OCEAN CITY, NJ — The Ocean City Fishing Club will host its 57th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 19, with more than 100 anglers expected on Ocean City beaches for a day of surf fishing and competition.
The event will bring together about 20 fishing clubs and individual participants, according to a press release for the tournament.
The tournament will be held on the beaches south of 23rd Street and will follow the rules of the Association of Surf Angling Clubs, Inc. The city administration is providing one-day free beach access for four-wheel-drive vehicles used by anglers. Participants without vehicles will be assigned an easy-access fixed location and may fish in the first session, second session or both scheduled sessions.
Augie Conte III, president of the Ocean City Fishing Club, said the club hopes weather conditions help draw anglers of different ages to the event.
"Individuals are welcome to sign up to fish in the tournament," Conte said. "In addition to adults, teenagers are also welcome to participate. Boys and girls under 16 can even fish for free. We're hoping for good weather, so everyone catches fish."
Entry fees are $80 for each six-member adult team and $15 for adult individuals. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams, along with individual and youth category winners. The tournament also will include a Calcutta for the largest scoring fish.
All participants, including those registering on tournament day, must report to Ocean City Intermediate School between 5:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, to receive information packets with assigned fishing locations. The first fishing session is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., followed by a relocation period from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
The second fishing session will run from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Lunch will follow at Ocean City Intermediate School after 12:30 p.m., and the awards ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. The event is open to teams, individual adults, teenagers and children under 16, according to the tournament announcement.
For more information, visit asaconline.org/tournaments.html or contact Dheisly75@gmail.com.
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