Meet The Crew: New Jersey Sea Birds Angling Club
Get the inside scoop on the stars of SFC's new era
With the official launch of the 14 new professional angling clubs competing in SFCs new format, get to know the names, logos and faces behind the new era of competitive offshore fishing. Introducing the New Jersey Sea Birds Angling Club
Behind the Sea Birds name
Inspired by the many sea bird species that can be found offshore, with some traveling thousands of miles each summer after nesting along the shores and dunes of New Jersey from Monmouth Beach at its Northern end, to Cape May at the Southernmost tip
Behind The Angling Club Logo & Colors
The angling club logo features a swooping bird with the tail of a shearwater, a bird capable of diving underwater to feed on fish and squid, using its wings to propel itself while submerged. The beak of the bird iconography is shaped like a GPS navigational arrow. This same shape is used to form the “counter,” or the space within the upper case A in the typeface. The shape of the angling club’s shield and its colors are inspired by the Garden State Parkway, the longest highway in a state known for glorifying its highway exits. The Parkway stretches from Cape May up to the New York border in Montvale.
The Squad
Led by Captain Blaine Birch and owner Ken Hager, the vibe on the boat is known to be competitive, yet lighthearted. A former NCAA Division II Lacrosse player for the University of Tampa Spartans, Birch is no stranger to competition both on land and offshore.
“We were exposed to it at a young age and we were on a boat from [being] a couple weeks old, fishing out of Oregon and Manasquan Inlet [NJ] and down in Florida,” said Captain Blaine Birch. “I met Ken [Hager] about 15 years ago and started working with him, then running the boat the past few years.”
That boat, being “Taylor Jean,” a 2022 62’ Viking twin MTU 96X 2002 HP engines, capable of cruising at 36 knots.
“But she cruises a little faster if Dave is running the boat,” Birch said. “Because he wants to get home for more ice cream.”
“Dave” being one of the many characters on the Sea Birds’ roster that make this team an entertaining one to watch whether the action is slow, hot, or hectic. SFC has seen its fair share of traditions over the years, from Lucky Charms cereal being poured off the transom for good luck, a rum toast for the reels, but the Sea Birds are the Angling Club we have learned of to have a bad luck tradition.
“Go out and catch’em, and don’t miss. If you miss it’s pretty bad,” Birch said. “Expect a bucket of ice water coming from the bridge, and we fly the skunk flag.”
You heard that right: a skunk flag. It’s a simple yellow field (no, that's not why yellow is one of their colors) with a skunk on it.
“You know it’s not good when you hear Ken (Hager) from the bridge say: ‘don’t make me fly this,’” Birch said. “We’ve never had to fly it twice [in one day] thank God.”
We never cheer for a team to experience misfortune in competition, given the collection of personalities and their history of placing in major Atlantic tournaments, The New Jersey Sea Birds are a must-watch team for a number of reasons. Being from a state known for its highway exits, Birch and the club look to establish themselves among the best in the sport fishing world.
“Because we’re from New Jersey, a lot of people don’t know who we are, but we’re exit 98.”