Joe Curcio will not win the $1 million prize that goes to the top fisherman at this week's Forrest Wood Cup in Pittsburgh.
But he could walk away from the event with a brighter future.
The Verona resident and registered plumber is the inventor of a fishing tool called "Off the Hook." It's a unique set of curved stainless steel pliers designed specifically for reaching into a fish's mouth to remove hooks. It can also be used to snip the barbs from hooks that can't be removed otherwise.
"I always wanted to invent something for fishing. And, of course, everybody laughed at me," said the high-energy, 52-year-old Curcio. "But as soon as I thought of this, I knew it would work."
The tool, which was called "Just Snip It" and "Grip or Cut" in previous incarnations, can handle hooks up to size No. 4. It sells for $19.99. A larger model that sells for $29.99 can handle the hardened steel treble hooks found on bass and walleye lures and has a braid cutter for braided line, too. Both come in holsters that fit on your belt.
Pictures of the tool can be found at Curcio's Web site, www.jokentools.com .
Curcio debuted his tool at the 2005 Bassmaster Classic Junior World Championship in Kittanning. It did well enough there that he took it to Dick's Sporting Goods, which now sells it in about 170 stores spread across 35 states, he said.
He'll be selling it this week from a booth at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center as part of the outdoors and boat show held in conjunction with the FLW tournament. Curcio hopes to get it into other stores, too, and is seeking investors to manufacture more and "fill the pipeline."
"It's very green because it's fish friendly," Curcio said. "It saves a lot of fish."
There for the taking
The Family Fun Zone outdoors show held in conjunction with the Forrest Wood Cup will be open from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Admission is free. Free Berkley line kits will be given to the first 500 children 14 and younger to visit the show Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, the first 600 children to the show get free life vests or sunglasses. On Sunday, the first 1,500 kids in the door get a free rod and reel.
Also, the first 500 people to donate clothing and household materials to Goodwill at the convention center Saturday or Sunday get a free die-cast BP boat.
