Sportsmen's Club Hosts 18th Annual IBEW Striped Bass Tournament

A forecast of wind and rain could not deter the Local 3 Sportsmen’s Club fishermen from a day of angling. In spite of the threat of inclement weather the Club held its 18th Annual Striped Bass Tournament on Columbus Day, Monday, October 9, 2017 out in Montauk, Long Island and the catch of the day did not disappoint.
What began as a tournament of first generation Sportsmen’s Club members and sister club members has grown into an anticipated event that enjoys younger members of Local 3 out for the first time along with the sons, daughters, nephews and nieces of those first fishermen in a fun competition for the biggest striped bass, biggest blue fish and the heaviest weight of the three biggest bass from each boat. Some come out with the entire family, some come out for the day and some make it a three-day weekend getaway. Children of members who were once too young to participate are now going head to head as adults trying to land the big fish against the more seasoned anglers.
After all the fish of the day were weighed in, lunch was served on land to hand out the awards. Sportsmen’s Club President Tom Mohan opened the ceremony thanking å_everyone for being part of another successful tournament then recognizing club advisor Business Representative Anthony Falleo and sister club presidents and officers in attendance. President Mohan then turned over the microphone to event Chairmen Nick Levine and Scott Serpi to call out the winners.
For many years, Business Representative Kenneth Forsberg was the tournament’s Chairman and some of his skills at the reel must have been handed down to son Justin Forsberg who landed the largest striped bass weighing in at 44.6 pounds on the Fisherman II. The largest blue fish award went to Greek Club Vice President Pete Papadatos weighing in at 17.3 pounds on the Herls Girls. The first place heaviest combined weight went to the crew of the Adios lead by Administrator of the Electrical Training Center and eighteen- year tournament veteran Mike Valero. The same boat saw Pension Director Maureen Steiger pull in the second largest blue fish that also hooked two other blue fish keepers on the same cast!
Next year the Sportsmen’s Club will host the event and share the same fun and excitement with sister clubs and new and old Local 3 members who would like to participate in the 19th annual Striped Bass Tournament. For more information continue to read Union World and stay informed.