STRIPER DAY IV – This Sunday at Ward Melville HS in East Setauket,NY

If the weatherman is correct for once, we are going to have some major fun this Sunday. As many of you know, although Hofstra U facilities were tight for the Striper Day Show, we always managed to have a good time (even while looking over the shoulder for a Fire Marshal to shut it down…lol) There was a long period of time when we thought that after Hofstra took away another 1/4 of available space, that we would no longer be able to put on a Striper Day Show. We looked at EVERY venue on Long Island from colleges to catering places to catholic HS. The major problem with most colleges is that their Gym is about thousand miles away from their auditorium. For example St Joe’s gym is on the other side of campus from theater. I am certainly  not sending any of you across frozen or snowy ground to listen to a seminar. We felt strongly that large auditorium is needed in order to put together Striper Day type of show. Yes, we did look at Suffolk community college facilities in Brentwood. The estimate for venue ONLY without covering the floor, table rental and booths were EIGHT times Hofstra. That was just to have a conversation! I’d have to take a second mortgage on my house to put on that show with zero chance of us ever breaking even. Surf fishing shows are not made to be two days, some guys will be sold out of plugs in half hour, what they are going to to for next few days? Fortunately Bob Wilson from Ward Melville HS Fishing Club spoke to his administration and they were in favor of hosting the Striper Day IV. They say it’s always darkest before light, in this case it definitely felt that way. So when you do go to Striper Day IV you will find in addition to over 130 tables of surf casting specialized vendors and all day seminars, the largest Surf Raffle EVER with 100% of proceeded going to Ward Melville HS Fishing Club. The kids will be there when you walk in and you will be able to buy raffles for different products. You can see partial list bellow and its a doozy and I know there will be more added at the show. And best part you do NOT have to be present for a Drawing.

We have a whole gym to ourselves (same gym that Ward Mellvile host their annual Fishing Expo) a large theater and smaller classroom for the seminars. We hope many of you will join us at this  larger location and we hope that you will have a great time. I personally hope that many of you will support the Ward Melville HS Club raffle and again i want to express thanks on their generosity for hosting the event.

We will try to get doors open early, for those people on line so they do not have to wait in cold(South Side general admission, north Side vendors only).

At what time will this happen, an hour or two before show starts, I am not sure. This is up to school security and out of our hands. But we will make an effort in trying to accommodate those on line early.

Having said that, this will only happen if there are no persons trying to get access to the school before 5 AM. We are guests here and we were already warned  that even a small transgression will be enough to put any future show in jeopardy. It is hard for me to comprehend why certain individuals cannot understand that this is a High School in residential neighborhood and not college facility like Hofstra. Some people who have kids of their own would tear apart anyone walking at night at their precious child school, but think of nothing of doing the same thing at a fishing show. I will never understand or accept this.

But this is a tiny minority of people, most of Striper Day attendees are there to catch a seminar, talk shop with vendors and see friends. You can renew your SJ subscription at the discount by getting a shirt or hoodie with your subscription. we have out YouTube Super Star Lou Caruso on a Big stage this year so I am sure many of you will enjoy that (PS For you NE guys who cant make this weekend , it is my distinct pleasure to announce that Lou Caruso will be at SJ booth at RISAA all weekend , so stop by and meet the Man ). The new location in East Setauket is very convenient to the NE guys as its only minutes away from Port Jefferson ferry. Of course there is a tradeoff as new location is further for NJ guys. But to me, having the ability to get everyone inside in 10 minutes after door opens and eliminating long lines and staggered start times is worth it.

As always all show info is at http://www.striperday.com/

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. First 500 guest will receive a goody bag from our sponsors. We decided to sprinkle the hundred Super Strike plugs among the goody bags and then mix all the bags up, so your buddy’s bag might be different than yours. That was exhausting!!!

Here is the list of just some of the Ward Melville HS Fishing Club Raffle

(Its going to be Chinese raffle so you will be able to buy raffle thickets for specific prizes)

STRIPER DAY 2019 RAFFLE
100% of proceeds to benefit Ward Melville HS Fishing Club
Winner does NOT need to be present
Van Staal VSX 150
Van Staal 7” Titanium Pliers
Shimano Ultegra 14000XTC
Pelican 50QT Cooler
Tsunami 6000 Shield Reel
Tsunami 5000 Shield Reel
ODM 9’ D.N.A. Rod
ODM 10’ Genesis Rod
ODM 11’ D.N.A Rod
ODM 10’6” Frontier X Rod
Lamiglas GSB11MS
Lamiglas GSB11MS
Lamiglas GSB11LS
Lamiglas GSB11LS
St Croix Mojo Rod 10’
St Croix Mojo Rod 10’6”
St Croix Mojo Rod 11’
SJ Bass Skate Deck
Outback Steakhouse $100 Gift Certificate
Korker Boots – Any One Pair
Outback Steakhouse $100 Gift Certificate
Custom Lure packages
Nikki Rizzo Bucktails
White Water Outfitter Custom Rod
S&S Bucktails
Noreaster USA Gear
FlipRocks Gear
TAK Waterman Gear
Joebaggs Tackle
Guppy Lure Package
Pelican Tumbler
and more coming …

PS If you got down this far, click on the https://www.surfcastersjournal.com/ 

for a first look at JAN 2019 issue