By: centraljersey.com
HILLSBOROUGH – State championship angler Richard Pennacchio, 14, will put his reputation on the line this week, when he participates in the BASS Federation Divisional Championship in Delaware.
The competition follows his most recent achievement – winning the 2010 TBF Bass Federation NJ State Youth Championship for the 11-14 age group on July 25 – adding to his eight fishing tournament victories and another seven top three showings. Not only has Ritchie, as friends and family call him, won various state championships in a variety of competitive fishing tournaments, he’s even done it five years running between the age of 7 and 11 for casting, flipping and pitching accuracy.
And he gained the support of two sponsors, helping him participate in tournaments throughout the country, including the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Alabama and Oklahoma.
Ritchie, son of Ralph and Carol Ann Pennacchio, of Perrine Pike, got his start at age 3 fishing for bluegills with his father at Round Valley reservoir.
He got his competitive juices flowing a few years later while attending a boat show with both parents, signing up on a whim for a CastingKids contest, a contest for kids between 7 and 14.
"My mom who was attending the show with me saw other kids casting at round targets about 10 yards away with Zebco rods and reels," Ritchie said. "She knew my love of fishing and suggested I give it a try, confident that I would do well.
"It was my first competitive event and I won it," he added. "I scored 110 points out of a possible perfect 150. I was hooked on the idea."
After dominating the same contest five years in a row, Ritchie knew he was destined to fish at a very high, competitive level. When asked what he liked most about fishing he replied, "I simply like the challenge of competitive freshwater fishing."
"You need to know various techniques – like pitching and flipping – besides just casting," Ritchie said. "You need to use different kinds of baits to succeed depending upon the conditions. Bill Dance (a Hall of Fame pro) suggests using dark colored baits on sunny days and lighter colored ones when it’s overcast. I also love being out on the water competing against kids my age. I can fish all day and never get bored."
Together with being a five-time consecutive Bassmasters CastingKids NJ State Champion, while still only 12, Ritchie concurrently held the 2008 TBF Bass Federation NJ State Youth Championship and the 2008 Forrest L. Woods (FLW) tour NJ State Championship.
An outstanding largemouth bass fishing specialist, he didn’t stop there. In 2009, in recognition for his previous year’s winning NJ State Championship, he was a participant representing New Jersey in the US National Guard Junior World Cup on the Allegheny River in Kittanning, Pa. Every junior angler that competes, along with their accompanying family members, is treated to several days’ worth of exciting events and activities.
A proud club member of the Next Generation Junior Bassmasters, he participates in their five qualifying rounds each year before heading onto the finale tournament.
At this year’s State Youth Championship, he also took home the prestigious Lunker Award for a largemouth bass in excess of 5 1/2 pounds at the Manasquan Reservoir.
Ritchie prefers fresh water angling over salt and practices relentlessly at least twice a week during the summer months.
"My favorite bait is plastics, a pumpkin seed colored BrushHog or 4-inch Senko," he said. "A good fisherman needs patience and quality equipment. They also need to learn how to caste ahead of their target if sight fishing."
When his father can’t take him fishing, his mother is ready and able to take the helm.
"This truly is a family affair," Ms. Pennachio said. "Even his younger brother, Thomas, fishes. Both his father and I love to help them get better. Richard’s not old enough to drive the boat himself so I really don’t mind."
Ritchie’s favorite lake to fish is Lake Waywayanda, a familiar site on the tour and where he usually dominates the competition.
A freshman entering Somerset County Vo-Tech High School, Richard wants to major in automotive & diesel technology. He aspires to be a fishing guide and captain of his own boat one day and believes it only a matter of time before he gets there.
If he applies himself to school like he has towards fishing, there’s no doubt he’ll succeed.

