Day on the Bay for Challenged Children

The “Day on the Bay for Challenged Children” began in 2007 as a cooperative effort between the Absecon Field of Dreams baseball and softball programs for challenged children and Absecon Saltwater. Realizing that many challenged children do not have an opportunity to experience the enjoyment of fishing aboard a boat both Absecon Saltwater Sportsmen and the Absecon Field of Dreams organization partnered to provide this daylong tournament usually scheduled for early August. The tournament provides a completely fee free all day program that includes a three to four hour fishing adventure on board two Atlantic City based party boats and concludes with a full picnic and awards ceremony held at the Brigantine Elks Lodge. In these tournaments every child is awarded a commemorative medallion and T shirts. Every child is treated as a tournament winner, there are no 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd place awards.

The third annual “Day on the Bay for Challenged Children” was held on August 18th.  18 children participated. These children, many of whom have never experienced a boat trip or fishing, have the times of their lives. The accompanying photos tell the story of a carefree day where these children can, if only for a little while, forget their disabilities and engage in activities that many of us take for granted. This program, like the Nuncio Bruno Tournament, has grown in numbers, not only in participants, but also in the number of sponsors and volunteers wishing to become involved both financially or as facilitators. The revenue generated by Absecon Saltwater Sportsmen’s annual Open Tournament held in July is now dedicated to facilitating this event.

Nuncio Bruno 2007

The tournament is in memory of Nuncio Bruno, who along with his wife Ann, purchased Chestnut Neck Boatyard in 1976. After his passing in 1996 Ann and her daughter’s Violet Meyer and Maryann Schutz, who continue to run the boatyard, started a kid’s bluefish tournament to honor Nuncio. After attempting to run the tournament and their business at the same time they found it necessary to solicit help with the tournament. In 2003 the Absecon Saltwater Sportsmen engaged in helping to organize and operate the tournament and we have been involved ever since.

The 9th Annual Nuncio Bruno Memorial ‘Kids’ Bluefish Tournament was held on
May 19th 2007. 73 youth fishermen participated in the tournament. Each child received a
T-shirt commemorating the event, along with a goodie bag and door prizes. Hot dogs, chips, soda, and a cake were provided for the kids and parents.

Ironically this year’s tournament was won by Cody Meyer, Nuncie’s Grandson. Below is the list of winning participants.