They had 147 boats enter the Sunshine Foundation Tournament headquartered in Mystic Island on Saturday. But the important number is the $20,000-plus they raised to fulfill the dreams of children.
Tom Paxton understated it when he said Tuesday that the tournament "went pretty good."
It was a two-fish combined weight contest in flounder and bluefish. This has been an excellent flounder season, but the bluefish winners may have been just as big a deal.
Mark Winterbottom won flounder with 6.8 and 5.4-pound flounder for a total of 12.21 pounds. Ed Fanz was second at 8.54 and Doris McCormick was third at 8.09.
A 13.55 slammer and a total weight of 25.9 pounds by Paul Galesso topped bluefish. Joe Radano was second with a 23.79 total weight and Jamie Gallagher was third at 9.63.
Paxton said the entries came from all over the area: Barnegat Ridge to Atlantic City Reef and Little Egg Inlet and the back bays.
Scott's Bait and Tackle in Mystic Island weighed a codfish caught at Little Egg Reef by a contestant. Cod are caught in cooler waters than we have here right now, so that was a surprise.
It sneaked up on us that tautog season reopened Tuesday in the state. It is one fish to Nov. 15 when it goes to six fish Nov.16 to Dec. 31.
