Hundreds of boats sailing into 47th annual shark tourney

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The Guy Lombardo Marina in Freeport will soon be buzzing with fishermen and spectators in anticipation for the 47th annual Shark Tournament on June 15 presented by the Freeport Hudson Anglers Inc., (FHA). The all day event is a high stakes cash prize shark tournament with fishermen from all parts of Long Island. This year the tourney will also include a fluke tournament for cash prizes.

The purpose of this tournament, as per the FHA Tournament Committee, is not only providing a fun event with good sportsmanship and competition, but to promote the conservation of immature sharks by tag and release.

The weekend will start with the traditional Captain’s Dinner on Friday night, June 14, at the Guy Lombardo Marino at 7 p.m. At 5:30 a.m. on June 15, the FHA fishing club is expecting a large number of boats to take off in search of the biggest shark at sea for cash prizes. 

Last year, over 100 boats participated and approximately $200,000 in cash prizes were awarded. The 2018 shark tournament winners included first place — Captain Kenneth Owens, All American, 329.6 pound thresher shark and $53,000; second place — Captain Kevin Jinks. Grand Slam, 293.8 pound mako shark, $73,000; third place— Captain Joseph Tuminski, Lana Ann, 290.6 pound mako shark, $1,700; fourth place — Captain Al Narizzano, Fatal Attraction, 282.6 pound thresher shark, $8,000 and fifth place — Captain Eric Mann, Three Phase, 251 pound mako shark, $683

Blue, Brown, Tiger, Mako, Thresher, hammerhead and Porbeagle sharks are eligible for catching, at 150 pounds or more with the exception for 200 pounds or more for Blue sharks. The FHA partners with marine biologists of NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in order to insure that fishermen are following proper angling guidelines. The tournament ends as the boats return to the marina and radio, as they reached the check-in point near the Meadowbrook Bridge. Any fisherman who checked in with the committee boat after 6 will be disqualified.

FHA President and tournament director, David Gross, says that over the years, the Shark tournament has made a name for itself in the Freeport community, partly because the shark meat is donated to soup kitchens and local churches in Freeport. FHA also donates a good sum of tournament money to charities throughout Long Island. 

For tournament information, applications or sign up, contact 516-378-5181 or email FHAnglers@gmail.com. The tournament will be held at the Guy Lombardo Marina in Freeport, NY on Saturday, June 15.