Asa Round Up

By Barry Gibson

Weather Major Story from Cape May Tournament

Saturday May 5th saw a beautiful start to the largest-ever spring tournament held by the American Striper Association in Cape May, New Jersey. The morning temperature was 61 degrees at check-out, winds were calm, and tournament contestants were anxious to get started after a three-and-a-half month layoff since the Virginia Beach tournament in January.

The action was slow as only 12 boats weighed in fish on day one. Team Tyman on a True World boat lead the field with a 31.90 striper. Close behind was Joe Vessosi on a Wellcraft with a 29.20 pounder. Bunker- Down, 25.20, Team Bluefin, 23.80 and Prime Coat, 22.25 rounded out the top five.

On day two the weather took a turn for the worse with 20-30 knot northeast winds and a forecast for higher gusts as the day progressed. Twenty-one teams decided to bear the wind and the slow fishing, yet only three were able to find bass for weigh-in. Team Tyman was the first boat at the scales with a 21.45 pounder, locking them in first place for the tournament. Bunker-Down followed with a 23.85. Dueceswild, with a 31-foot Fountain, weighed in a 20.6 for a 38.9 total and Capt. Ben Fischetti’s best ASA tournament finish, placing him third on the tournament money list.

ASA bonus money sponsored by Faria Marine Instruments went to Team Tyman and Bunker-Down for the heaviest fish brought in on Saturday and Sunday, Team Fast Forward earned bonus money for the lowest weight total, and Team PT 73 earned ASA bonus money in a random drawing of boats bringing fish to the scales. The Cape May Jr. Angler award went to Ann Unsworth who fished with her dad Matt on Mod Squad.

Team Rugged Marine wins American Performance Chesapeake Classic Striper Tournament Held May 11th-13th

Todd Sanders of Team Rugged Marine called ASA tournament officials early on Saturday to double check the opening of the scales for weigh-in. He caught his striper at 9 a.m. and was anxious to get it on the leader board. He had a six-hour wait since the scales opened at 3 p.m., but…..the wait was worth it! At 10 minutes after 3 p.m., the first fish weighed in at the American Performance Chesapeake Classic would give Team Rugged Marine the biggest fish of the tournament with a 44.7-pounder. This, combined with a second- day fish of 13.65 pounds, earned the team a win in the tournament as well as a continued lead in both Division 3 and Angler of the Year honors. Team Marlin Manic placed second with fish weighing 33.90 and 14.40 pounds. This second place finish keeps them just behind Team Rugged Marine in both Division 3 and Angler of the Year standings.

Rounding out the top five finishers were Team Murphy’s Irish Pub, Team Big Dog and Team Handyman. Luke Mooney on Team Murphy’s Irish Pub won Jr. honors and Edie Jett on Team Marlin Maniac won Top Female honors for the tournament.

34 of 38 Boats Weigh Fish in ASA Mercury Tournament Trail in Sandy Hook May 25 – 27th

The ASA Mercury Tournament Trail was in Sandy Hook, New Jersey, over Memorial Weekend. The tournament hosted by Bahrs Landing had a field of 38 boats with all but four weighing fish over the two days of competition. Captain Ken Zwirko of Team Bunker Down won the tournament and $5,000 with a total weight of 62.55 pounds, placing them in the money for the second time during the threetournament May stretch.

Team Bunker Down also won heaviest fish on Sunday as well as heaviest fish of the tournament (38.85), earning them an additional $1,850. Team Rockhound finished second with a 57.80 total, winning $2,236. Just Joe came in third at 55.30 winning $1,624 plus $250 for the heaviest fish weighed on Saturday (30.35). Out On A Limb took fourth place with 53.50 pounds, winning $500 plus another $960 for second heaviest fish of the tournament and Insufishent Funds 31 rounded out fifth place with a 53.10 pounder.

The Top Lady Angler was Kathie Hughes from Team Prime Coat with a 52.15 score. The Top Jr. Honors were shared by brothers Antonio and Daniel Gamboa fishing with team Andreas Toy which scored 38.65 lbs. Additional money was awarded to Team Jersey Devil for the third largest fish, $690 plus another $700 for a special bluefish division. Team Off The Hook took home the Bunker Award of $250 for the lowest total weight during the tournament. And Team Marlin Maniac won $250 by fishing with an AVET Reel on day one of the tournament.

Bunker Down Wins Second Consecutive ASA Tournament at Staten Island June 9th-10th

Bunker Down with Captain Ken Zwirko won the Michael’s Bait and Tackle Striper Tournament June 9–10 in Staten Island with impressive style. Weighing in the largest fish each day of the tournament, Zwirko accounted for the first and third heaviest fish out of the 28- boat field, giving him his second consecutive win on the ASA/Mercury Tournament Trail. Zwirko’s Saturday catch weighed 39.05 pounds and was followed by a 42.70 pounder on Sunday, giving his a total weight of 81.75 pounds and earning him a $7,100 payday as well as the lead in both Division 2 and the Angler of the year standings.

Team Fin Chaser brought in the second largest fish on Saturday at 34.90, followed by Team Insufishent Funds 38 at 28.70, Team Wet the Line at 28.25 and Team Jersey Devil at 26.85. On Sunday Team Jersey Devil had the second largest fish at 39.20 followed by Team Tyman with a 36.60 pounder, Team Fin Chaser at 33.20 and Team Wet the Line at 28.60. Ashley Judy, fishing aboard Amazing Grace, won the Top Lady Angler spot with a total weight of 38.10 pounds and Tyler Garcia won the Top Jr. Angler trophy fishing with Team Undisputed with a total weight of 54.20 pounds.

Team Orca Wins Snug Harbor Moon Madness Striper Tournament 2nd Year in a Row June 22nd-24th

Expectations for big fish were high prior to the Snug Harbor Tournament. Reports of big fish caught in the area during the week heightened the expectations for 50 to 60 pounders. Unfortunately, unseasonably cool weather and northwest winds kept weights below 40 pounds on Day One. Team Tyman had the Largest Fish for the day with 39.65, followed by Team Orca’s 37.10, Team Bite Back’s 32.35, Team Hapi Daze’s 32, and Team Cheap Shot’s 29.85.

At the end of the day, 10 pounds separated the first five boats, setting up Day Two for an exciting finish. The first boat to the scales was Team Bite Back with a 39.45, setting the bar at 71.80 lbs. as the score to beat. This score held up until the last fish of the day was weighed by Team Orca, a 46.05 pound striper, giving them a total of 83.15 and a winning paycheck of $6,050, which included the first place prize of $5,000, largest fish Sunday for $250, the largest fish of the Tournament for another $800, and giving him a repeat win.

Team Bite Back earned a second place paycheck of $1,512, as well as the third largest fish of the tournament for $320 and a special award of $250 for having the closest total to 75 pounds for the two-fish tournament. Team Tyman took home $480 for the second largest fish of the tournament as well as $250 for the Largest Fish on Day One.

Rounding out the top five fish on Day Two were Team Guppie Ann at 34.35, Team Cheap Shot at 33.55 and Team Shaw at 32.50. The top five places for the tournament were Team Orca, Captain Wade Callander at 83.15; Team Bite Back, Captain Glen Corsetti at 71.80; Team Tyman, Captain Charles Many at 69.68.65; Team Cheap Shot, Captain Harry Svenson at 63.40; and Team Guppie Ann with Captain Ben Ewing at 62.20.

Other prize winners in the tournament included Leah Skinner on Team TJ, Top Jr. Angler. The Top Lady Angler Award was shared by Sue Blackburn and Chris O’Brien on Team Rocket, and the Bunker Award, given out at each tournament to the ASATeam with the lowest weight recorded, went to Captain Brian Rivet on Team Reel Fun.

For complete standings and photos of these and other ASA tournaments visit www.fishasa.com