June 10, 2011 - SJBCA Scholarship Winner Announced
The SJBCA Scholarship Committee has selected Conor Cahill of Shawnee High School as the 2011 winner of our annual college scholarship.  Conor, an avid fisherman and member of Top Rod Bassmasters, plans to pursue a degree in Environmental Studies.  Congratulations Conor!

June 10, 2011 - Precision Tackle to Provide Raffle Prize
Precision Tackle is generously donating a $50 gift certificate for the raffle we're holding at our Union Lake open buddy tournament on June 19.  The raffle will be open to anyone who participates in the tournament or shows up for the weigh-in.  Please show you support for the SJBCA by buying a few tickets.  Precision Tackle's online store can be found at www.pttackle.com .

May 18, 2011 - New Sponsor for Buddy Tournament Morning Lunker Prize
The SJBCA is proud to announce a new sponsor for the special morning lunker winner prize at our annual Union Lake open buddy tournament -- Sandpiper Motel of North Wildwood.  More information on this resort business can be found on their website at www.sandpipermotel-wildwood.com .  We thank them for their support of our event.

May 15, 2011 - DRFA Helps with Youth Fishing Event

Members of the Delaware River Fishermen's Association helped out with a fishing event for Cub Scouts in Robbinsville, NJ, on Sunday, May 15. Members Steve Steinmetz,  Chick Bay, Scott McDonough

and Joe Newton spent the day giving casting lessons, baiting hooks, untangling lines and keeping score for about 30 kids.

April 13, 2011 - Scholarship Application Due Date Nears
High school seniors who are interested in applying for the SJBCA's $500 college scholarship are reminded that the deadline for submission of applications & supporting materials is May 1.  This scholarship is available to students in southern/central NJ, southeastern PA and northern DE who are entering a college degree program that may one day benefit fishermen (eg, fisheries management, marine biology, etc).  More details on this program are available on our Scholarship Information page.

April 2, 2011 - Clean-up Held at Rainbow Lake WMA Following their club tournament there, the South Jersey Hawg Hunters held a shoreline and parking lot clean-up at Rainbow Lake WMA.  As the club's "adopted" lake, Rainbow gets a good clean-up two or three times a year.

SJ Hawg Hunters

March 16, 2011 - Another New Member Club
At the March member meeting we admitted Rippin Lipz Bass Club to the SBJCA.  Welcome to the Association guys!

March 5, 2011 - Another Successful Flea Market! Our annual Fishermen's Flea Market at the Millville Elks Lodge was a big success again.  We had a packed house of vendors & customers, some great seminars, tons of door prizes, and lots of tackle, equipment & boats for sale.  The winner of our freshwater tackle box raffle was Bob Russell and the winner of the saltwater tackle box was Edwin Cruz.  Thanks to all of the volunteers, vendors and customers!  Photos will be posted on this website soon.  (Next year's event will again be on the first Saturday in March.)

February 17, 2011 - February Member Meeting Held at Barrington Clubhouse

After our members voted for a temporary change of meeting venue, we took Barrington Rod & Reel Club up on its offer to host the February 16 meeting.  Attendance was great, with a packed room.  Plaques were presented to our fishing excellence and youth activity award winners for 2010. The featured speaker was Roy Abbate "the Battery Guy" from Batteries Plus on Rt 73 in Mount Laurel.  He passed along a lot of great information about batteries and battery care.  He gave away as a door prize a battery tender valued at $60.00.  He also extended a purchase discount offer to SJBCA club members (details are posted in the Member Discounts section).  Thanks to BRRC for hosting our meeting!

February 17, 2011 - North East River Voted as Location for Bass Bowl
At the February meeting, our member clubs voted to have the North East River (Susquehanna Flats area) in Maryland as the location for our 2011 Bass Bowl on October 16.

January 19, 2011 - 2010 Fishing Excellence and Youth Activity Award Winners Announced
Final submissions were accepted at the January member meeting for our 2010 fishing excellence and youth activity awards. In order to win these awards a club has to have submitted a nomination form by the beginning of the January meeting.  Plaques will be presented to the award winners (and the Bass Bowl winning team & lunker winner) at the February member meeting.  The award winners for 2010 are:
Heaviest Lunker -- Chris Oeser, South Jersey Hawg Hunters, Davis Mill Pond, 7.48 lbs.
Heaviest 3-Bass Limit (Lunker Lake) -- Bill Leach, South Jersey Hook This, Parvin Lake, 10 lbs 0 oz.
Heaviest 5-Bass Limit -- Jack Justice, 4th Ward Bass Anglers, Potomac River, MD, 15.68 lbs.
Heaviest 6-Bass Limit (Lunker Lake) -- Scott Bowen & Bill Ridel, South Jersey Hawg Hunters, Lake Assunpink, 10.46 lbs.
Heaviest 10-Bass Limit -- Spencer Hatton & Joe Reiss, Top Rod Bassmasters, Elmer Lake, 18 lbs 13 oz.
Major Youth Activity -- Kickin Bass Fishing Club, "Woodbury Heights, Glen Lake, Kids Fishing Derby".

January 19, 2011 - Locations Nominated for 2011 Bass Bowl
Six locations were nominated by our member clubs for the location of the 2011 Bass Bowl on October 16.  The official location will be decided by a vote at the February member meeting.  The locations nominated are:  Beltzville Lake, PA; Candlewood Lake, CT; Lake Hopatcong, Hudson River, NY; North East River, MD; and Union Lake.

---

November 29, 2010 - Fee Established for Tidal Fishing Registration
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced that their annual National Saltwater Angler Registry will now cost $15.00.  Fishermen who plan to fish in tidal (or marine) waters in coastal states that do not have a saltwater fishing license must register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry.  Examples of the waters where registration is required are:  Delaware River, Potomac River, Susquehanna Flats.  You only need to register once per year, regardless of how many states you fish in.  This registration was free for 2010.  You can register online or by phone and they'll send you a card with your registration number on it.  Click here for more information on NOAA's National Saltwater Angler Registry website.

November 18, 2010 - Tournament Picks Made at November Meeting
Our annual process for picking dates & locations for open buddy tournaments and club tournaments at WMA lakes took place at the November member meeting.  Following the pick process, clubs began submitting their 2011 club tournament schedules.  All of this data is being compiled into the initial version of the 2011 "Conflict List" and clubs will be notified of any issues that need to be resolved.

October 23, 2010 - SJBCA Runs Kids Fishing Activity at Pine Hill Six SJBCA volunteers ran the kids pond fishing activity at the HarvestFest/Trailblazer event held at the Pine Hill Scout Reservation on Saturday, October 23.  Despite limited fish bites, a good time was had by the large number of kids who participated.  Click here for photos from this year's event.

October 17, 2010 - Top Rod Repeats as Bass Bowl Winners Top Rod Bassmasters won the SJBCA's "Bass Bowl" for the second year in a row.  Once again their six-man team easily out-distanced the other clubs by weighing in 23.06 lbs of bass, to win by a margin of over eleven pounds. Steve Steinmetz of Pine Cone Anglers took the lunker prize with a 3.01 lb fish.  This year's event, held at the Delaware River for the first time, had ten clubs enter.  Click here for the full results and photos.

Top Rod Bassmasters

October 3, 2010 - SJBCA Holds Kids Casting Event SJBCA volunteers manned a booth and ran a kids casting activity at the Sportsmen's Jamboree, east of Millville, on Saturday & Sunday, October 2 & 3.  Al & MaryAnne Franchetta coordinated these activities and also gave away door prizes.

September 25, 2010 - DRFA Runs Kids Fishing Activity
Someone in the city of Camden came up with the idea of holding a kids fishing event there in the city at a pier right on the Delaware River.  The SJBCA was approached about providing some fishing expertise

to instruct the kids and provide fishing gear.  A call went out for volunteers and members of Delaware River Fishermen's Association stepped up.  DRFA member Chick Bay reported that this inaugural event was very successful, with 35-40 kids participating.  The kids caught small stripers, perch, sunnies and a lot of spot.

Volunteers and kids at Camden fishing event

September 19, 2010 - SJ Kayak Bass Fishing Club Works on Lake Audrey On September 19, the South Jersey Kayak Bass Fishing Club conducted a shoreline clean-up and shoreline tree-cutting  project at Lake Audrey WMA.  (The tree cutting was done with State permission.).  SJKBFC had adopted this lake earlier in the year as part of the SJBCA-NJDFW adopt-a-lake program and this was their seond clean-up at the lake.

 
September 15, 2010 - Another Club Joins SJBCA
At the September member meeting we admitted  a new club to the Association -- Prme Time Anglers.  Welcome to the group guys!

September 12, 2010 - Bass Stalkers Hold Lake Clean-up On September 11, the South Jersey Bass Stalkers conducted a shoreline clean-up following their club tournament at Maple Lake WMA.  Even a couple of club members who couldn't make it to the tournament showed up for the project.  The Bass Stalkers had adopted this lake earlier in the year as part of the SJBCA-NJDFW adopt-a-lake program.

August 21, 2010 - Youth Outdoor Day Introduces Kids to Fishing This year's South Jersey Youth Outdoor Day saw 150 kids and their parents get the opportunity to try out a wide variety of outdoor activities.  The SJBCA hosted a booth with free fishing tackle & event t-shirts.  We also loaned out fishing rods, handed out bait, conducted a kids target casting activity, held a bass boat display, helped the kids & parents with the pond fishing, and took kids out on half-hour fishing trips on the Salem Canal.  In addition to the fishing activities, there were numerous shooting-sports activities, water sports activities, booths, displays and demonstrations.  More details on this event can be found on the event website at www.sjyouthoutdoorday.org.

 

July 21, 2010 - Annual Barbecue Meeting Held at Parvin State Park As usual, our July member meeting was held at the Thundergust Picnic Area at Parvin State Park. The meeting featured a free barbecue, with other assorted donated food, prepared by SJBCA volunteers. In addition to the usual Association business, a custom made fishing rod was presented to Carmen Bersani for accumulating over 110 participation points. (The custom rod is the third level award, after receiving a light fishing jacket and a heavy fishing jacket at lower point intervals.)

Rob Kunze & Mike Graham

June 20, 2010 - Taylors Take Annual Union Lake Buddy Tournament
Joe and Jack Taylor weighed in five nice bass for 13.29 lbs to win the SJBCA's annual Union Lake Open Buddy Tournament.  Second place was a seven bass limit weighing 10.23 lbs brought in by Nelson Hares and Steve Cram.  3rd place was a six bass 9.96 lb bag weighed in by Chick Bay and Scott McDonough.  The winner of both "The New Jersey Angler" Magazine Morning Lunker Award and the overall lunker award was a 4.59 lb largemouth weighed in by Shawn Mangan.  Click here for complete results.

May 19, 2010 - Two More Clubs Join SJBCA
At the May member meeting two clubs joined the Association.  We admitted one club that has been in  existence for decades -- Swimming River Bassmasters -- and one brand new club -- South Jersey Reel Burners.  Welcome to the group guys!

May 17, 2010 - Volunteers Needed for Aug 21 Youth Day
Volunteers are needed to help run the fishing-related activities at the annual South Jersey Youth Outdoor Day on Saturday, August 21.  This event is held at the Salem County Sportsmen's Club from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm.  Anyone interested in helping out can contact Fred Lentz.  All volunteers earn a point towards an SJBCA fishing jacket.  More details on this event can be found on the event's website at www.sjyouthoutdoorday.org .

April 16, 2010 - First Adopt-a-Lake Clean-up Held On April 10, the South Jersey Hawg Hunters bass club conducted a clean-up of the shoreline, ramp and parking lot at Rainbow Lake WMA in Pittsgrove.  The Hawg Hunters had adopted Rainbow as part of the adopt-a-lake program instituted this year.  Click here for photos of the clean-up on their website.

March 19, 2010 - SJBCA Scholarship Program Reminder
Members are reminded that the deadline for submission of applications for our annual scholarship program is May 1.  A scholarship of $500 is available to a high school senior who is entering college in a degree program that may one day benefit fishermen (e.g., fisheries management, marine biology, etc.).  All details on the program requirements and the application form are available in the Scholarship Information section of this website.

March 18, 2010 - Adopt-a-Lake Program Available for SJBCA Clubs
The southern region of the NJDFW Bureau of Land Management has agreed to our proposal for an adopt-a-lake program for Wildlife Management Area lakes.  Under this program, bass clubs can arrange with NJDFW to "adopt" one of the WMA lakes in the southern region (below the Mullica River) and take some responsibility for its upkeep and improvement.  Adopting clubs will be expected to conduct a shoreline clean-up two or three times a year (with NJDFW providing & removing the trash bags) and those clubs can propose lake & facility improvements and be involved in any projects undertaken at their lake.  Click here for more details on the SJBCA website.  If you have any questions or want your club to get involved in this program, please contact SJBCA VP Joe Hoban by email at  jhoban1115@comcast.net .

March 17, 2010 - Widjeskog Speaks at Member Meeting Lee Widjeskog, Regional Superintendent at the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife's Bureau of Land Management was the featured speaker at our March member meeting.  Lee provided updates on all of the recent and upcoming improvements at the Wildlife Management Area lakes within his territory, including Lake Audrey, Shaws Mill Pond, Maskells Mill Pond and also Salem Canal.  Lee stayed around until the meeting was over to answer more of the members' questions.

Lee Widjeskog

March 10, 2010 - Sunset Lake Information
The Bridgeton Recreation Department suggests that clubs call that department during the week before their tournaments to find out if anyone has the picnic area facilities reserved on the club's planned tournament date.  The recreation dept can be reached by dialing 856-453-1675.  Clubs that plan to use the picnic area facilities (e.g., for a public buddy tournament) must get a permit from the recreation department.  Permits for reserving the entire picnic area, including the boat ramp, must be obtained at least two weeks in advance and cost $75.00 (as of 2009).

March 6, 2010 - Fishermen's Flea Market a Huge Success Our annual Fishermen's Flea Market on March 6 was the most successful one we've ever hosted.  We had over 600 paying adult customers and about 50 vendor tables.  The winners of our raffles of fully stocked tackle boxes were:  Ron D'Agostino (saltwater) and Ed Duffield (freshwater).  The SJBCA thanks all of the vendors, customers and volunteers for their generous support.  Photos from this year's event can be viewed by clicking here.

Elks lodge marquee

February 19, 2010 - Free Magazines Available
The publishers of "Bass Club Digest" magazine make free copies available to bass clubs.  The magazine focuses on the activities of bass clubs and club tournaments, but also includes general articles on bass fishing.  There are three issues published each year -- pre-spawn, post-spawn and summer.  Member clubs can have copies of the magazine shipped to them (in a bulk shipment) by going to the BCD website at www.bassclubdigest.org , clicking on the "Club Registration" link on the left and completing the short form.

February 19, 2010 - Open Buddy Tournament Schedule Now Official
As the issuance of permits for tournaments scheduled at NJ Wildlife Management Area lakes has been assured, the 2010 schedule of open buddy tournaments hosted by SJBCA member clubs is now considered official.  We still anticipate that more buddy tournaments will be added to the schedule over the next couple of months.  Note that the SJBCA has rules stating that no two member clubs may host a buddy tournament on the same day and two on the same weekend must be at least fifty miles apart (unless both clubs agree to waive a rule).

February 18, 2010 - Tidal Fishermen Need to Register
Effective this year, all fishermen who plan to fish in tidal (or marine) waters in coastal states that do not have a saltwater fishing license must register with the National Saltwater Angler Registry.  Examples of the waters where registration is required are:  Delaware River, Potomac River, Susquehanna Flats.  You only need to register once, regardless of how many states you fish in.  This registration is free for 2010.  You can register online or by phone and they'll send you a card with your registration number on it.  Click here for more information on NOAA's National Saltwater Angler Registry website.

February 18, 2010 - New Club Joins SJBCA
At our February member meeting we welcomed a new club -- the South Jersey Kayak Bass Fishing Club.  This is a brand new club that is generating a lot of interest among local kayak fishermen.  All of their tournaments will be "paper tournament" format.

February 18, 2010 - Delaware River Selected as 2010 Bass Bowl Location
In a very close vote by our member clubs, the Delaware River was selected as the location of our annual Bass Bowl.  The launch site has yet to be determined, but we are planning to use the Gloucester City ramp if it is available on our tournament date of October 17.  More info to come.

February 18, 2010 - Fishing Excellence & Youth Activity Awards Each year, the SJBCA presents awards to clubs and club members who distinguished themselves during the past year by holding successful youth fishing-related activities and catching noteworthy bass in tournaments.  Nominations were accepted at the December & January meetings and the winners were presented plaques at our February member meeting.  The Bass Bowl winning team and lunker winner also received plaques at this meeting.  Outgoing president Carmen Bersani received a special plaque for his many years of dedicated service to the Association.  The 2009 award winners, as well as past winners, are listed in the Annual Awards section and photos of the awards presentations have been posted in the Awards Photo Gallery.

Outgoing president Carmen Bersani & new president Fred Lentz

February 18, 2010 - Bass Clubs Are Looking for New Members
Several SJBCA clubs are seeking members for the upcoming season.  If you or a friend are looking for a group to fish with, please check out the Member Club Profiles section of this website.  That section indicates whether the clubs are looking for members and whom to contact for more information.  Club fishing offers the opportunity to test your skills against other anglers and learn some new techniques & spots while you're doing that.  Three particular clubs that are very interested in new members -- boaters & non-boaters; experienced & less-experienced -- are: Limits & Lunkers Bass Club (fomerly Atlantic County Bass Anglers), Happy Hooker Bassers and South Jersey Bassers.  Their contact information is listed in their profile.

January 21, 2010 - SJBCA Elections Held
The annual election of new officers was held at the January member meeting.  Those elected to new terms were:  Fred Lentz, President; Rob Kunze, 2nd Vice President; Gary Corliss, Treasurer; Steve Steinmetz, Tournament Director; Mike Graham, Director; and Carmen Bersani, Director.  The offices of 1st Vice President (Joe Hoban) and Secretary (Al Franchetta) were not up for election this year.

January 21, 2010 - Bass Bowl Locations Nominated
At the January member meeting, nominations were accepted for the location of the 2010 Bass Bowl.  The location could not be one that was used in the past three years.  The locations nominated were:  Delaware River, Union Lake and Lake Hopatcong.  Regular member clubs will be able to vote on the final location at the February member meeting.  The date of the Bass Bowl is October 17.

BACK TO TOP OF PAGE