Anglers mourn loss of Kozak and Moore from the Star ledger

[The Conquistador]

RIP Phil And Capt Moore.
I knew Phil and he will be missed!
Just passing on this sad Info.
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Anglers mourn loss of Kozak and Moore
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Two of the most significant figures in New Jersey tuna fishing have passed over the bar. Capt. Fred Moore, a pioneer of party boat tuna fishing, and Phil Kozak of Pompton Lakes, founder and president of the National Fishing Association, will long be remembered for their contributions to the sport.

Moore, who lived in Fords most of his life, was residing in Key Largo, Fla., when he died a week shy of his 82 birthday on March 18 in Mariners Hospital. He ran party boats out of Great Kills for many years along with his brother Everette (who died in the early 1990s) before the latter's son, Capt. Richie Moore, relocated the Teal fleet to New Jersey.



Fred Moore was catching bluefin tuna from party boats when most fishermen considered that a rich man's sport and beyond their ability. Wayde Moore made his first tuna trip with his father in 1963, at the age of 5. They caught two 400-pound tuna that day, and his father figured he was a good-luck charm after that. Wayde, who eventually worked the deck from 1977 to 1990, said it seemed they boated at least one medium or giant every trip until that nearby fishery in such areas the Farms died out by 1968.

Fred Moore, who accounted for more than 10,000 tuna during his career, was generous with his memories and advice. I enjoyed many hours speaking with him in recent years on the docks when he was running private boats out of Point Pleasant. Moore is survived by his wife Helene plus sons Wayde and Fred Jr., who's a yacht captain in Miami. A memorial service is being planned, and his ashes will be spread at sea from the Teal out of Atlantic Highlands on April 12.

Phil Kozak was heavily involved in conservation and preserving the rights of anglers until succumbing to liver cancer yesterday at the age of 69. His major effort was in getting some sort of school bluefin tuna season for anglers, and he was constantly battling with the National Marine Fisheries Service in order to do so.

Kozak had his captain's license and fished many springs for stripers upriver in the Hudson before moving his Pocket Rocket to Keyport for the Raritan Bay spring striper run. School tuna were pursued during the summer, out of Manasquan Inlet and at Cape May.

Kozak leaves his wife of 47 years, Patricia, son Phil Jr. and daughter Donna Monarque. The viewing is tomorrow from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Vander May Funeral Home on Ratzer Road in Wayne. The funeral will be at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Pompton Lakes. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the NFA/Phil Kozak Memorial Children's Fishing Derby, P.O. Box 50, Pompton Lakes, N.J., 07442-0050.

[bvette]

RIP Phil And Capt Moore.
I knew Phil and he will be missed!
Just passing on this sad Info.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------


Anglers mourn loss of Kozak and Moore
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Two of the most significant figures in New Jersey tuna fishing have passed over the bar. Capt. Fred Moore, a pioneer of party boat tuna fishing, and Phil Kozak of Pompton Lakes, founder and president of the National Fishing Association, will long be remembered for their contributions to the sport.

Moore, who lived in Fords most of his life, was residing in Key Largo, Fla., when he died a week shy of his 82 birthday on March 18 in Mariners Hospital. He ran party boats out of Great Kills for many years along with his brother Everette (who died in the early 1990s) before the latter's son, Capt. Richie Moore, relocated the Teal fleet to New Jersey.



Fred Moore was catching bluefin tuna from party boats when most fishermen considered that a rich man's sport and beyond their ability. Wayde Moore made his first tuna trip with his father in 1963, at the age of 5. They caught two 400-pound tuna that day, and his father figured he was a good-luck charm after that. Wayde, who eventually worked the deck from 1977 to 1990, said it seemed they boated at least one medium or giant every trip until that nearby fishery in such areas the Farms died out by 1968.

Fred Moore, who accounted for more than 10,000 tuna during his career, was generous with his memories and advice. I enjoyed many hours speaking with him in recent years on the docks when he was running private boats out of Point Pleasant. Moore is survived by his wife Helene plus sons Wayde and Fred Jr., who's a yacht captain in Miami. A memorial service is being planned, and his ashes will be spread at sea from the Teal out of Atlantic Highlands on April 12.

Phil Kozak was heavily involved in conservation and preserving the rights of anglers until succumbing to liver cancer yesterday at the age of 69. His major effort was in getting some sort of school bluefin tuna season for anglers, and he was constantly battling with the National Marine Fisheries Service in order to do so.

Kozak had his captain's license and fished many springs for stripers upriver in the Hudson before moving his Pocket Rocket to Keyport for the Raritan Bay spring striper run. School tuna were pursued during the summer, out of Manasquan Inlet and at Cape May.

Kozak leaves his wife of 47 years, Patricia, son Phil Jr. and daughter Donna Monarque. The viewing is tomorrow from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Vander May Funeral Home on Ratzer Road in Wayne. The funeral will be at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Pompton Lakes. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the NFA/Phil Kozak Memorial Children's Fishing Derby, P.O. Box 50, Pompton Lakes, N.J., 07442-0050.

I just talked to Phil about 2 weeks ago. He wanted to bring his boat down to Cape May one last time. He told me he knew he didn't have much time left but wanted to get to Cape May. He sounded great on the phone the day we last talked. I was surprised to get the call from his wife that he passed so soon. He loved his hunting and fishing.

[Canyon Runner]

Fred Moore taught me more about chunking tuna in the 2 or 3 hours that I sat and listen to him on the docks at Clark's Landing than I learned in 2 or 3 years on the edge. He will always have a place right at the top of the list of the people that taught me to fish when I was just a kid.

Not only did he pass on his tricks and techniques on catching tuna but also his interest and passion for teaching others - he was unique in that respect and I was lucky to be around him and capture his teachings. I hope he is proud of what we've done with our Seminars in our effort to educate other - he will be missed.

[livetofishnj]

I had a chance to work with Phil when I was at the magazine, and Fred told me a lot about fishing from Perth Amboy back in the early days. Both were great men who will be missed.

[paul708]

i fished with phil from cape may,,great guy he will be missed

[fishy]

God bless him and his family