Montauk Pioneer - October 10, 2008 -Fish For The Troops

You are out on a boat with the famous Montauk Lighthouse in sight. You were up very early, leaving Montauk Harbor to watch the sun rise over the ocean from behind Block Island. You will probably be out there with as many as 50 boats all like yours, fishing for the prized striped bass. And you will be doing it for a wonderful charity.

Beginning Saturday, October 11, at Sunrise, the North Shore Anglers Club, a group of friends who started fishing together in Montauk twenty years ago, are staging their second annual Montauk Fishing Tournament for the Troops, through the Wounded Warrior Program. Jerry Nigro, this year's unofficial tournament director, credited Jim Higgins for truly being the originator of the event, which will be a Striped Bass Fishing Tournament.

With the striped bass season in full swing, Jerry is hoping to increase the 15 boats and 50 anglers that made last year's event a success, raising between $4-5000 for the Iraq Wounded Warrior Program. "I hope we can triple that," he said. "Since the weekend is also the Montauk Fall Festival it is an ideal weekend to bring the whole family out," he added.

Afterwards on Saturday evening there will be an open to all $100 per person Lobster bake that will include drinks at the Montauk Yacht Club where the weigh ins for the day's catch will be between 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Montauk Yacht Club Docks. Also that evening the Montauk Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the Fall Festival Grucci Fireworks that were such a success last October after being rained out on July 4.

Jerry fondly spoke of all the fun and camaraderie he has had over the last 20 years fishing Montauk. With his Huntington, Long Island based friends they formally organized the North Shore Anglers Club five years ago. He is hoping for some, "Really great Montauk weather for a great day and for a great cause, our wounded Iraqi Veterans."

He has admired the work that people like Nick Krauss have done through the years for the Wounded Warriors and in assisting the NSAC these last two years in the running of the tournament. The Montauk Yacht Club was chosen because it is a world-class facility worthy of a striped bass tournament for wounded soldiers. The proud sponsors of this year's event is quite a line- up: Red Stripe Beer, Vineyard Vines Clothing, (of Martha's Vineyard), Okuma, makers of famous rods and reels, and Early Times Whiskey. Jerry is very happy and proud of the way the sponsorship adds so much to the event. "They are all wonderful guys," he said. Jerry also mentioned how great it feels to do something for the wounded Iraqi Troops while doing something he truly loves to do and that is striped bass fishing. "There is perhaps no better place to fish for striped bass than off of Montauk this time of year," he said with a lot of enthusiasm.

All those who are interested in participating in this worthy cause and event can contact Jerry Nigro by phoning 917-407-0248.

"We are very loose," he stressed, meaning feel free to call and take part in this really fun event.

So picture yourself with a 50 pound striped bass being weighed up as the sun is setting and the lobster bake is being prepared. Your day will be one for the ages, as most Montauk fishing event days are. New fish stories, some even true, will be born on that day. Money will be raised for charity and new friends will be made. Jerry Nigro understands the importance of giving something back through charity and volunteerism, but he also hopes all who participate have a great time. "We truly hope to do this every year. Everyone had so much fun last year and we hope to build on that. Montauk is the perfect place to hold this event. I hope a lot of people call me for information."