Fishing tourney success no mere fluke
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer
One hundred sixty-eight men and women dispersed on the early morning of Aug. 9 to compete in the 11th annual Leave Your Wife at Home Fluke Tournament in Sewaren.

KATHY CHANG Garry Driscoll's fluke, coming in at 7.34 pounds, won first place in Ray Deliman II's 11th annual Leave Your Wife at Home Fluke Tournament held in Sewaren on Aug. 9. Driscoll, holding his winning fluke, stands with Deliman and his two daughters, Carly, 10, and Tyler, 5.

"We did have some women participate in the tournament, despite the name," smiled Ray Deliman II, who hosts the tournament in his backyard.

All proceeds of the tournament go to the St. Barnabas Burn Center in Livingston.

"The tournament idea began when my wife, Christine, was pregnant [with Carly] and she was being nosy about when her baby shower was going to be," Deliman said. "We had her believe that on the day of her baby shower that some of us were going fishing and we had her hook, line and sinker."

The tournament has become a family affair, with his wife counting raffle tickets, and his two daughters, Carly, now 10, and Taylor, 5, selling lemonade during the tournament. Deliman's daughters collected $40 from selling lemonade and they donated half to the Woodbridge Animal Shelter.

"About three years into the tournament, I thought, Why not do this for a benefit? … This was easy enough to conduct, and we're so close to the water," said Deliman. "Since I have been a volunteer fireman for the Woodbridge Fire Company No. 1 for 17 to 18 years, I decided to benefit the burn center."

Deliman said this year was the largest number of participants that he has had participate in the tournament.

"We have raised approximately $17,000 for the burn center since I started the benefit, and I hope to reach the $20,000 mark," he said.

One by one, the participants came back around 6 p.m. from a long day of fishing with the hope of catching the heaviest fluke. Some even came back with starfish.

In the end, Garry Driscoll's fluke, coming in at 7.34 pounds, won first place; Tom Andersen Jr.'s fluke, coming it at 5.36 pounds, won second place; Billy Banz's fluke, coming in at 5.06 pounds, won third place; and T.J. Dobrokowzki came in with the largest sea robin at 2.04 pounds.

Deliman stressed that the tournament has been sponsored by many local businesses and restaurants, including Vito Mazza Salon & Day Spa, Chicken Galore, Woodbridge Auto Parts, and many more.

"They donated various items that I could give away to the participants who bought the raffle tickets," he said.

Stephen Cohorsky III, of Avenel, has participated in the tournament for eight years, and he brought along his buddies Michael Csanyi, of Woodbridge, who has participated in the event for four years, and Chad Pequignot, who traveled 250 miles from Pennsylvania and was a firsttime participant.

The three said the tournament is "a good time, with good people, for a good cause."

Deliman said the event has grown through word of mouth.

"I don't know everyone that comes, and it's nice meeting new people," he said.

Leola Golembeski has participated in the event with her husband, Gary, and their friends Paul and Patti Kaessler for five years. All four are deaf.

"I just love it," said Golembeski. "It's an eventful day with a great friend [Deliman]."