News & Notes:

Welcome to our website, courtesy of D.C. Helms Inc. Phillipsburg, N.J. Online registration. Please note that you can only register and pay for one person at a time. Follow the online instructions to choose either adult, or kids option, and shirt size. We are asking that contestants try to pick up your contest t/shirt, either during the contest, or Monday April 27 2026 6pm, at the awards ceremony, located at the Phillipsburg boat launch.

Fishing Guide Services:
See a list of fishing guides below or Visit our links page

2026 Get Together Dates

Saturday January 10th @ 6pm Riverside Barr & Grill 5801 S. Delaware Drive Easton, Pa.
Saturday February 21st @ 6pm Pizza Village (formerly ILL GAETTANO’S ) 665 Columbus Ave, Phillipsburg, NJ
Saturday February 28th @ 6pm Tiptons Tavern 3231 Belvidere Rd Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
Saturday March 7th @ 6pm Italian American Social Club Pursel St & Mill St Phillipsburg
Saturday March 14th @ 6pm Banquet Alpha Vol Fire Hall 1109 Lee Ave Alpha, NJ 08865
Saturday March 21st @ 6pm Hootz Bar & Grill 12 River Road Phillipsburg, NJ
Saturday March 28th @ 6pm Huntington Vol Fire Dept, 1 Maple Ave Phillipsburg, NJ Buy, Sell, Show, Tell
Saturday April 4th @ 6pm The Richmond Hotel 8491 N Delaware Drive Bangor, Pa
Wednesday April 8th @ 6pm Lost Goods & Gear 415 Front Street Belvidere, NJ 07823
Saturday April 11th @ 6pm The Gulch Tavern 1821 River Road Upper Black Eddy
Thursday April 16th @ 6pm Riverside Bar & Grill 5801 S. Delaware Drive Easton, Pa.

4/16/26 Shad fishing is on fire now. Catches of 80 to 90 fish, are being reported, with some nice size roe in the mix. A 24 inch 6 pound shad was caught on my boat, and that was followed up by another angler with a 24 inah 6 pounder. A 25 inch shad was also posted on Facebook. I am guessing 6 1/4 pounds. Good luck and catch em up.

The Special Activities Permit number is 2026-4-0469 Scroll down to print out form

2026 Bi-State: Shad Fishing Contest Winners & Prizes

1st- $20,000 Lawrence Major, Newton, NJ. 5.515 lb
2nd- $2,500 James Ashe, Columbia, NJ. 5.045 lb
3rd- $ 2,000 Rob Staples, Stroudsburg, Pa. 5.000 lb
4th- $1,200 Joel Caton, Bangor, Pa. 4.930
5th- $1,150 Doug Defanti, Coopersburg, Pa. 4.910 lb
6th- $1,100 Mark Preston, Easton, Pa. 4.905 lb
7th- $1,050 Rich Cleaver, Easton, Pa. 4.885 lb
8th- $1,000 John Mizisko, Alpha, NJ. 4.880 lb
9th- $950 Ray Phillips, Ottsville, Pa. 4.805 lb
10th- $900 Rich Walk, Nazareth, Pa. 4.765 lB

Day 1 Results

1. $200 Rob Staples 5.000 lb
2. $150 Joel Caton 4.930 lb
3. $100 Doug Defanti 4.910 lb

Day 2 Results:

1. $200 Lawrence Major 5.515 lb
2. $150 Zach Zupan 4.730 lb
3. $100 Bobby Stevely 4.630 lb

Day 3 Results

1. $200 Rich Cleaver 4.885 lb
2. $150 John Mizisko 4.880 lb
3. $100 Dave Hill 4.755 lb

Day 4 Results

1. $200 James Ashe 5.045 lb
2. $150 Ray Phillips 4.805 lb
3. $100 Rich Walk 4.765 lb

Kids Age 11 & Under

1st $250 Macy Silva 4.385 lbs
2nd $150 Jacob Buss 4.385 lbs
3rd $100 Macy Silva 4.355 lbs
4th $75 Chase Helm 4.315 lbs
5th $50 Owen Bench 4.305 lbs

Kids Age 12 to 15

1st $250 Carter Becker 4.540 lbs

2nd $150 Carmine Waskiel 4.500 lbs

3rd $100 Nicholas Jiorle 4.415 lbs
4th $75 Nicholas Jiorle 4.340 lbs
5th $50 Ryan Kunst 4.335 lbs

Women’s Bonus Prizes
1st $300 Maria Kitchen 4.565 lbs
2nd $200 Richelle DeArmis 4.530 lbs
3rd $100 Janell Tilstra 4.510 lbs

Sr Bonus Prize Age 65 to 74
Rob Staples $100 5.000 lb

Sr Bonus Prize Age 75 & Up
Lawrence Major $100 5.515 lbs

Veterans Bonus Prize
Lawrence Major $350 5.515

Congratulations to Adam Rehl, Winner of the 17 Foot Yamaha G3 CCJ Camo Boat, with a Yamaha 90/65 Jetdrive Outboard.

Here is a sample Fishing Event Report with the Special Activities Permit Number

Shad Contest Update: 2026 Shad Contest Dates Are April 23, 24, 25, 26

2026 Banquet Date is March 14th 2026 6pm @
Alpha Vol Fire Hall 1109 Lee Ave. Alpha, NJ 08865
$30 Adults, kids age 15 and under are free
As always, we are loking for donated goods, and gift baskets, for our silent auctions, and tricky trays.

Important News:

The PFBC attended the October Delaware River Shad Fishermen’s Association meeting, and announced that there will be no new restrictions on shad fishing for 2026. The young of year shad numbers were very good again in 2025, however, the adult netting at Smithfield beach, is still below average. It was made very clear to us, that the shad fish catch reports, are more important than ever, as they will be a part of decision making for 2027. I was also informed that we will need to fill out 2 forms this year. The original form that is sent with my annual permit, and the fish catch report that was designed in conjunction with the PFBC, and the DRSFA. The FCR that is provided with my annual permit, will only be used for the 4 days of the contest. The other form is to be used for all shad fishing trips for 2026. More to follw. I have not received my approved permiit, and fish catch report from the PFBC yet, but as soon as i get it, i will post it up. I am also going to attach an email that i received from the PFBC on Tuesday. Here it is.

Hey Eric,

Just wanted to check in. It is looking like 2026 will be an action-packed year for Fish and Boat. We have secured funding to hire a contractor to perform a Delaware River Creel Survey for 2026. The contractor will hire creel clerks to drive routes along the river stopping at access sites to interview anglers about their catch and opinions. This creel survey will be crucial because in 2025 we continued to see 2 out of the 6 management benchmarks fail and it now looks with a bad year in 2026 well have 3 out of 6 in failure (I have a report written but it needs to pass the editors before it is released to the public). The Delaware Shad Coop Policy Committee is meeting in July to discuss what actions to take due to the creel survey occurring March – July. The contractor we hired will be able to give us some data to help the Policy Committee make a decision in July even though a final report will probably not be available until 2027.

With all that said it will be crucial for angler participation in the survey. Are you planning to have the Bi State shad tournament again this year? If so, I can arrange my schedule to attend and discuss like the last 2 years but also promote/inform anglers about the creel survey if you would like.

I also have a draft for the diary angler creel survey for 2025 but the editors are still working on it. Hopefully it will be out within the next month.

We had 100 fish catch reports sent in for 2025. The PFBC was happy to see a big increase from 2024, but would like to see at least 150.

As you can see by the email above, 2027 could see more restrictions, or even a total shut down of recreational shad fishing, which would leave us with no shad contest. Please do your part, and provide the PFBC with the shad catch reports. And as always, if you have trouble, or are not comfortable with filling them out, just log your information in a notebook, and get it to me. I will then submit your info to the PFBC.

Thank you for your attention to this matter

Eric Fistler

Thanks to Yamaha G3 Boats, and Bob Mayberry Sales & Service, the $500 G3 Bonus Prize is back. Largest fish by a G3 Boat Owner, wins the $500

FYI: Pennsylvania law requiring the cleaning of boats, trailers, and fishing gear, to prevent aquatic invasive species from being transferred to other water ways.

Please fill out our Shad Fishing Tally Sheet PDF

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Please fill out our Shad Fishing Tally Sheet PDF

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If you are looking to book a shad fishing trip for 2026, the following guides are sponsors of the Bi State Shad Fishing Contest

Finseeker River Guide Service
Tim Keebler
215 262 4811
fishbonzkeebler@gmail.com

Big D River Guide Service
Dieter Scheel
610 574 7519
BigDRiverguide.com

Lambertville Area

Rusty Balls Tackle & Guide Service
Rusty Held
484 239 4723
rustyballstackle@gmail.com

Easton Area

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News & Notes:

2026 Get Together Dates

2026 Bi-State: Shad Fishing Contest Winners & Prizes

Please fill out our Shad Fishing Tally Sheet PDF

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