Unificationist Couple Catches 41-Pound Fish in New York

On October 7, Toshiaki and Sanae Ogawa caught a 46-inch, 41-pound striped bass in the waters of the New York Harbor. The only Unificationist to catch a striped bass larger than this was Mrs. Kum Soon Choi, wife of Tiger Park, who caught a 47 inch, 52 pound fish in 2002. 

The striped bass is a large predatory fish that can be found all over the Atlantic Coast. Youth Directer of Ocean Church Branch Gaarder and President of OPIINC (Ocean Providence International Inc.) Naria McGee decided to take participants fishing for striped bass after discovering how abundant they are in the fall. This October, Kensaku Takahashi, Director of Ocean Church, Branch, and New Jersey Ocean Church captains led over 30 participants on five different fishing excursions.

Every Saturday morning, and once during the week, they rose before sunrise to prepare for the day’s voyage. Most outings did not result in such large catches. Still, they hopeed that participants who are exposed to the practice that True Father loved so deeply will feel a special connection to True Parents and a stronger desire to care for the planet.

“Fishing is a practice of investment and I think True Father wanted us to experience it so we can apply it in all parts of our life,” explains one participant, who felt closest to God and True Parents during the long, still moments when no fish were caught. “When it’s quiet, there’s an opportunity to reflect.”

A variety of people participated in the fishing outings, including ministers, married couples, Unificationists young and old, students in CARP, parents and their children, and an entire martial arts team.

The New Jersey Ocean Church hopes to hold annual October fishing expeditions to promote fishing with family and to provide ministers and friends the opportunity to enjoy the tradition True Parents invested in for many years.

Stay tuned on familyfed.org for more stories on Ocean Providence and True Parents’ projects.