Ocean County Fishermen Raise Money

There were 32 vendors from the tri-state area and approximately 600 people attended. Some came for breakfast or lunch. Others came looking for that special fishing rod that could help to bring in the big catch.

Fish stories were abundant at this flea market.

"We caught red salmon in the waters off Alaska," said O'Brien's longtime friend, Robert Daoust of Union.

Ron Di Stefano, busy selecting a graphite pole to surf fish on the beach at Seaside Park this year, said he caught a barracuda in Mexico.

Daoust, whose 14-foot boat is moored in The Highlands, said, "We hope we can be out next month. We are looking for stripers, blues, weakfish and fluke."

"When it comes to fish," said O'Brien, "we can eat them all. Fishing is great fun."

Local fishermen at the event agreed they cannot wait for the season to begin and swear by the fact that both boat and beach fishing off the New Jersey shore is great. Bob McGinley, who has been fishing for 55 years, said that he mostly surf fishes and has caught a 47-pound striped bass at Island Beach State Park.