The NSRWA held the 6th Annual South Shore Catch and Release Striper Tournament this past weekend in support of efforts to restore fish habitat on the South Shore. One-hundred twenty-three anglers of all ages participated in the event in five different categories: Motorized Boat Angler, Adult, Motorized Boat Angler, 12 and under, Shore Angler, Adult, Shore Angler, 12 and under, and Fly Fishing, Shore only.
The winners were:
Motorized Boat Angler, Adult – First Place – Justin Fein, Cohasset, with 49” striper – $1,000.00
Motorized Boat Angler, Adult – Second Place Calcutta – Stephen Brigham, Scituate, with 47.5” striper – Fishing Gear Prize Package
Motorized Boat Angler, 12 and under – First Place – Henry Stephens, age 11, Cohasset with 29” striper – Rod and reel prize package
Motorized Boat Angler, 12 and under – Second Place Calcutta – Elliott Gardner, age 8, Marshfield, with a 25.25” striper – $50 Belsan Bait & Tackle Gift Certificate
Motorized Boat Angler, 12 and under – Third Place – Jake Beagley & Jackson Critchley, ages 11 from Marshfield and Scituate with a 25” striper – $25 Belsan Bait & Tackle Gift Certificate
Shore Angler, Adult – First Place – Max Kalil, Marshfield, with a 36” striper – $1,000.00
Shore Angler, Adult – Second Place Calcutta – Chris Alexander, Hanover, with a 33.25” striper – Rod and reel
Shore Angler, 12 and under – First Place – Shane Long, age 7, Hanover, with a 24.75” striper – Rod and reel
Shore Angler, 12 and under – Second Place – Bob Medico III, age 12, Pembroke, with a 23” striper – $50 Belsan Bait & Tackle Gift Certificate
Fly Fishing, Shore only, All Ages – First Place – Rob Archibald, Andover, CT, with a 33” striper – $1,000.00
Fly Fishing, Shore only, All Ages – Second Place Calcutta – Jack Speer, Cohasset with a 29” striper – Swag Prize Package and $300 Bear’s Den Fly Fishing Co. Gift Certificate
Recycling Old Measuring Stick Raffle Winner – James Kearns, Rockland
Thank you to Belsan Bait and Tackle for hosting the registration and awards ceremony.
This event supports the North and South Rivers Watershed Association’s effort to restore fish habitat in our local waters, particularly herring runs through dam removals. Since 2002 throughout the South Shore and due to the efforts of local watershed associations, conservation nonprofits, private property dam and cranberry bog owners, town, state and federal government there have been 22 dams removed and 2 cranberry bogs restored that have opened 16 miles of streams and rivers. In the North and South Rivers watershed alone we have worked to remove 3 dams, restoring and reconnecting 9 miles of river habit for river herring and native Eastern brook trout and other native species.
We have made progress, but there is still more to do. Overall on the South Shore, 6% of available habitat has been re-opened and 74% of restorable habitat is still blocked by dams, with the remaining habitat accessible to a limited degree through fish ladders that only benefit a few species. Dam removal not only improves access for migratory fish like river herring and native fish like Eastern brook trout, but also makes our rivers and the species that rely upon them more resilient to a changing climate. Removing unneeded dams improve water quality, help maintain streamflow, and improves instream habitat. When river herring can access more habitat, their population increases, providing more food for the animals that eat them like striped bass, bluefish, osprey, and herons. Opening up more habitat benefits local rivers and our ocean ecosystem. To find out more and to be a part of this groundbreaking work contact NSRWA through our website at www.nsrwa.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Thank you to all of our 2022 South Shore Striper Tournament corporate sponsors! Our lead sponsor, Briteway Car Wash, together with all of our other very generous sponsors made possible this family fun event of catch and release fishing for a cause. Thank you for being leaders in our communities! Briteway Car Wash, Safe Harbor Green Harbor, Fast Signs – Quincy, Beagley and Associates – Merrill Lynch, DIY Solar Company, Webster Printing & Packaging, South Shore Fly Casters, 42 North Solutions, Monahan’s Marine, Perry Supply, Barrington Coffee Roasting Company, Belsan Bait & Tackle, Atlantic-Pratt Energy, Hubbard Plumbing and Heating, Merrill Engineers and Land Surveyors, All State Insurance Grande Agency, AccuTrust Mortgage, Boom Realty, Systems Support Corporation, Scott Weber Restoration, SlackTide Coffee Roasters, Kennedy Carpet, Auto Shine Autobody
The proceeds from the South Shore Striper Tournament go to NSRWA’s efforts to maintain and restore heathy rivers for fish habitat.