What’s New for 2024 Along with All the Usual Good Stuff

Battle on the Beach – VHFC took over officiating the “Battle on the Beach” high school surf fishing tournament in 2019. The annual contest has students from Lacey Township High School, Barnegat High School, Southern Regional High School and Mates Academy (Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental Science) of Manahawkin competing for top bragging rights on the beach in Barnegat Light. The winning school gets their name engraved on a trophy that is displayed in the school’s lobby and a $1,000 scholarship donated by the LBI Surf Fishing Committee. The event was held on the Barnegat Light beaches on June 5th. 

Once again, Southern Regional took the 2024 honors catching the largest winning total of fish length. 

2024 Fish of the Month (FOM) – Some additional contests and improvements have been made including changes to the Junior Angler contests. Details can be found on VHFC Contest Rules on the pulldown menu under the Blue Banner Contests/Tournaments across each page.

Picture of the Month – While we all enjoy the pictures submitted with fishing reports and pictures for the FOM entries, we are really missing out on sharing the fun we have with friends and family while fishing or just spending time on the water or at the shore. So, please, send in your favorite photos each month, and our expert panel of judges (including a professional photographer) will select the winner based on subject matter – fishing activities, fishing locales, sunsets, beaches, club activities, subjects and composition, proper exposure and focus. Emphasis should be on the fun of fishing and related activities

Winners and submissions will be posted on our website, and on our Facebook page and Instagram accounts. Winners get bragging rights and entry into a drawing at the November meeting for a $50.00 gift certificate. Send your photos to Phil Simon at sciman2@gmail.com  

VHFC Spring Fishing Trip – We had a great outing with Captain Sam Rescigno on the Mary M IV for a bottom fishing trip on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Numbers of Black Sea Bass & Ling were put on ice for some fantastic eating. Congratulations to pool winners Boston Bob Long (Sea Bass) and Jerry Nichols (Ling). Let’s repeat the fun on the October 8th Fall Trip.

VHFC Annual Fluke Tournament – The VHFC Fluke Tournament will be held on the Saturday in July following the Friday club meeting. For 2024, it will be held on July 13th with the 14th as a rain date. Entry fee is $20 per angler with all monies returned in prizes. Following the contest, VHFC hosts a picnic / BBQ at the Mill Creek Pavilion for entrants and their guests. Please fill out the form VHFC Fluke Tournament and send it with your check to VHFC, PO Box 1026, Manahawkin, NJ 08050.

Tri Club Fluke Challenge – July 27 Fishing Day, July 28 Picnic. This is a tournament between Village Harbour, Fish Hawks and Forked River Tuna Club. Details below:

  • There is no entry fee for this Tournament but only active Members of each Club are eligible. The Tournament is sponsored by Creekside Outfitters.
  • Anglers can bring Family and/or Friends to the Picnic. The Picnic will be held at the Forked River Tuna Club facility. There is both indoor and outdoor seating available and there will be a cash bar. The cost of the Picnic is $5.00 per person. Kids under 12 are free. The Picnic gets started at 1:00PM.
  • All Fluke must be weighed in at Creekside Outfitters in Waretown. The top 10 Fluke for each Fishing Club will be counted toward the Club Championship. There will also be individual awards (Gift Certificates to Creek Side Outfitters) for the Largest Fluke: $100, 2nd Place: $50, 3rd – 6th Place: $25.  You must be at the Picnic to receive a prize.
  • There will be a sign up sheet at the June and July Meetings. You can also send a e-mail to stuebs@comcast.net (John Stuebing) if you would like to sign up for the Tournament. Please indicate the number of people you will be bringing to the Picnic. We will start collecting the $5.00 for the Picnic at the June Meeting.
  • The winning Club will be presented a Trophy at the Picnic!

VHFC Dinner – No date has been chosen yet but VHFC will have a dinner in the fall. The last several dinners were held at Kostas Grill in Tuckerton and were enjoyed by all attendees. Always a great time and a good excuse for members and friends to gather for some fun! Guests pay for their own meals with VHFC providing appetizers and wine.   Further details will be provided when available.

VHFC Fall Fishing Trip – We are now scheduled in the fall again with Captain Sam Rescigno on the Mary M IV for a bottom fishing trip on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The average cost per person should be about $100 including tip. Further details will be provided when available.

VHFC T Shirts – New T Shirts will be available for purchase later this year. Look for the order form in our Newsletter or order at any club meeting. Sizes range from XS (Extra Small) to 6XL and are available in nine colors. Shirts have long sleeves and feature UPF 50 Sun Protection. White is shown in the photo. VHFC has a 12 shirt minimum order so please let the club know if you are interested. Depending on size, cost is ~$35.

Rattlin Jack™ Fishins In My Bones™ Performance Wear Moisture Wicking UPF 50, Cool and Dry Sun Protection

VHFC Hats – New hats also became available in 2019 and we have plenty still available. Hats are khaki colored, feature a high definition VHFC patch on the front and sell for $20. See photo below.

 


 

Membership Form

Fishing Facts

Of the fifty United States, thirty-eight have a striped-bass record. New Jersey has the largest striped-bass record—a 78-pound 8·ounce whopper that was caught in 1982. The state with the smallest striped-bass record is Iowa. That landlocked striper weighed only 9 pounds 4 ounces and was caught in 1983.
There’s something fishy about beer these days. Fish Tail Ale is popular as ever, and New Jersey’s Flying Fish Brewery is one of the state’s largest specialty breweries. There’s also Washington’s Wild Salmon Organic Pale Ale, Florida’s Land Shark beer, Delaware’s Dogfish Head beer, and two versions of Stingray beer—a lighter version from the Cayman Islands and a dark beer from Canada.
The triangle fly is probably the most unusual of saltwater flies. It’s one of the few, if not only, flies tied to a treble hook. It’s also barely a fly at all, because hardly any material is used. It is complete after tying the two straw pearl twinkle flashes and the tiny tuft of natural squirrel, leaving an entire hook fully exposed. Incredibly this barebacked treble fly is a knockout when it comes to sea trout.

Read More