May 16

2021 Team Tournament Recap

2021 Team Tournament Recap

What set up as a slugfest turned into a grind. The 2021 New Jersey Bass Federation Team Tournament could have been epic. Held on May 13 and 14 on the Northern Chesapeake Bay, home of giant bass, most thought that we had hit the water at just the right time. However, nothing is ever easy in bass fishing. A full week of below-average (and downright cold) days and nights had the fish in a serious negative feeding mode. To make it more difficult, there is a 15-inch minimum size limit this time of year. However, some anglers unlocked the secret and managed generally low, but respectable weights.

The overall winning team was the Quickfire Bassmasters. This team led from wire to wire and easily outdistanced the second-place team. Its overall two-day weight of 88.18 pounds was over 23 pounds more than the second-place North Jersey Bass Anglers. Leading the way for Quickfire was boater, Derick Olson, with a two-day total of 26.16 pounds. This weight was enough for him to also claim first prize in the individual portion of the event. Quickfire also had the top Co-Angler in Dave Williams who had 18.01 pounds.

As stated above, Derick Olson won the individual portion of the event. Finishing in second was boater Ray Szymd of the Clearwater Bassmasters with 21.90 pounds followed by boater Jarrett Kuipers of the North Jersey Bass Anglers with 21.68 pounds.

In addition, the top three boaters and top three co-anglers qualified to fish in the 2021 District 15 National Semi-Final event. The boater qualifiers are: Derick Olson, Ray Szymd, Jarrett Kuipers. The co-angler qualifiers are: Dave Williams, Ed Tomosi (Big D Valley Bassmasters); Mike Bell (Quickfire Bassmasters).

For final Individual standings CLICK HERE

For final CLUB standings CLICK HERE

May 04

Attention! Candlewood Lake Registration Open

Candlewood Lake Registration Open

The point tournament season is almost here.  Register online at https://njbassfederation.com/online-registration/ for the upcoming Candlewood Lake event.  Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on May 28, 2021.  Remember you have to be either a member of a NJBF club or another State’s TBF-affiliated club to be eligible to fish.

 

Nov 18

2021 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

2021 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Below is the tentative 2021 NJBF tournament schedule.  It should be an excellent season.  We may add an open buddy event in April.

DAY                    DATE                    LOCATION                         TYPE

Thus/Fri              May 13 & 14       Northern Chesapeake       Team

Fri/Sat                 June 4 & 5          Candlewood Lake              Points

Sun                     June 27               Northern Chesapeake        Points

Sun                     July 25                 Lake Hopatcong                Points

 

Aug 24

FINAL SEASON STANDINGS AND AWARDS

FINAL SEASON STANDINGS AND AWARDS

The 2020 New Jersey Bass Federation tournament season was anything but normal, with the pandemic making things challenging on many levels.

While the Federation did have to cancel its annual open buddy event, it managed to hold its usual 3 point events with modifications, due to an early-season postponement. Nevertheless, the coveted Angler of the Year prizes in both the Boater and Co-Angler Divisions went down to literally the final anglers at the final weigh-in.

BOATER DIVISION

Capturing his first-ever Boater Division Angler of the Year was Donny Diggs of the Quickfire Bassmasters. Diggs was remarkably consistent through all three events. Starting on the Northern Chesapeake, Diggs posted a fourth place finish. He followed that up with a seventh-place finish on Lake Hopatcong. He sealed the deal on the Delaware River where he finished a close second.

Second place in the Boater Division, only four points behind Diggs was Manny Cruz of the United Bass Anglers. The highlight of his season was his impressive victory at the Northern Chesapeake Bay event.

Just behind Cruz in third place was Derick Olson of the Quickfire Bassmasters. Olson’s best finish was his victory in the season’s last event on the Delaware River.

CO-ANGLER DIVISION

The saying “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings” held true in the Co-Angler Division as no less than 5 anglers were in position to take the Co-Angler of the Year award going into the Delaware River event.

When the dust settled in this battle of attrition, the Big D Valley Bassmasters’ Joe Venuto came out on top. Venuto started his season with a fourth place finish on the Northern Chesapeake Bay, followed by a fifth place finish on Lake Hopatcong. Saving the best for last, while other Co-Anglers faltered, Venuto finished in second place on the Delaware River to catapult his way to the top of the standings.

Just behind in second position was Joe Sodora of the Blazin Bass chapter. Sodora was also consistent in all three events, posting sixth, fourth and fourth-place finishes, respectively.

Third place Co-Angler was Mike Wotanowski of the Warren County Bassmasters. Wotanowski posted a victory on the Northern Chesapeake Bay and a second place on Lake Hopatcong

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

The Boater Division Rookie of the Year was Dave Williams of the Quickfire Bassmasters who finished in eighth place overall in that Division.

The Co-Angler Division Rookie of the Year was Mason Bell of the Big D Valley Bassmasters who finished in fourth place in that Division.

Attached are the overall results by Division for all anglers.

FINAL STANDINGS

We would like to sincerely thank all who participated during this difficult time.