It was a big day for Joseph Kornsey Jr. of Palmyra when he won the 24th Greater Atlantic Bluefish Tournament on Saturday, June 4. Not just because of money he won or a moment of fame - the crew of the Adult Swim, a 34-foot Luhrs Express, dedicated the tournament to his father, Joseph Sr., who died Jan. 27.
Kornsey Sr. battled cancer for four years. Kornsey Jr. said he fished weekends with his dad while he was dealing with cancer. Kornsey Jr. thinks fishing kept his dad going for a couple of years. Kornsey Jr. said the last fish his father caught was a sand shark in Great Egg Inlet last November.
So Kornsey Jr. and his pals pulled together in his memory. They included his brother, Christopher, who flew in from Chicago; their uncle, Karl Kornsey, of Maple Shade; Jim Birch and his son, Beau, of Somers Point; and Mark Healey of Maple Shade.
They won the tournament with a three-fish total weight of 37.31 pounds. Kornsey Jr. had the heaviest blue at 14.63.
Kornsey and crew made an offshore trip the week before, looking for bluefin tuna south of Atlantic City Ridge and came up with bluefish. So a week later, they were back. They went off to 28-Mile Wreck for a while, but came back to the Ridge, where they caught the largest of their 18 blues.
Second place went to Paul Galasso of West Caldwell at 36.44. He was followed by Bruce DeRites, Tuckerton, at 36.42; Bernard Swasky, Smithville, at 36.14; and Robert Pardun, New Egypt, at 35.57.
The flounder division was won by John Lawson of Macungie, Pa., with a 3.47-pounder. Keith McCarthy, Tuckerton, was second at 3.04 and Lance Maleski, Tuckerton, third at 2.97.
Dorothy Kornsey attended the awards banquet Sunday night at Elks Lodge in Brigantine. She went up to thank the GABT for their help last year. The GABT provides assistance to families struggling with the affects of cancer and other major illnesses. The amount of money raised this year has not yet been totaled up, but last year $48,000 was added to the fund.
A couple of other tournaments were over the weekend that ended June 5.
The Proud Mary's Sports Bar and Grill Chelsea Cup Flounder Tournament had 8-year-old Ashley McGinley of Galloway Township win it all with a 3-pound, 1-ounce catch. Her dad, Shawn, was second, also with a 3-1 flounder. Ashley's winning fish was 20 inches in length, beating out her dad by a quarter-inch. Jim Ernie of Egg Harbor Township was third at 2-13.
The Margate Log Cabin Buddy Devlin Memorial was won by 28-year-old Jason Cadiou of Margate with a 5.92-pound flounder. Cadiou works at Dino's Sub Shop in Margate and is a landscaper. He fished the tournament with dad, Jay. They dock at Ray Scott's Dock in Margate. Robin Scott said the fish was caught on the last drift before they headed back. Stacy Collins took second overall and was the top female with a 4.96-pounder, and Charlie Elwell was third with a 4.39 catch.
