OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Fishing Club expects more than 100 anglers to line city beaches for its 56th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament, which will be held Saturday, Sept. 20.
Augie Conte III, OCFC president, hopes a forecast of good weather will lure anglers of all ages to join the approximately 20 fishing clubs that are expected to participate in the fall event that’s guided by the rules of the Association of Surf Angling Clubs, Inc.
“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 $70 for each six-member adult team, and $15 for adult individuals. The city administration is providing one-day, free beach access for four-wheel-drive vehicles used by anglers. The tournament will cover the beaches south of 23rd Street.
Participants without vehicles will be assigned an easy access, fixed location, and may fish in the first, second or both scheduled sessions.
Advance registration for adults and young anglers may be made online using the OCFC website oceancityfishingclub.com Registration fees should be made payable to Ocean City Fishing Club and mailed to OCFC Tournament Chair, P.O. Box 1215, Ocean City NJ 08226.
All those participating, including those registering on tournament day, must report to the Ocean City Intermediate School on Sept. 20 from 5:30 to 7 a.m. to get information packets that will give them their assigned fishing locations.
The first fishing session will run from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., with a half-hour to relocate to the next fishing station. The second session starts at 10 a.m. and concludes at 12:30 p.m. A free lunch will be offered afterwards at the Intermediate School.
Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams, as well as to individual and youth category winners. In addition, there will be a Calcutta for the largest scoring fish.