UNITED and CRUZ REPEAT
Submitted by: Nick Angiulo
Perhaps the most difficult achievement in New Jersey tournament bass fishing is winning a New Jersey Bass Federation Team Tournament. The yearly Team Tournament, which pits the top six anglers from each participating New Jersey Bass Federation club against one another in a two-day, cumulative weight event, brings New Jersey’s best bass anglers out to compete. Under this backdrop, one club has managed to defeat New Jersey’s best clubs for a second consecutive year by easily taking the 2009 Team Tournament by nearly 14 pounds. Making this feat even more impressive is the fact that this year’s event, at Kerr Reservoir on May 7 and 8, was held approximately 700 miles from last year’s event at Lake Champlain. The club, the United Bass Anglers, hailing from Bergen County, New Jersey, not only boasted the winning team weight of 100.20 pounds, but also once again had the tournament’s winning angler. Incredibly, that angler, Manny Cruz, also found a way to repeat from last year. Cruz defeated 135 other anglers at this year’s event to take the individual title, and make the State Team for the second consecutive year.
This year’s contingent of United Bass Anglers consisted of Boater and Team Captain John Garbarini, as well as Boaters Manny Cruz and Bill Kanwisher; and Co-Anglers Scott Cocioppo, Shawn Helbig and Jon Rosner. The three anglers fishing as Boaters anchored the team by each posting five fish limits each day of the event. For Cruz, Day 1 proved to be magical. On that day, Cruz brought the largest limit in the event to the scales, weighing over 15 pounds. This limit gave him a two pound lead over his next closest competitor going into the final day. Day 2 proved significantly more difficult for Cruz, who had outboard starting issues on the day, but still managed to get back to the weigh-in with a large enough limit to win the event with a total of 25.06 pounds, nearly two pounds better than his closest competitor. By virtue of his victory, Cruz garnered a Boater spot on the 2010 New Jersey State Team. Garbarini nearly made it into the top six highest placing anglers, which would have also gotten him a position on the State Team. Garbarini had a solid limit of over 11 pounds on Day 1, but similar to Cruz, found it more difficult on Day 2 to catch the bigger fish. Nevertheless, his two day total of 21.10 placed him in 10TH place overall. Close behind was Kanwisher, whose 10 fish totaled 20.36 pounds, placing him 14TH overall. Captain Garbarini indicated that while it was important for the team’s Boaters to fill out their limits, it was crucial to the team’s success that its Co-Anglers bring significant weight to the scales, and United’s Co-Anglers did just that. Co-Angler Scott Cocioppo had a solid 29TH place showing by bringing nine fish in over the two days weighing 17.28 pounds. Shawn Helbig had a difficult Day 1, with only two fish, but rebounded on Day 2 with a limit, giving him a total of 12.90 pounds for the event placing him in 55TH. Jon Rosner weighed in two fish for the event, totaling 3.42 pounds, good enough for 112TH place. Given the team’s success over the last two Team Tournaments, it makes sense to dub it the early favorite to capture its third consecutive title at the 2010 team event. With that said, the other New Jersey teams will undoubtedly be gunning for them.
Taking second in the event, with a weight of 86.80 pounds, and posting its highest-ever Team Tournament finish, was the Big D Valley Bassmasters, a club hailing from Mount Holly, New Jersey. In the dictionary, under the definition of the word “team,” there should be a picture of the 2009 Big D members. In this regard, despite the fact that no Big D angler individually finished in the top-20, the team still managed its runner-up placing. Leading the team was Federation Secretary Bruce Stovall who weighed in eight fish over the two days totaling 18.96 pounds. Stovall, who fished as a Co-Angler, came in Day 1 with only three bass but Day 2 proved better as Stovall weighed in a limit of bass totaling nearly 11 pounds, placing him in 21ST place. Next in line was Boater Nick Angiulo who had 10 fish that weighed 17.24 pounds. Angiulo, the only Big D angler to weigh in limits each day, had a small limit on Day 1 but rebounded on Day 2 to achieve his final weight. He finished in 30TH place. Jim Mayberry, who epitomized the team spirit of this year’s Big D entry, was next. On Monday, Mayberry blew the lower unit on his outboard. Upon determining that North Jersey Marine, a full eight hours away, was the only location which could guarantee a repair in time for the event, Mayberry drove home on Monday night; to North Jersey Marine on Tuesday morning; and back to Kerr that night with a repaired engine. On Day 1, running on adrenaline and caffeine, he went out and posted a 10 pound limit. Mayberry found Day 2 tougher, but still managed four fish giving him a two-day total of 16.48 pounds and putting him in 34TH place. Boater Bruce Stearn was next with seven fish totaling 13.76 pounds. Stearn had a strong Day 1 but only brought two fish in on Day 2. Stearn finished in 50TH place. Leon Ames had a tough Day 1 as a Co-Angler, only bringing one small fish to the scales. However, rather than get down, Ames focused his energy on Day 2, when he brought a limit weighing over nine and one-half pounds to the scales giving him a two day total of 11.26 pounds and placing him in 60TH overall. Team Captain Walt Goodlin rounded out the team with three keepers each day for a total weight of 9.10. He finished in 74TH place.
Third place in the event, with a weight of 84.60 pounds, was the Bass Busters. This team secured its third place finish with some impressive angler placings. Leading the team was Team Captain and Boater Guy Giordano who weighed in 10 fish over the two days totaling 21.40 pounds. However, Giordano had the misfortune of having three fish perish on Day 2, which cost him 1.40 pounds and a spot on the State Team. Nevertheless, his weight placed him in 8ST overall. Second from the club was Sean Loll, the champion from the 2007 Team Tournament, which was also held at Kerr. Loll also brought 10 fish to the scales, for a two day total of 20.40 pounds. He finished in 13TH place. Next was Co-Angler Jim Meyer. Meyer had a fine event bringing in eight fish over the two days totaling 18.36 pounds. He finished in 26TH place. Finishing in 56TH place with six fish weighing 12.26 pounds was Co-Angler Bill Gumann. Next in line was Boater John Nowicky who managed three fish totaling 7.06 pounds for the two days. Nowicky finished in 87TH place. Brian Hill completed the team’s weight with three fish that totaled 5.12 pounds. He finished in 106TH place.
Aside from the team aspect of the event, as previously mentioned, the top six individual finishers make the 2010 New Jersey State Team. Positions one through three get Boater slots, and positions four through six receive Co-Angler slots. Along with the winner Manny Cruz, the rest of the top six anglers are as follows: Mike Keller, a member of Blazin’ Bass in second place with 23.20 pounds; Aaron Melnick, a member of Over the Ridge in third place with 23.16 pounds; Chris Pentz, a member of the Jackson Bass Anglers in fourth place with 22.94 pounds; John Carpenter, a member of the Lake Hopatcong Bassmasters in fifth place with 22.52 pounds; and Mike McMahon, a member of the Berkley Bassmasters in sixth place with 22.42 pounds.
Submitted by: Nick Angiulo
Perhaps the most difficult achievement in New Jersey tournament bass fishing is winning a New Jersey Bass Federation Team Tournament. The yearly Team Tournament, which pits the top six anglers from each participating New Jersey Bass Federation club against one another in a two-day, cumulative weight event, brings New Jersey’s best bass anglers out to compete. Under this backdrop, one club has managed to defeat New Jersey’s best clubs for a second consecutive year by easily taking the 2009 Team Tournament by nearly 14 pounds. Making this feat even more impressive is the fact that this year’s event, at Kerr Reservoir on May 7 and 8, was held approximately 700 miles from last year’s event at Lake Champlain. The club, the United Bass Anglers, hailing from Bergen County, New Jersey, not only boasted the winning team weight of 100.20 pounds, but also once again had the tournament’s winning angler. Incredibly, that angler, Manny Cruz, also found a way to repeat from last year. Cruz defeated 135 other anglers at this year’s event to take the individual title, and make the State Team for the second consecutive year.
This year’s contingent of United Bass Anglers consisted of Boater and Team Captain John Garbarini, as well as Boaters Manny Cruz and Bill Kanwisher; and Co-Anglers Scott Cocioppo, Shawn Helbig and Jon Rosner. The three anglers fishing as Boaters anchored the team by each posting five fish limits each day of the event. For Cruz, Day 1 proved to be magical. On that day, Cruz brought the largest limit in the event to the scales, weighing over 15 pounds. This limit gave him a two pound lead over his next closest competitor going into the final day. Day 2 proved significantly more difficult for Cruz, who had outboard starting issues on the day, but still managed to get back to the weigh-in with a large enough limit to win the event with a total of 25.06 pounds, nearly two pounds better than his closest competitor. By virtue of his victory, Cruz garnered a Boater spot on the 2010 New Jersey State Team. Garbarini nearly made it into the top six highest placing anglers, which would have also gotten him a position on the State Team. Garbarini had a solid limit of over 11 pounds on Day 1, but similar to Cruz, found it more difficult on Day 2 to catch the bigger fish. Nevertheless, his two day total of 21.10 placed him in 10TH place overall. Close behind was Kanwisher, whose 10 fish totaled 20.36 pounds, placing him 14TH overall. Captain Garbarini indicated that while it was important for the team’s Boaters to fill out their limits, it was crucial to the team’s success that its Co-Anglers bring significant weight to the scales, and United’s Co-Anglers did just that. Co-Angler Scott Cocioppo had a solid 29TH place showing by bringing nine fish in over the two days weighing 17.28 pounds. Shawn Helbig had a difficult Day 1, with only two fish, but rebounded on Day 2 with a limit, giving him a total of 12.90 pounds for the event placing him in 55TH. Jon Rosner weighed in two fish for the event, totaling 3.42 pounds, good enough for 112TH place. Given the team’s success over the last two Team Tournaments, it makes sense to dub it the early favorite to capture its third consecutive title at the 2010 team event. With that said, the other New Jersey teams will undoubtedly be gunning for them.
Taking second in the event, with a weight of 86.80 pounds, and posting its highest-ever Team Tournament finish, was the Big D Valley Bassmasters, a club hailing from Mount Holly, New Jersey. In the dictionary, under the definition of the word “team,” there should be a picture of the 2009 Big D members. In this regard, despite the fact that no Big D angler individually finished in the top-20, the team still managed its runner-up placing. Leading the team was Federation Secretary Bruce Stovall who weighed in eight fish over the two days totaling 18.96 pounds. Stovall, who fished as a Co-Angler, came in Day 1 with only three bass but Day 2 proved better as Stovall weighed in a limit of bass totaling nearly 11 pounds, placing him in 21ST place. Next in line was Boater Nick Angiulo who had 10 fish that weighed 17.24 pounds. Angiulo, the only Big D angler to weigh in limits each day, had a small limit on Day 1 but rebounded on Day 2 to achieve his final weight. He finished in 30TH place. Jim Mayberry, who epitomized the team spirit of this year’s Big D entry, was next. On Monday, Mayberry blew the lower unit on his outboard. Upon determining that North Jersey Marine, a full eight hours away, was the only location which could guarantee a repair in time for the event, Mayberry drove home on Monday night; to North Jersey Marine on Tuesday morning; and back to Kerr that night with a repaired engine. On Day 1, running on adrenaline and caffeine, he went out and posted a 10 pound limit. Mayberry found Day 2 tougher, but still managed four fish giving him a two-day total of 16.48 pounds and putting him in 34TH place. Boater Bruce Stearn was next with seven fish totaling 13.76 pounds. Stearn had a strong Day 1 but only brought two fish in on Day 2. Stearn finished in 50TH place. Leon Ames had a tough Day 1 as a Co-Angler, only bringing one small fish to the scales. However, rather than get down, Ames focused his energy on Day 2, when he brought a limit weighing over nine and one-half pounds to the scales giving him a two day total of 11.26 pounds and placing him in 60TH overall. Team Captain Walt Goodlin rounded out the team with three keepers each day for a total weight of 9.10. He finished in 74TH place.
Third place in the event, with a weight of 84.60 pounds, was the Bass Busters. This team secured its third place finish with some impressive angler placings. Leading the team was Team Captain and Boater Guy Giordano who weighed in 10 fish over the two days totaling 21.40 pounds. However, Giordano had the misfortune of having three fish perish on Day 2, which cost him 1.40 pounds and a spot on the State Team. Nevertheless, his weight placed him in 8ST overall. Second from the club was Sean Loll, the champion from the 2007 Team Tournament, which was also held at Kerr. Loll also brought 10 fish to the scales, for a two day total of 20.40 pounds. He finished in 13TH place. Next was Co-Angler Jim Meyer. Meyer had a fine event bringing in eight fish over the two days totaling 18.36 pounds. He finished in 26TH place. Finishing in 56TH place with six fish weighing 12.26 pounds was Co-Angler Bill Gumann. Next in line was Boater John Nowicky who managed three fish totaling 7.06 pounds for the two days. Nowicky finished in 87TH place. Brian Hill completed the team’s weight with three fish that totaled 5.12 pounds. He finished in 106TH place.
Aside from the team aspect of the event, as previously mentioned, the top six individual finishers make the 2010 New Jersey State Team. Positions one through three get Boater slots, and positions four through six receive Co-Angler slots. Along with the winner Manny Cruz, the rest of the top six anglers are as follows: Mike Keller, a member of Blazin’ Bass in second place with 23.20 pounds; Aaron Melnick, a member of Over the Ridge in third place with 23.16 pounds; Chris Pentz, a member of the Jackson Bass Anglers in fourth place with 22.94 pounds; John Carpenter, a member of the Lake Hopatcong Bassmasters in fifth place with 22.52 pounds; and Mike McMahon, a member of the Berkley Bassmasters in sixth place with 22.42 pounds.
2009 NJ BASS FEDERATION
TOP SIX MAN TEAM TOURNAMENT
MAY 7 – 8, 2009 KERR RESERVOIR, VA Results - Chapter Results
TOP SIX MAN TEAM TOURNAMENT
MAY 7 – 8, 2009 KERR RESERVOIR, VA Results - Chapter Results
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2009 NJ Bass Federation Top Six Man Report
Bass Boat Insurance
1-800-476-5667
1-800-476-5667
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