200 Anglers Turn Out For Ocean City Fishing Club Tournament

OCEAN CITY, NJ - Steve Kingsdorf, a member of Delaware Valley Surf Anglers (DVSA), was a big winner at the Ocean City Fishing Club’s 50th Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament on Saturday.

When he reeled in a 38-inch striped bass, he captured the trophies for biggest fish caught and most points earned in the event, the club announced.

His catch also propelled the DVSA club into first place for the tournament with 38 points.
Kingsdorf, who used clam for bait to catch the prize fish midway through an incoming tide, released the striper after judges took measurements. The fish also measured 20.5 inches in girth.

Sam Catalano, an RH Custom Rods Team B member, landed the only other officially measurable fish, an 11-inch ling. RH Custom Rods Team B members took home second place club honors with 14 points, while its Team A anglers placed third with 13 points.

The tournament drew about 200 anglers from the throughout the tri-state area. Organizers credited the good weather for the turnout. It had been rescheduled from its original Oct. 27 date due to a nor’easter that struck the Jersey coast.

Twenty-eight fishing teams of up to six anglers each, plus a number of individuals, participated in the one-day event, which stretched from about 22nd Street to 36th Street.

RH Custom Rods Team B members took home second place club honors with 14 points, while its Team A anglers placed third with 13 points.

Lynda Greaves, also a member of RH Custom Rods, Team A, beached two sharks to take home a trophy for most fish points for women.

Owen Ostrander landed a shark to take home trophies in the Youth Self-casting, and Individual Most Fish Points, both in the Youth Under 13 categories.

Valarie Vishoric of the Jersey Devils Fishing Club, also caught a shark to win a trophy for Most Fish Points in the Youth Over 13 category.

Although 11-year-old Justin Lowery, 11, of Woodstown, didn’t catch anything, he’s ready to participate in future tournaments. He won a boys’ bike in the club’s Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament with a 15.5-inch flounder in August.

“The most I caught today was seaweed, and I got the bottom of my pants wet,” Lowery said after fishing in the surf with his father, Jason. “Maybe next year, I can catch a bigger fish.”

The Ocean City Police Department provided complimentary one-day beach driving passes to give access to 40 designated fishing areas. The Ocean City Intermediate School again gave access to the building, which served as headquarters for the event.

“The city and school officials were instrumental in helping us reschedule our tournament,” tournament co-chair Mike Collins said. “Without their cooperation, we’d have a hard time holding this event, let alone rescheduling it. We’re thankful for everyone involved.”

And for the weather.

“There’s a light breeze today,” tournament co-chair and head judge Bob Dever said during the event. “Plenty of sunshine and reasonable (50-degree) temperatures, too, for mid-November. A fishing day like this is a gift.”

The attached images were provided by the Ocean City Fishing Club. Main image: Dylan O'Connell,11, of Merchantville, shows off a dogfish which helped him win a trophy in the Ocean City Fishing Club's 50th Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament that was held last Saturday.

About 200 anglers have their lines in the water in last Saturday's Ocean City Fishing Club's 50th Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament.