Junior Anglers at Caleb Smith Tournament Win Awards

By Carole Paquette

(click on photos to enlarge)

Shelby Lloyd, 7, of Smithtown and dad Chris.Brandon Connor, 6, and Dad Jim of St. James. Brandon caught ten fish in an hour.On one of the nicest days of Spring, the sun shone on forty-two young anglers and their families at Willow Pond in Caleb Smith State Park Preserve at the recent Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve’s catch-and-release 16th annual Junior Fishing Tournament. More than  three hundred fish, including a 14-1/2 inch trout, were caught by anglers ranging in age from five to twelve.

Morning group winners [from left]: Tristen Hennen, Frankie Marcotrigiano, Dylan Haase

Winners of the morning session, for those ages five to eight, were:  Frankie Marcotrigiano, 5, of Brentwood for the most fish caught: 13; Tristen Hennon, 8, of St. James caught the largest pan fish: 9-1/2 inches;  Dylan Haase, 5-1/2, of Smithtown caught the largest “other” fish: a 14-1/2-nch trout.

Afternoon group winners [from left]: Devon Gallo, Chase Patrie, Justo ReyesWinners in the afternoon session, for anglers ages nine through twelve, were: Justo Reyes, 11, of Levittown, for the most fish caught: 38; Chase Patrie, 11, of Setauket caught the largest pan fish: 9-1/2 inches; and Devon Gallo, 10, of Manhattan caught the largest “other” fish: a 15-1/2-inch bass.

Jack DiBenedetto, winner of TomTroccoli Memorial Lottery.Another highlight of the event was the Second Annual Tom Troccoli Memorial Lottery, involving the seventeen registrants in the afternoon session. The winner received a fishing rod and tackle. The drawing was held in the name of the late Tom Troccoli of Smithtown, who enjoyed fishing and had accompanied his grandson at two junior angler tournaments. The Troccoli family donated funds for the memorial lottery, which will be continued for many years.

The late Mr. Troccoli’s grandson JosephJoe Troccoli of Smithtown, with his uncle Patrick Little. Troccoli, of Smithtown drew the name of angler Jack DiBenedetto, 12, of Smithtown, as the winner of the Troccoli Memorial award.