The City of Somers Point will host the eighth annual Assault on Patcong Creek
Crabbing Tournament and Barbecue on Saturday, June 24.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt, ext. 103, or
Lindsay Barnes, ext. 124
Suasion Communications Group
609-653-0400
[email protected]
Somers Point’s Eighth Annual Assault on Patcong Creek
Crabbing Tournament & Barbecue
Saturday, June 24
The nation’s largest crabbing tournament is a competitive event
and fun for the entire family
Somers Point, NJ – – Crabbers grab your traps – the eighth annual Assault on Patcong Creek – a crabbing tournament and barbecue in Somers Point, NJ – returns on Saturday, June 24.
Taking place on the waters surrounding the City of Somers Point, the Assault on Patcong Creek began in 2010 as a gathering of a dozen or so crabbing buddies, and has grown each year over the past seven years to close to 100 boats and over 350 crabbers from 11 different states participating in this year’s tournament, making it the largest crabbing tournament in the country. The tournament is organized by the Patcong Creek Foundation, a 501c3 charitable organization.
With bushel baskets and crabbing traps in hand, participating teams launch their vessels into the water in search of rich crab habitats. Teams include long-time friends, husbands and wives, father-daughter and father-son duos crabbing aboard vessels with names like Bushelled Out, Crab-Zilla, Fish N Chip and Pheelin’ Crabby, the competition promises to be just as fun as it is fierce. EZ Dock USA will be setting up temporary crabbing docks near the mouth of Patcong Creek for land-based crabbers and spectators alike to get closer to the action.
New for 2017 is the Kelchner’s Food Products raw bar, an expanded midway with antique boat and outboard motor displays, historical trivia, and art/photography displays. Back again this year is the popular post-tournament party crab races, which features live music and a magic show by CullerMagic. Additional post-tournament activities include the Atlantic City Aquarium’s mobile touch tank, educational displays from environmental and wildlife groups including the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association and WeCrabNJ.org, a photo board from Jo Spice and a photo booth.
Another major highlight of the Assault on Patcong Creek is the after-tournament barbecue, held for sponsors, volunteers, crabbers and their families. It has become tradition for all of the crabbers taking part in the tournament to contribute their catch to the steam pot for consumption at the party. To date, the record is 25 bushels of crabs. The barbecue menu also includes a pig roast, hot dogs, sausage, beer, soda and other beverages – and homemade covered dishes, salads and desserts.
Awards for the Largest Crab will be presented. The Largest Crab Contest has become a cornerstone to the event that attracts crabbers from several surrounding states attempting to get their name engraved on the coveted Largest Crab Contest trophy.
“The number one goal of the Assault on Patcong Creek is to have fun with friends and family, both on and off the water,” said Ron Meischker, founder of the event and Somers Point’s Harbormaster. “We hope this event will also help provide financial support to marine-based educational initiatives,” Meischker added.
Rules for the Assault on Patcong Creek tournament are as follows:
- All crabbers must be registered and receive confirmation of their registration to participate.
- All crabs must be blue crabs.
- All measurements are taken “point-to-point.”
- Only legal blue crabs may be entered.
- All crabs must be caught by handline, traps (ring, box, star, triangle, topless) or trotline. No crabs may be submitted if caught from commercial-style crab pots.
- The tournament is now a two-day format. Crabbing starts at 6 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday of the tournament.
- Crabbers can crab one or both days.
- All crabs caught must be checked in for processing on the same day they are caught.
- All crabs must be at designated check in location and in line for check in no later than 1 p.m. Crabs must be alive at check in.
- All crabs must be caught from the following bodies of water: Patcong Creek, Great Egg Harbor Bay, Great Egg Harbor River (and its off shoots) Middle River, Tuckahoe River (and its offshoots), Tuckahoe-Corbin City Fish and Wildlife Management Areas, Peck Bay, Steelman Bay, Scull Bay.
In 2016, Assault on Patcong Creek donated $500 to the Great Egg Harbor River Council to assist with the educational outreach initiative. The tournament committee also engages in its own educational initiatives and in environmental clean-up efforts. Assault on Patcong Creek has pledged $1,500 to the Great Egg Harbor River Council for 2017.
The Assault on Patcong Creek Crabbing Tournament and BBQ would not be possible without support from their generous sponsors: JO Spice Company, Kelchner’s Food Products, Flying Fish Brewing Co., Yeti Coolers, Glenn Insurance, Capri Construction, DRK & Associates, All Action Watersports, Atlantic City Aquarium, Gregory’s Bar & Restaurant, Passion Vines Wines and Spirit Company, 24 Hour Bait and Tackle, Jersey Shore Tours, Randy Lafferty Esq., Fun Time Crabbing, Fabbri Builders, OceanFirst Bank, Bergman Law, Manos Law Firm, Budget Photo Box Photo Booth, CWG Mobile Lifecycle Solutions, Marine Mammal Stranding Center, The Blue Crab Archives, Campbell’s New Generation Marine, Sure Storage, Ardex Laboratories, Hank Sauce, Killer Clam Rakes, Formica Brothers Bakery, Botto’s Sausage, Huber Locksmiths, Marmora Hardware, Doran Engineering, PCH Technologies, Littler Mendelson PC, Ocean Heights Marina and the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association.
To register for the Assault on Patcong Creek, make a donation or become a sponsor call 609-517-2531, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.assaultonpatcongcreek.com.
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