The 13th Annual Oyster Bay Bluefish Tournament held Sunday, Sept. 13, was a wonderful day. The weather was perfect and best of all, everyone had a great time. Many of those who didn't bring in a winning fish, went home with "dinner" and many carried home the super raffle prizes that topped off the day.

This year they added five more places to the winners board at the annual Town of Oyster Bay Bluefish Tournament. This year there were 15 winners, instead of just 10, that put the prize money up about $1,000. Interestingly, there was a tie for 15th place, with both the identical weight and length so the two split the $100 prize.

Inside the tent Tom Swiencki, of Oyster Bay Marine Supply sat ready to sign the checks. The crew were weighing the fish as they were brought in, taking the names and addresses of the winners, several were bumped as bigger fish turned up. The winning fish are kept on ice before they are sliced open to be sure they are confirmed: fresh and with no weights.

"It's a long day. There's nothing like slinging fish around," quipped Barbara Bundas. It was her third year at the tournament.

"It's the best way to end the season," said Jay Dammes. The winning fish are kept on ice, name tags are hung at each number so they can move them as needed, when a bigger fish knocks smaller ones off the board.

Bill Dammes was again in charge of making sure the fish were freshly caught. He looked to see that the tail fan opened easily; looked in the gills to see if they were completely soft. If the fish is old, they are razor sharp. He cut into the bluefish carefully "So they can stuff them if they want." He checked the silvery scales to see that they are all there.

He looked down the mouth to see that there was nothing in their throat. "This fish looks great. It's been dead two to three hours, tops. Look, his eyes are clear," said Mr. Dammes.

When the decisions came in, the top winner was John Marino of Huntington Station. His brother Mike was standing by watching as John was interviewed by Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto. "He's won before in a couple of small tournaments," said Mike. "This is the best thing that could happen to him now." The reason, "It's been a rough summer. We've been working hard, paying the bills. That's what it comes down to.

"This is a nice safe event. So many people are in the water and there are no incidents. Everyone has a great day," said Mike. "It's a great way to end the season."

There is a story behind every winner.

Kenny Howes, 11, a student at the Vernon School in East Norwich, caught five fish including his winning one, which took 12th place at 10.55. It was the first time he took part in the Bluefish Tournament. His dad, Jack, said they caught the fish off Greenwich, Connecticut. Kenny's grandfather is Don Titus of Locust Valley.

Rocco Costa, of Massapequa was out with his grandfather Roy and dad Daren. Rocco caught his 10.05 bluefish at Cooper's Bluff and made the board, sharing No. 15 with Andy Gregory of Nesconset and his 10.05 fish. Both were the same length, the other deciding factor.

Vivian Jarvis called out, "Donny got one at the last minute, at 3:30 p.m." The contest was officially over at 4 p.m. The fish weighed 11.49.

Donny was out in his 1957, 10 foot Opat. His mom said, "He caught a 28 inch bass while he was out. His father said, do you realize you caught a keeper? Donnie said "I had no room in the boat." Don and Louie Bellock were out in the boat together.

"We caught only one fish the whole day - a striped bass the same size as the bluefish which came in at the last minute," said Donny. He caught the fish outside the Seawanhaka Yacht Club. "We can't get out into the harbor with a boat that small," he said. Donny has placed on the board at seven of the last eight bluefish tournaments.

His previous boat was 19 feet. He has been so busy working recently, that he hasn't been out fishing for two years. He went back to his first love, golf, after leaving Hallock Chevrolet, when he sold his bigger boat.

Getting the small boat started was tough Sunday, Sept. 13. It took him three tries to get out in the harbor. "I had to walk back to the Bayville bridge, but I finally got it running."

"It was the smallest and oldest boat in the tournament," said Don. "Everyone stood around looking at it and asking where was it built." The boat was built in Old Town, Maine. It is all wood. "We gave it to Donny, when he was 25," said Mrs. Jarvis. "He keeps it like a piece of furniture."

Cove Neck Mayor Tom Zoller and his son Tom tried their luck in the Bluefish Tournament. Did they catch anything? "Nope." Did they have a good time? "Yep," said young Tom.

Buzz Abelson of Oyster Bay missed making the board this year. He took it gracefully. For the last three years he came in with a winner. Out of 10 years, he placed in seven. He was out west looking for blues but nothing happened in Little Neck, City Island, New Rochelle and Huntington. "It happens," he said.

Brian McGee of Syosset went out with his friends, Joe Chiofalo, Bob Wallace and Ron Sherman. They caught no fish. "We went swimming and tried diving for them," he quipped.

Phil Rhoads, past commander of the Oyster Bay Power Squadron was out trying. "We didn't win but we caught nine blues." He was out on the Epicure, captained by Joe Gentile, past commander of Sagamore Yacht Club.

The Bluefish Tournament, sponsored by the Town of Oyster Bay Department of Parks and Oyster Bay Marine Supply, was open to anglers of all ages. The entrance fee is $17 for town residents and $27 for non-residents. Registration was limited to the first 350 boats. Registration forms were available at all town facilities and at Oyster Bay Marine Supply, 294 South Street, Oyster Bay. All entrants were automatically entered into the special raffle which offered such prizes as a 12 1/2 foot Quicksilver inflatable boat and 15 hp Mariner outboard engine, an 8 1/2 foot Quicksilver boat and 2.5 hp outboard engine, rods and reels, ice chests, water skis, dinners for two and much more. It's an incredible list!

Along with plaques for the top anglers, the first 15 place winners received gift certificates: 1st place - $2,000, 2nd place - $1,000, 3rd place - $750, 4th place - $600, 5th and 6th places _$500 each, 7th and 8th places - $400 each, 9th and 10th places - $300 each, 11th and 12th places - $200 each and 13th, 14th and 15th - $100, which they split. Winners received their prizes at the tailgate party scheduled for after 4 p.m.

The co-sponsors of this year's Bluefish Tournament include A To Z Tool and Party Rental Inc., Arizona Ice Tea, Bridge Marina, Dick and Dora's Restaurant, Duffy's Bait & Tackle, Ebbets Field Cafe, Fish & Wildlife Unlimited Taxidermy, Four Winns at Kydd's Marine Center, Garans Bait & Tackle, House Magazine, Lowrance Electronics, Manhattan Beer Distributor, Mariner Outboards, Marykate Ship Shape, Inc., Mill Max Corporation, Nathan's Famous, New York Outdoors Magazine, Nor'east Saltwater, North Shore Fire Equipment, Omni Fitness Equipment, Quicksilver Inflatable Boats, S & S Construction, State Bank of Long Island, Visentin Bike ProShop, Whitewater Marine and Yorkshire Food Sales Corporation.

The Town of Oyster Bay Bluefish Tournament is a great way to spend a Sunday!

1. John Marino of Huntington Station - 16.11.
2. Bill Schaefer of Oyster Bay - 15.27.
3. Artie Hall of Glenwood Landing - 15.14.
4. Donny Jarvis of Bayville - 14.42.
5. Dennis Diesel of Bethpage - 14.26.
6. Dean Sampler of Smithtown - 13.67.
7. John Schaefer of Oyster Bay - 13.17.
8. Dave Relyea of Bayville - 11.49.
9. Laura Kaplan of Garden City Park - 11.19.
10. Doug McNaughton of Huntington - 10.77.
11. Rick Cook of Glenwood Landing - 10.73.
12. Kenny Howes of Oyster Bay - 10.55.
13. Greg DiFilippo of Hicksville - 10.55 (length determined the order).
14. Bob Starr of Elmhurst - 10.44.
15. Rocco Costa of Bethpage - 10.05.
    Andy Gregory of Nesconset - 10.05.