THE waters surrounding New York City are a fertile area for marine life, but nowhere is the fishing more exciting and more dramatic than in the very waters that surround Manhattan.
It was around this canyon of steel, glass and concrete that I fished last Friday with Tom Fote aboard Steve Sloan’s boat Fishing Zone. We were part of the Manhattan Cup Tournament 2000, a world-class, catch-and-release fishing tournament sponsored by the Manhattan Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association.
The weather, if you need reminding, was brutal for a spring day in May. The wind howled out of the east at a very uncomfortable 20-25 mph, the temperature felt more like November, and to add insult to injury, it rained the better part of the day.
Yet, despite the conditions, we actually enjoyed ourselves. Both Steve and Tom were excellent fishing companions, and both have been dedicated to preserving recreational fishing and the marine environment for more than a score of years.
We fished the flats off Red Hook, we fished Diamond Shoals between the Brooklyn Bridge and Governor’s Island, and we also drifted beneath the great Lady Liberty herself, who seemed to be watching over us throughout the day.
Sloan fishes these waters often, so it came as no surprise that we caught fish at almost every drop. Fote was high hook with four fish, two of which were weakfish. There were six bass between Steve and me, all between 27 and 20 inches. There was also a small bluefish that jumped onto to Fote’s hook, so we give him the Hudson Grand Slam for his bluefish, weakfish and bass.
The CCA started this tournament a year ago to promote not only the conservation of striped bass, but to show the world that these waters offer some of the finest bass fishing along the East Coast. Those who fished on Friday were also not the usual die-hard tournament types, but rather an eclectic group of New Yorkers who were in it for the fun.
High Hook went to Vinnie Jordan, who took seven bass fishing with Capt. Tony Acabasio. Those who fished on the fly were led by Art Nudell, who landed a 17.25-pound bass fishing with Capt. Matt Morillo on Fly-A-Salt.
The winners were not the only ones who went home with prizes. Richard Reagan, president of The Norcross Foundation, a wildlife organization that awards grants to further conservation efforts, handed over a $10,000 check to CCA New York Director John McMurry.
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A campaign against ocean dumping will be launched on Saturday, which is Ocean Defense Day.
That day, from Long Island to Cape May, ocean advocates are urging beachgoers, concerned businesses, anglers, surfers, sailors and boaters to show their devotion to a clean ocean by wearing royal blue ribbons.
This powerful symbol of solidarity will send a clear message to elected officials and government agencies that we will no longer stand for ocean dumping of toxin laden mucks. On land, “Citizen Action Sites” will be set up from Long Island to Cape May. At each site, participants will be able to pick up ribbons, sign petitions and learn about ways to kill the Muck Monster. To locate a site nearest you, call Clean Ocean Action at (732) 872-0111.