TONY STETZKO: CT FUNDRAISER A SUCCESS!

We counted the revenue and the expenses of the Tony Stetzko fundraiser night.

The CT Surfcasters donated $100 for the cost of Church Hall. The only other expense was a small donation to the Church.

"I am thrilled and proud to say that we raised $8,000 for Tony's son.  All this in essentially 2 weeks of planning. Really beyond remarkable.  There are so many great guys in our little tiny group of the fishing world and we should all feel so good about it.

And the big event is this Sunday night (the 29th) in Eastham, MA and that is going to be an amazing time with donated catering and relatives and friends not just from the fishing world so if you can make that event you will experience something special." ~Rob Cohn, CSA club secretary.

You can get more information from the We love you Tony Stetzko Facebook page

A special thanks goes out to Toby Lapinski and Rob Cohn for their concerted effort for making such an event happen on short notice.  Another special thank you goes out to everyone who donated time, raffle items, and money.  Thanks also goes out to "Crazy" Alberto Knie and Mike Laptew for donating their time to be guest speakers for the evening.

Tony Stetzko CT event and fundraiser

As the snow releases its grip of the ground, the feeling of Spring is upon us all.  Along with that are a ton of events slated for the near future.  ON THE TOP OF THAT LIST IS A SPECIAL EVENT.

On Tuesday March 24 at 6:30PM - 9:30PM at the First Congregational Church in Madison CT, is a special event and fundraiser to pay respects to Tony Stetzko who passed away due to a long battle with pneumonia on February 25 of this year, as well as to help donate to Tony's young son, an avid surfcaster, Anton III. The fundraising efforts will go towards Anton III's college education fund.  "Crazy" Alberto Knie and Mike Laptew will be the guest speakers for the night to remember and reminisce about Tony and offer some surfcasting talks as well.  Please see the Facebook event page (HERE) for details, and for contributions please contact Toby Lapinski of The Fisherman Magazine.  

An internet radio broadcast from CSA's Rob Cohn on Tony Stetzko can be heard (HERE) from hanradio.com which aired on 3/19.

We hope to see you then

Rivers End Tackcle: Striper Surf Day 2015

From Joe at Rivers End:

Under the snow there really will be a spring run, so let’s get ready and celebrate it at Striper Surf Day on Saturday, March 21, at Rivers End Tackle located at 440 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, Connecticut, from 10 AM to 4 PM. This is a great day to hang out, take in a seminar and tell some lies and stories with fellow surf rats. There will be some great speakers on hand with an emphasis on how to demonstrations, factory reps, sales, raffle prizes, great food and good friends.

FEATURED SPEAKERS AND DEMOS
Toby Lapinski will be presenting a seminar on “How to fish Block Island”.
Steve McKenna will be demonstrating how to rig Slug-Gos as well as loading Red Fins and Northbar Bottle Darters.
Dennis Zambrotta will be demoing how to rig teasers using Red Gills and Senkos as well as how he rigs his Red Fins four different ways depending on surf conditions. He’ll also be signing copies of his book, Surfcasting Around the Block.

Toby, Steve and Dennis will also be fielding questions during an open Q&A format seminar after lunch.

Dave Anderson will be demoing the online magazine, Surfcasters Journal.
Adam Romagna will be displaying antique striper plugs and can help ID and appraise your old lures.
Roy Leyva will be demonstrating the new line of long distance casting surf rods and reels from Shimano including the new 9’6” model.

There will also be an extensive line-up of factory reps on hand including Van Staal, Mak Surfcasting, Tsunami, STORMR, Albie Snax, Gibbs, Guppy Lures, Northbar Tackle and more.

As always this event is free and open to the public!

TONY STETZKO

A GREAT LOSS TO THE SURFCASTING AND FISHING COMMUNITY AT LARGE, TONY STETZKO, PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015.

TONY WAS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TRUE FRIEND TO THE CONNECTICUT SURFCASTERS.  HE WILL BE MISSED DEARLY AND OUR CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

THE CONNECTICUT SURF FISHING COMMUNITY (ALL CT CLUBS) WILL BE HOLDING A BENEFIT IN HIS NAME, DETAILS TO FOLLOW.

CT DEEP PUBLIC HEARING SUMMARY

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25th, 2015 PUBLIC HEARING SUMMARY

DAVID SIMPSON, COMMISIONER OF CT DEEP MARINE FISHERIES DIVISION SPOKE ON FOUR SPECIES OF MARINE SPECIES.  FLOUNDER, SCUP, BLACK SEA BASS, AND STRIPED BASS.

FLOUNDER, SCUP, AND BLACK SEA BASS PRESENTATIONS OFFERED OPTIONS PERTAINING TO THE 2015 REGULATIONS TO BE PUT INTO PLACE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK.  THE TIME TABLE FOR ALL DECISIONS, GENERALLY REVOLVES AROUND TROUT SEASON AKA CONNECTICUT'S "OPENING DAY" WHICH WILL BE ONE WEEK EARLIER THIS YEAR.   THE REASON FOR THIS IS BECAUSE THE ANGLER'S GUIDE FOR 2015 NEEDS TO BE PRINTED WITH THE CURRENT REGULATIONS AND GO THROUGH ALL THE MOTIONS TO BE PROCESSED IN TIME TO HIT TACKLE SHOPS IN ADVANCE OF OPENING DAY.

IN TERMS OF SCUP, CT WILL SEE RELAXED FISHING REGULATIONS TO MIRROR NEW YORK'S DAILY LIMITS.   THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR SCUP FISHING FANS AS THE KEEPER SIZE WILL LIKELY BE REDUCED AND THE BAG LIMIT WILL INCREASE.  THE SCUP BENCHMARK STOCK ASSESSMENT WILL BE OUT THIS UPCOMING YEAR, WHICH COULD ALTER BAG AND SIZE LIMITS MOVING FORWARD DEPENDING ON THE RESULTS (BUT NOT UNTIL 2016 OR AFTER)

BLACK SEA BASS, CONNECTICUT EXCEEDED THEIR ALLOWANCE IN 2014 FISHING YEAR AND HAS TO TAKE CUTS TO MAKE UP FOR THE OVERAGE.  A SUITE OF 6 PROPOSED OPTIONS WERE REVIEWED BY THE ASMFC, AS WELL AS TWO ALTERNATES TO BE REVIEWED BY ASMFC WERE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING.  THE GENERAL CONSENSUS WAS TO TRY TO MATCH NEIGHBORING STATES REGULATIONS, AND MAINTAIN SPECIAL PERMITS FOR THE CHARTER AND PARTY BOAT CAPTAINS TO SUPPLEMENT FOR-HIRE TRIPS IN THE SOUND.  THERE WAS SOME VARIATION IN THE PREFERRED OPTIONS BASED ON THOSE IN THE ROOM, BUT OVERALL IT WAS MORE DESIRABLE TO HAVE AN EARLIER START TO THE SEASON.

STRIPED BASS, EVERYONE IN THE ROOM WAS IN FAVOR OF 1 FISH AT 28" OR LARGER FOR ALL MODES.  SEVERAL CHARTER / PARTY BOAT CAPTAINS SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THIS DECISION, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHARTER / PARTY BOAT ASSOCIATION SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THIS DECISION, SEVERAL RECREATIONAL ANGLERS CONCURRED, AS WELL AS A FORMER TACKLE SHOP OWNER ALL AGREED ON THE ONE FISH OPTION.  DAVID SIMPSON SPOKE TO THE EFFECT OF MAKING THIS SELECTION AS THE BEST WAY TO CALCULATE HARVEST NUMBERS WHICH HELPS THE BOTTOM LINE WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING NEW DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD.  THE BAD NEWS OF THE NIGHT WAS THAT THERE WILL NEED TO BE ANOTHER ASSESSMENT AND NEXT YEAR WE WILL BE AT THE DRAWING BOARD AGAIN, LIKELY TO MAKE MORE CUTS.