The second New Jersey Bass Federation event of the 2020 season was held on a beautiful summer day on August 9, 2020, at New Jersey’s largest lake, Lake Hopatcong. While the weather was spectacular, the 40 participating anglers had to deal with the unbelievable summer boat traffic on the lake, which can make it appear ocean-like. This challenge did not detract at all from the quality of the fishing as most anglers brought fish to the scales and the event, in both the Boater and Co-Angler Divsions, was closely contested.

Boater Division

The margin of victory in the Boater Division was a scant 1/2 -pound. The winner of the Boater Division was well-known Hopatcong “stick” Mike Rinaldi.

Rinaldi posted a very solid five-fish limit weighing 13.90 pounds. Rinaldo also won the Ranger Cup prize based on this finish as the highest finishing Ranger Cup eligible angler.

Finishing a close second was Al Hudson who also busted the 13 pound mark, with a five-fish limit totaling 13.39 pounds. Hudson was followed by Mike McMahon who finished in third place with 11.20 pounds.

The Boater lunker was a 5.14 pound beast weighed in by NJBF President Mike Keller.

Co-Angler Division

The new 2020 co-angler rule change to a 3 fish limit produced an incredibly close Co-Angler Division finish, as the top 14 anglers were only separated by 3.00 pounds, and the top three finishers were within 0.81 pounds of one another. Winning the event with 5.71 pounds was Scott Cocioppo, anchored by the Division’s largest fish, a 3.28 pound largemouth.

Second place went to maybe the hottest bass angler in the State. Mike Wotanowski of the Warren County Bassmasters followed up his victory in the season’s first event with a second place finish in this event. In doing so, he weighed in a three-fish limit of 5.48 pounds. Third place went to NJBF veteran Frank McMahon (father of Mike) with 4.90 pounds.

Attached are the overall results for the event and some photos.

Thanks to all who participated!

Results and current point standings on the results page HERE

NORTHERN CHESAPEAKE BAY POINT EVENT RESULTS and SUMMARY

There is one word to describe the July 19, 2020 New Jersey Bass Federation event held on the Northern Chesapeake Bay, and that is HOT. Unfortunately, it was mostly the weather and not the fishing that is best described by that word. Of course, that is unsurprising when the NJBF anglers were faced with scalding 98 degree air temperatures and 89 degree water temperatures.

However, as always, some anglers found a way to put up some hefty weights.

Boater Division

The winner of the Boater Division absolutely smashed them. That angler, Manny Cruz of the United Bass Anglers posted a whopping 18.38 pound 5 fish limit to easily win the Boater Division by over 4 full pounds. Included in his creel was the Boater Division lunker winning 5.25 pound largemouth.
Second place Boater and Quickfire Bassmasters member Derick Olson also impressive 5 fish totaling 14.03 pounds. Olson also won the Ranger Cup prize based on this finish as the highest finishing Ranger Cup eligible angler. Finishing a close third was Mike Czaplinski with 5 fish weighing 13.53 pounds.

Co-Angler Division

It would appear that the new 2020 co-angler rule change to a 3 fish limit is already yielding success and those co-anglers at the top of the standings posted solid 3 fish weights. The winner was Mike Wotanowski of the Warren County Bassmasters whose 3 fish weighed 9.78 pounds, including the Co-Angler Division winning 4.30 pound lunker winning largemouth. Second place went to rookie Karl Braun of the Big D Valley Bassmasters with 3 fish weighing 8.13 pounds. Third place went to Warren County Bassmasters member Chris Miller with 3 fish weighing 7.07 pounds.

Thanks to all who participated on what was probably the hottest day of the year thus far. Also, thanks for all those who helped us today, especially at the weigh in.

Special thanks to Mike Czaplinski from Keitech, USA who will be providing $50 gift certificates to the top 3 finishing boaters and co-anglers and Keitech buffs to all anglers.