by Steve “Tuna” Tornovish
Heather Unruh has won a lot of awards over the years. Four Emmy awards for her journalism and the Clarion Award for women in communication. How about the Gracie Allen Award from the group American Women in Radio and Television? Yup, she won that as well. But which award is displayed prominently in the family room of her Nantucket home, you ask? Of course it’s her first place framed August Blues—Nantucket Champion print that she won last year.
“It is my absolute favorite! Walking up to get it at the awards ceremony in front of all of those anglers—it was a little scary!” Can’t fool me, Heather: you don’t scare easily. And you absolutely crushed the competition last tournament. Heather Unruh was dominant in the boat fishing division in a way much like Mike Tyson was dominant in the heavyweight division from 1985 to 1990. She knocked out the other anglers and won both the Triple Strike boat prize and the largest boat-caught bluefish. Her closest competitor in both categories was her husband, Hal Beacham. Heather was unstoppable. Her 38-inch bluefish was the biggest entry in the competition by far.
“When I pulled in the 38-inch blue, we turned on the music and danced! I had read an article where a commercial fishing guy had said that he could bring his clients out fishing and it could be anybody’s tournament. It put some fear in me. We fished until the very end!”
I asked Heather if she was ready to defend her title. “I had shoulder surgery four months ago. A total clean-out. It hurt! The recovery time ends right around the tournament start date. I’m channeling all my energy for this!” I sure wouldn’t bet against Heather repeating as champion. Hal could certainly sneak into contention. After all, Hal finished second in last year’s boating division. “It was a team thing. One drives, one fishes. Hal had an uncanny ability to put me in the right spot. But there’s so much more to this than a fishing tournament.”
Heather is so right. The August Blues tournament, coming into its third year, honors our own August “Augie” Chotkowski, a young man who’s fought the battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy for all of his 29 years. The emphasis is always on the fun in this tournament, but the cause that gave rise to it is very serious. Proceeds from the August Blues tournament help fund Parents Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD). From parentprojectmd.org: “Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy fights to end Duchenne. We accelerate research, raise our voices to impact policy, demand optimal care for every single family, and strive to ensure access to approved therapies.”
So let’s discuss the awesome framed fish print that the tournament winners take home. The prints are created by Nantucket artist Peter Van Dingstee, who uses the Japanese style of Gyotaku. That’s the art where actual fish are used to create images on delicate rice paper. Per Pete’s website: “Gyo translates to ‘fish’ and ‘taku means ‘stone rubbing’ in Japanese.” They’re unique, they’re beautiful, and they’re worthy of a place of prominence for the champion who receives one.
Peter is all in for August Blues. “I first met Greg (Dr. Greg Chotkowski) and Augie back when I was running the soda fountain on Main Street. Augie and his sister (Honor) used to come in. Over the years, I’ve seen the physical decline in Augie but there’s been no decline in his spirit!” Peter understands physical challenges and is all about supporting those who face difficult battles. “I’ve had two heart attacks and have been on five MedFlights out of here. I’m still blessed to be able to create my art. This is a great tournament: I love the energy and am proud to support it! I’m changing up the print a little this year just in case we have a repeat champion.”
Repeating as a champion is easier said than done, right? Well, to be sure, I spoke with a guy who would know a lot about this. As a new member of the Nantucket beach fishing community, he won the 2024 Triple Strike beach prize. He earned this championship by fishing long hours, hunting for the strangely elusive bluefish. This guy fished hard. He told me, “I only live one way. I apply it to everything I do.” The results certainly bore this out. He walked out to the farthest reaches of Great Point and Smith’s Point. He fought through the thick red weed at Low Beach. He saw the sun rising as he fished Point O’ Breakers. Yeah, that’s what champions do. And this fisher knows what being a champion is all about. After all, he was the captain of three New England Patriots Super Bowl winning teams. Congratulations to Tedy Bruschi, the 2024 Triple Strike beach champion!
“Well, we (the New England Patriots) didn’t repeat after our first win (the 2001 Super Bowl victory over the Rams) but we got it in 2003 and 2004. I’d love to repeat but I know that there’s going to be some fierce competition.” I asked Tedy who he thought might make a strong run for the title in 2025. “My son Dante wants to beat me. He’s going to go at it hard!”
Tedy Bruschi has his championship Gyotaku bluefish print hanging over his fishing bench in his garage. “My wife loves it and wanted to hang it in the house but this is where I go before every fishing trip to get my mind prepared. I’ve also got the lure that I used to catch those three big fish hanging with it!”
Tedy is an ardent supporter of the August Blues tournament, so much so that a major tournament prize has been dubbed “The Bru-fish Award”. This award is presented to the fisher who submits the longest bluefish caught from the beach. The 2025 winner will receive a white New England Patriots Tedy Bruschi #54 jersey, signed by the former captain. (Please note: I’m going to be attending the November 9th game in Tampa Bay when our beloved Patriots play the Buccaneers, and I’d look great in a white Bruschi #54 jersey. Just sayin’…)
Last year’s winner of the Bru-fish award was the awesome Nathan Skerritt. After seeing the announcement last year that a red signed Bruschi jersey would be the prize, Nate had posted on his Instagram page, “I will fight tooth and nail to win this! Tooth and nail!” And he did. Nathan’s 35-inch entry held up and his dream came true. I’m here to tell you, folks, Nate Skerritt is one of the coolest people you’ll ever meet on the beach or anywhere, for that matter. His story is amazing and his passion for life is unmatched. It was wonderful to see him holding the Bru-fish award at last year’s ceremony.
As for this year? “My goal is to make everyone out there cower! No prisoners! I’m throwing everything to try to win the Triple Strike championship!”
I asked Nathan if he ever wears his jersey. “I don’t, but every time that my brother in law Derek is here I remind him of the time Tedy saw him lose a fish. Derek is a total fan-boy. Seeing him lose that fish in the wash as Tedy was driving by is almost better than winning the jersey!” Ouch!
This tournament is a great time for a great cause. I asked Greg Chotkowski and Rick Ramos, the tournament directors, about what new events were coming for 2025. “We’re working hard to get more kids and families to participate. Juniors (age 17 and under) are automatically entered into the tournament with a submission and are eligible for any of the prizes in the junior category. New this year will be our Derby Day, held on Saturday, August 23. This is an island-wide event but we’re setting up home base at Point O’ Breakers (off of South Shore Road). We’re reaching out to the Boys and Girls Club, to the Scouts and are hoping to get a lot of kids fishing. There will be separate Derby Day prizes. We’ll have the grill going as well. This event will go from 6 am to 6 pm.”
I have it on good authority that a certain Nantucket beach fishing guide will be donating a new junior sized rod and reel combo to a Junior beach fishing winner, so let’s get those kids out fishing! I also know that the memories made when fishing with your family and friends last forever. Take a kid fishing and change that kid’s life for the better! Check out augustbluesnantucket.com and be sure to fo llow their account on Instagram @august_blues_nantucket.
Steve “Tuna” Tornovish is a Nantucket native who has spent his life fishing from the beaches of his beloved island. He loves to introduce clients to the joy of fishing with his Nantucket Island Fishing Adventures: stevetuna.com
