Guest Speakers for 2020

April 3: Kaitlin Gannon – Kaitlin earned a B.S. in General Biology from the University of Findlay in 2009. She is now the Education Coordinator for the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve in Tuckerton, NJ. where she conducts and coordinates education and outreach efforts for community members, students, and formal and informal educators. Kaitlin also assists with education efforts on research grants and manages part time education staff at the Reserve. Kaitlin will present “Exploring the Jacques Cousteau Reserve and Their Derelict Crab Pot Prevention Efforts ”

May 8: Dr Doug Zemeckis – Doug has a BS degree in Marine Science from Rutgers University and a PH.D in Marine Science and Technology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He currently works as a County Agent, Assistant Professor with Rutgers Cooperative Extension where he focuses on delivering educational programs and conducting research to address issues related to fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal resource management. Doug’s topic is entitled “Biology, Assessment, and Management of Black Sea Bass”.

June 12: Jim Hutchinson Jr – Jim is a former Managing Director RFA, a national political action organization dedicated to safeguarding the rights of saltwater anglers. Jim rejoined The Fisherman family in early 2015 as Managing Editor. Jim will discuss the long and grueling regulatory debate on striped bass and provide a quick look at where we’re at now including circle hooks, rigging and chasing bunker. Jim will also provide an update on The Fisherman’s Northeast Striped Bass Study using satellite tags in post-spawn stripers.

July 10: Jim Hutchinson Sr – Jim is a local fishing professional and writer for many newspapers. His talk will be a presentation on “50 Tips for Anglers.” It will be a combo of informative ideas, a little humor, and some thoughts for members to consider.

Note: Jim Usually presents the “Captain Melanie Boytos” award at this meeting. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, VHFC meetings are being held via Zoom and the award will be made once in-person meetings resume.

August 14: Dr Doug Zemeckis – Doug has a BS degree in Marine Science from Rutgers University and a PH.D in Marine Science and Technology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He currently works as a County Agent, Assistant Professor with Rutgers Cooperative Extension where he focuses on delivering educational programs and conducting research to address issues related to fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal resource management. Doug’s topic is entitled “What Do We Think We Know About Striped Bass”.

September 11: TBD –

October 9: TBD –

November 13: – No Speaker but it’s Pizza Night!

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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.