sure when that hole developed but had I known I would have been parked there whole time. When I hit the beach Friday it was just one big slough and cuts were hard to read.

FISH ON!

[Coop]

Dave, none of the fish hit the cork floaters,,,had mine rigged 2 different ways,,,one was a leader about 3' tall with a dropper loop about 2' from the swivel and at the end of a leader the float, about 1' from the dropper loop,,,Guy next to me, Herb, made one with the float up 2' to 3' from the swivel then a leader with the hook about 1' above the float (both fish finder setups),,,decided to try both ways,,,no hits but chunks stayed on,,,I had 2 with floats and 2 without.

3 hours before the end, I got a 27 and 10 minutes later got a 25,,,on chunks,,,never worked so hard those last few hours to keep the crabs off the chunks,,,figured there had to be one at or slightly over 28,,,still nice to catch some fish.