Southern Ocean Chamber salutes the history and importance of the longest running fall event on LBI!
Known both in and outside of the state as LBI’s greatest tradition, the 70th Annual Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic will run Saturday October 5 through December 8. The nine-week surfcasting tournament is an LBI tradition, ushering in the fall. The Southern Ocean Chamber is proud a long-standing partner, and to be a Silver Sponsor of the 2024 event.
Typical seasons see upwards of 500 to 700 surfcasters participating in the season-long event, with the first 500 registered anglers receiving a tournament fishing hat emblazoned with LBI Surf Fishing Classic and Ship Bottom brewery logos. As with other years, the contest will have a large inventory of cash and gear prizes for successful anglers. Once again in 2024, there will be special tournament cash prizes for striped bass, bluefish, kingfish, redfish and tautog. A new tournament wrinkle added in ’23 that continues this season is the special Grand Slam prize (most tournament eligible species weighed in) and a unique “catch and release” segment for anglers hoping to catch the largest striper of the event towards the crowning of a ‘24 Surf Master good for prizes including a striped bass mount courtesy of Rinehart Taxidermy.
OPENING DAY SURFCASTING SEMINAR
Hosted by members of local fishing fishing clubs, it’s a “Classic” tradition where anglers (rookies to experts) meet and share knowledge. Topics like but not limited to tackle/equipment, casting, bait, driving a 4×4 vehicle on the beach will be discussed. Bring your questions and don’t miss out on this informative and free event! There will be coffee and doughnut as well as door prizes.
Saturday October 5th, 9am to 11am at the Ship Bottom Fire House
The Ship Bottom Fire House is located at 21st and Central Ave; 2006 Central Ave, Ship Bottom, NJ 08008.
There are multiple ways to win cash in this year’s event, on a daily, weekly, and tri-monthly basis (tournament is broken down into three segments). The LBI Surf Fishing Classic will also run a weekly photo contest among badge-carrying participants, with a Tsunami surf rod given away in each of nine tournament weeks for lucky participants following along and sharing their ‘derby’ photos at Facebook.com/LBISurfFishingClassic.
Registration forms and contest rules and regulations are available at any of the three participating LBI tackle shops, including Surf City Bait & Tackle at 317 Long Beach Blvd, Fisherman’s Headquarters on 9th Street in Ship Bottom, and Jingles Bait & Tackle at 1214 Long Beach Blvd in Beach Haven. Follow along with the daily tournament weigh-ins at LBISFC.com.
