Fishing Classic Starts Monday

Fins, hooks, bait, lures and cash start to fly along the Long Beach Island surf starting this Monday. The eight week LBI Surf Fishing Classic marks its 60th year from October 6 through November 30.

Stripers and blues are the big catches in competitions for adults and children, with instructional seminars, thousands in prizes.

The largest striper entered at the end of weigh-in on October 6 and October 25 will be worth $500, and the largest striper on November 16 will be worth $1,000.

Eight $125 weekly prizes will be awarded for each species. Grand prizes include $1,000 each for the biggest striper and bluefish, along with CTS custom surf rods and Penn "Z" series reel.

Other prizes are dedicated to kids age 14 and under, female and senior contestants. Entrants are eligible for door prizes at registration. The first legal red drum of the tournament will fetch a $100 award. And the 60th striper entered for weighing will be worth $500 for one lucky angler.

The Recreational Fishing Alliance oversees the tournament and the LBI Surf Fishing Classic Committee sets the rules, which this year includes a limit of one striped bass entry per angler per day, with a minimum length of 34 inches. Bluefish size is limited to 30 inches.

Adults can enter at a cost of $30. The fee for youths age 17 and younger is $15. Everyone who signs up gets a commemorative button, hat, decal and, while supplies last, a slice of Panzone's Pizza.

Want to brush up your technique, or learn it for the first time? the Super Surf Casting Seminar takes place October 11, 9 AM until 1 PM, starting at the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce on West 9 Street in Ship Bottom.

Registration sites include: Viking Outfitters, Barnegat Light; Surf City Bait and Tackle, Surf city; Fisherman's Headquarters, Ship Bottom; Captain's Quarters Bait and Tackle, Brighton Beach; and Jingle's Bait and Tackle, Beach Haven.

Local supporting sponsors include: Barlow Buick/GMC; Beach House Restaurant; Anderson Agency; Surf Taco; Drifting Sands Motel; Greenhouse Café; Bageleddi's; Bonanni Realtors; Engleside Inn; Panzone's Pizza; S&S Bucktails; and the Long Beach Island Fishing Club.