BERKELEY – Renowned fishing legend and restaurant owner Bob Popovics passed away from injuries sustained from a hit-and-run earlier this year. He was 75.
The Shady Rest Facebook page thanked everyone who visited him after he had been transferred into hospice care. They also appreciated everyone’s kindness during this difficult time. They promised to write a more in-depth statement later, and ended the sentiment with “Rest easy Marine. Your watch has ended.”
Scores of people have poured out their heart to the family. Popovics had touched lives through his restaurant and through his avid sportsmanship.
Long time sports anchor for WOBM Kevin Williams said “The world lost a good man.”
His was one of more than 1,000 comments, all speaking of Popovics’ generosity, kindness, and integrity. Even the staff of Double Trouble State Park spoke of him: “On behalf of the staff at Double Trouble State Park, we offer our condolences to Bob’s family and extended family and friends. He will be missed.”
“There’s no other way to describe Bob Popovics other than to say he’s the most inspirational and innovative saltwater fly tier of all time,” said Ross Purnell, editor and publisher of Fly Fisherman magazine in a comment sent to JerseyShoreOnline.com. “More than 20 years ago he pioneered the use of epoxy and silicone in tying baitfish imitations, and with Ed Jaworowski published the book Pop Fleyes (2001). He later moved on to light-cured acrylics and became a specialist in using bucktail to effectively tie giant, lifelike baitfish imitations that don’t carry water and are easy to cast. He described his most recent revelations on materials and design techniques with author Jay Nichols in Fleye Design (2016).”
Popovics was celebrated for teaching his techniques, which grew the number of anglers in the area.
He had been a founder or advisory member of several local fishing organizations. In addition, he had been inducted into the North American Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum Hall of Fame in 2014.
The Catskills Fly Fishing Center & Museum (CFFCM) website noted “His knowledge of these fish and their habits has made him a master angler. His capacity to imagine new ways of making flies has made him one of most influential saltwater fly tiers. Popovics’s book, ‘Pop Fleyes: Bob Popovics’s Approach to Saltwater Fly Design,’ co-authored by Ed Jaworowski, revolutionized saltwater fly-fishing with a suite of patterns that employed new techniques and materials to produce lifelike imitations of the forage fish of the Atlantic coast.”
Police said that on September 23, at around 9:30 p.m., Popovics was struck by hit-and-run driver in Seaside Heights.
Genell Mcinaw, 50, of Seaside Park was later charged in the incident. In a bizarre coincidence, it was later learned that Mcinaw was an employee of Shady Rest.
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