Days Gone By
Let’s take a look back 50 years to the 1971 Cape May County Fishing Tournament. Back in 1971, you’d be getting ready for the winter flounder portion of the tournament that ran from Dec. 1 to April 1, 1972. Fishing was apparently a bit more popular back then, as evidenced by the fact that there were 13 locations in Avalon and Stone Harbor to weigh in your catch; 15 if you include Daebler’s and Monty’s Dock out on Stone Harbor Boulevard. There were three divisions in 1971: men, women and juvenile (to 14 years old). There was no entry fee and the prizes included fishing tackle – they obviously spared no expense. Entrants received an official tournament badge. A special recognition award was given for any winter flounder entry over 1 pound. Although the county’s tournament was open to all fish types through Dec. 31, the winter flounder tournament began Dec. 1. Another difference in 50 years (mostly thanks to our overfishing): There was no season and there were no limits in 1971. Today, the winter flounder season in New Jersey runs March 1-May 31 and again from Sept. 15-Dec. 31. There is a two-fish limit and each catch must be at least 18 inches. According to the official 1971 brochure, the 1970 winter flounder tournament winner was O.D. Nightingale of 108th Street in Stone Harbor. He weighed in his catch at 2 pounds, 11 ounces. Other tournament winners that year from the Seven Mile Beach included Julie Forrest of 11th Street in Avalon for her 35-pound striper; A.R. Vargas of Stone Harbor with a 5-pound, 7-ounce spotted weakfish, and Morris Sheer, also of Stone Harbor, for his 72-pound, 8-ounce wahoo.
If You Have A Photo From The Past Send It To Us: Days Gone By, PO BOX 134, Avalon NJ 08202 - OR - Email info@7miletimes.com