Ristori: Sciortino wins striper tourney
12/06/01
BY AL RISTORI 
STAR-LEDGER STAFF
Capt. Phillip Sciortino was very pleased with weekend eeling in he channels as the 19.28-pound bass boated on his Tackle Box Sportfishing from Highlands was enough to win the two-day American Striper Association (ASA) contest held out of Clarks Landing in Point Pleasant against 11 other boats.
Felipe Benedit of Monmouth Beach and John Lowe of Atlantic Highlands joined him Saturday as they eeled a dozen bass, including six of 15 pounds or more. Sciortino, Benedit and Todd Januzzi of Bedminster eeled 20 stripers Sunday, though a pair of 17-pounders were their largest on the 23-foot True World Marine center console powered by a Yanmar diesel.
Likely ASA overall champion Capt. Jennifer Clarke from Martha's Vineyard finished second with an 18.57-pound striper she caught from Futuleufu with Ricky Donofrio and Phil Miller. Clarke won the summer tournament at Falmouth, Mass., with a 48.65-pounder that hit a live bunker, and is way ahead for the grand championship based on total poundage of one bass from each of four tournaments, for top lady angler and for largest striper -- though ASA director Bob Flockin believes there's a possibility an even bigger cow could be taken this weekend at the final ASA event out of Deltaville, Va.
Robert Ransom of Cape May took third on The Ugly Mug with an 18.01-pound bass, and his son Bobby was the top junior angler. David Nova of White Stone, Va. was fourth on Marlin Maniac at 15.84 pounds, and Chuck Arnold from New Rochelle, N.Y., finished fifth with a 15.74-pound entry on his Fountain 38.
The bill to push giant purse seiners taking bunkers for reduction out of state waters will be voted on in the State Senate today.