MANHATTAN CUP

GET READY FOR THE 21ST MANHATTAN CUP

Gary Caputi

The Manhattan Cup Charity Striped Bass Tournament is scheduled for June 3, 2022 at Liberty Landing Marina and the Liberty House Restaurant in Jersey City, NJ. You can help support transitioning combat veterans and striped bass conservation by entering to fish in any of the numerous categories or by making a tax-deductible charitable donation to sponsor taking vets fishing. It is great fun at a time when the area surrounding New York City is alive with striped bass, making it an event you don’t want to miss.

The Manhattan Cup is an all-release tournament that encourages tagging. Winning fish are determined by a simple length/girth measurement with photo verification to insure maximum survivability. Certified measuring devices and tag kits will be provided, and a portion of the revenue generated is dedicated to a special tagging program that implants Gray FishTag Research satellite tags in mature striped bass. The data collected through this program has been remarkable and is helping to expanded scientific knowledge of these amazing animals. Since Gray became involved in the tournament more striped bass are carrying their standard tags than any other gamefish. The Manhattan Cup brings combat veterans to fish the tournament in a special Warrior Division aboard boats donated by area charter captains, light-tackle guides, and anglers. Most are dealing with invisible wounds such as PTSD and an introduction to fishing has helped many with the difficult transition to life after combat. We honor their service and sacrifice and welcome them into the brotherhood of anglers.

The Manhattan Cup is a first-class event that includes a pre-fishing breakfast at the captain/angler meeting, box lunches, and an awards dinner/BBQ held in the shadow of the Freedom Tower at the Liberty House Restaurant. We also invite celebrity guest anglers including the NFL’s Clark Harris just off his Superbowl appearance, and Astronaut Bruce Melnick, three-time shuttle pilot and the first man to complete an untethered space walk. The Cup will again honor FDNY hero and warrior aviator MSgt. Christopher J. Raguso, who lost his life on a rescue mission during Operation Inherent Resolve in Syria in 2018.

There are several ways you can enter or support the event. Captains can donate their boat and services for the day by signing up on our website or by calling Capt. Frank Crescitelli. Anglers can enter as a team and fish

from their own boats in the Sportsman Division. Angler teams can purchase a professional captain and boat for the day or enter as an individual and be assigned to a charter boat. Can’t fish but want to help? Then make a donation and sponsor one or more warriors. No donation is too small, all are greatly appreciated. Your company can become a tournament sponsor with a product or a cash donation by calling the tournament representatives. All donations are tax deductible. Dinner tickets will also be available for purchase to non-fishermen who want to honor these heroes and get in on the celebration, raffles, auctions and fun.

Anglers can compete in any of three categories; Fly, Artificial Lure or Bait with trophies presented in each category. It starts with breakfast and a pretournament meeting at Liberty Landing Restaurant followed by a boat procession in front of the Statue of Liberty with an FDNY fireboat water cannon display leading up to a shotgun start and day of fishing for striped bass and bluefish. After fishing, enjoy the open bar and appetizers with the best view of the NYC skyline found anywhere. Following cocktails, fish tales, and networking the Awards Dinner starts with an outdoor BBQ with steaks, seafood. Raffles and auctions commence including fishing trips donated by local guides and captains and several boats featured on Wicked Tuna, in addition to tackle, trips and more.

Go to www.manhattancup.com and sign up, donate or purchase dinner tickets. If you have questions call John DePersenaire (609-576-4421), Gary Caputi (732-740-9982), Capt. Frank Crescitelli (917-468-4817) or Mike Dean (917-873-6651).

The Manhattan Cup is underwritten by the Fisheries Conservation Trust. Past sponsors include Yamaha Outboards, Black Rifle Coffee, Staten Island Yacht Sales, Tsunami Awesome Tackle, Bimini Bay Outfitters, Valhalla Boatworks, Steigercraft Boats, Interlux Marine Coatings, Raymarine, Liberty Landing Marina, Suntex Marinas, D&R Boat Sales, Fin Chasers TV, The Fisherman, AFW Fishing Brands, Tony Maja Products, Princeton Tec, Costa del Mar Sunglasses, Manhattan2Montauk, Guides Secret Lures, Gray Taxidermy and other companies to be announced at a later date.

The team that won the Manhattan Cup (right to left) - Veteran Rich Ruiz (R) who caught the largest bass of the tournament and also won the Warrior Division trophy, Capt. Brian Rice of Jersey Devil Charters, Clark Harris of the NFL Bengals, Jim Hutchinson of The Fisherman and Paulie Walnuts, JD’s mate extraordinare.