As voted for by a majority of the 2023 clubs, for 2024, the New Jersey Bass Federation is excited to announce its new format.  Unlike previous seasons, which were blind Boater/Co-Angler Pro-Am style draw events, for 2024, we are moving to a team circuit.  The details are presented below, but first, below is the 2024 tournament schedule, which should keep us closer to home, minimizing overall expenses.

2024 Team Circuit Schedule, is as follows:

Saturday, April 6, 2024 – Lake Hopatcong – Lee’s Park Marina

Sunday, May 19, 2024 – Northern Chesapeake Bay – Anchor Marine Ramp

Sunday, July 28, 2024 – Lake Hopatcong – Lee’s Park Marina

Sunday, August 18, 2024 – Delaware River – Gloucester City Ramp

Note that there are no changes to our yearly club six-man team tournament, which will be on June 13 and 14, 2024, on Lake Champlain out of Ticonderoga, NY.

Here are the details:

1. Two-man teams.  Must designate the Boater and the Co-Angler at beginning of season or upon first event fished (for purposes of National Semi-Final [NSF] qualifying).  However, either angler can fish anywhere on the boat, control the boat, etc.
2. Both members must be NJBF members (for a non-member to join it is $60)
3. Four overall events, five-fish team limit per event
4. Points awarded to team based on tournament finish.  First place = 200; Second place = 195; Third place = 190, etc.;
5. Each team allowed one angler absence per season.  So, if your partner cannot make one event, you are           allowed to fish alone.  Note, the team still receives full team points;
6.  Entry fee will be $200 per team.  Optional cash lunker ($20 per team);
7. Boat number will be assigned based on date/time of entry received;
8. Tournament payouts will be, at minimum, to top 3 teams.  With more entries, more spots will be paid;
9.   Minimum of top 6 teams at the end of the season qualify for NSF.  Note that the NSF is still a pro-am style draw event, so each team’s designated Boater and Co-Angler qualify to fish in that division of the NSF.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:

Can an angler fish completely alone?

Yes. We generally are defining a “team” as two anglers.  However, an angler could fish alone as a “team” as there is nothing prohibiting that.  However, if an angler starts the season alone and fishes the first two events alone and then gets a partner, that would be a new “team,” or if an established team switches partners that would be a new team.  For purposes of NSF qualifying, we are awarding the team points, so if a solo angler fishes all season alone and is in the top 6 teams in Team Points at the end of the season, he qualifies (under that circumstance, we would also qualify a co-angler from the next lowest team that did not qualify to keep it even).

Is there an “Angler of the Year.”

Yes. The Boater angler of the year and Co-angler of the year will be the two anglers who end up with the most points at the end of the season, regardless of how they get them (with one partner, alone, or with different partners).  Those 2 anglers, if they are not already qualified via Team Points, will also qualify for the NSF.

How does an angler who does not make it via points to the NSF, become eligible to go as a Club      Qualifier?

Any angler who fishes more than 40% of any of our events (which includes the team tournament) is eligible to be selected from their club to go to the NSF if their club qualifies at the end of the season based on club points (13 needed) and other eligibility criteria (at least two anglers who fished more than 40% of events).

Please feel free to share this information with your club members, or anyone else who may be     interested.  

New Jersey’s largest lake, Lake Hopatcong can be a challenging place to fish on a normal day.  But add high, off-colored water, and the “Atlantic Fleet” of pleasure crafts on the lake, and the 28 New Jersy Bass Federation anglers who fished the July 23 event, truly were tested.  And nearly all responded as the fields in both the Boater and Co-Angler Division were bunched up creating an exciting finish to the NJBF’s 2023 point tournament season.

The Boater Division winner of the event was Brian Wittig of the Essex County Bassmasters.  Wittig caught enough bigger than average sized fish to post a 12.20 pound five-fish limit, enough to hold off the second and third place finishers.

Second in the Boater Division by .03 of an ounce was Craig Townsend, whose 11.64 pound limit also cemented his finish as the Boater Angler of the Year.

Just behind in third place was Wally Peer, whose five best fish weighed 11.61 pounds.

The Boater Division lunker, a 4.79 pound largemouth was caught by Bob Stock.

In the Co-Angler Division one angler dominated.  That angler, Mike Wotanowski of the Warren County Bassmasters posted a stellar 9.74 pound three-fish limit, enough to win by nearly three ful pounds.  Anchoring his weight was the 3.75 pound Co-Angler Division lunker.

Second place went to the venerable Frank McMahon, who, despite injuring his back early in the morning, managed three chucky fish weighing 6.84 pounds, just enough to hold off Mike Lee who had 6.43 pounds.  Regardless, Lee’s finish clinched his status as Co-Angler of the Year.

LAKE HOPATCONG – ONLINE REGISTRATION OPEN!

Online registration is open for our last 2023 point event, our season-ending Lake Hopatcong event on July 23.

The deadline to register is 11:59 p.m. on July 15, 2023.  Click on the tournaments tab to access the online application.

REGISTER EARLY!  This should be a great event!

To be eligible to fish, you must be a NJBF member.  Not a member?  Contact Secretary Nick Angiulo at nickangiulo@verizon.net.