There is no question that summer has officially arrived on Long Beach Island. The calendar tells us the Fourth of July is just a few days away.
The weather tells us summer has arrived as temperatures reaching 90 degrees are with us. Those days of chilly rain and foggy mornings have been replaced with sweltering heat. Finally, those crowds of summer visitors on the streets, restaurants, and beaches of the Island confirm the deal.
The Long Beach Island Spring Fishing Tournament just concluded on Sunday, June 22. Although the winners have not yet been officially announced, it appears that Steve Taylor is taking home the top prize for striped bass with his 14.46-pound linesider. Patrick Presutto looks to have the bluefish prize with a 12.44-pound blue, and Richard Rasiul holds the lead in the “Surf Master Catch and Release” with his 44-inch striper.
The bulk of the fish entered were caught in the first half of the event. With the spring contest ending, many surf casters are already eyeing the start of the fall Classic.
This does not mean that anglers should ignore wetting lines from the beach for the next couple of months. It can be daunting at times to try to fish the surf in the middle of the day. With the beach packed with sun bathers, and swimmers seemingly everywhere, surf fishing can be challenging in mid-summer on LBI.
Savvy anglers tackle surf fishing early in the day and then again late in the afternoon and early evening. This is not to say the beaches will be empty, but the number of folks is greatly reduced, providing more sites to catch fish.
What fish will there be for surf anglers in July? The best method to find the answer to this question is to stop by one of the local bait and tackle shops for the current information. Those local fishing experts will provide the scoop on what is biting, where the fish are, and what bait to use.
The most recent reports mention a smattering of striped bass and black drum around. In addition, there are bluefish cruising in and out of the breakers while a very respectable number of fluke are making their presence known. Providing action but not fish dinners are the ever-present skates, rays, and dogfish.
Kingfish should be arriving virtually any day now. These fish are popular for both new and veteran anglers alike. Kingfish are close to shore, easy to catch with small hooks and pieces of bloodworms and make tasty fish dinners.
Not to rush the summer months, but many shore anglers are already looking forward to the start of the 71st annual Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic which kicks off on Saturday, August 30. This year’s version of the famed tournament starts earlier than previous ones and additional fish species are eligible for prizes. The tournament will close on Sunday, November 30.
The Classic is designed to give anglers fishing from shore anywhere on Long Beach Island a chance to compete for a prize. In addition to beach fishing, bulkheads and other bay front areas are in the mix. The registration fee for the Classic is $40 for adults and $20 for competitors 17 and younger.
When the Classic first began 71 years ago, it awarded prizes only for striped bass. Over the years other species have been added including bluefish, along with others such as blackfish and kingfish.
For a complete listing of the rules for this year’s contest along with registration, anglers can stop at a registration headquarters and weigh-in station including Surf City Bait And Tackle, Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom, and Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven.