The 68 th annual Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic became history when the tournament closed on Sunday, December 11.

The event began on Saturday, October 8, and in most aspects can be termed a success. Although the number of registered anglers dropped from 517 in 2021 to 477 this year, there was a significant increase in the overall number of striped bass weighed in. A total of 83 stripers came across the scales this year compared to 32 last year.

When it is considered that current regulations prohibit keeping bass 38-inches or larger, the current number of weigh-ins compare favorably to past years. The grand prize winner in 2002 was James Wrobobetz with his 19.90-pound bass caught in North Beach on November 30.

Alfonso Parente took second place honors with his 19.56 pounder caught in Surf City on November 3. Alfonso finished in first place in the Senior Division. Winning the Ladies Division was Susan Drummond with her 10.85-pound linesider.

Other winners in 2002 were Chris Masino for the largest bluefish, Paul Donnelly kingfish, and Fred Finger with the largest tautog, a 4.80 pounder.

Earning bragging rights for club participation was Team Top Notch with the Brant Beach Fishing Club taking second place.

There is no disputing that this fall was a good one for striped bass action. A large amount of bait in area waters not only attracted bass of all sizes but kept them in the area. This fact was evident in the boat action in addition to the surf.

While the action has slowed as cold December temperatures arrived, catches are still being made on the beach and the boats still in the water.

There are trends to be seen from the data of the recently completed Classic. Although catches were made the length of LBI, as usual the northern end produced more than its share of the entries.

The top bait catching stripers was bunker. This is no surprise as it was the schools of bunker attracting the bass close to shore. Finishing a close second to bunker were an assortment of plugs and other artificial offerings. Only a few fish fell to live eels, herring, and clams.

A very surprising change from the 2021 results was the precipitous drop in kingfish weigh-ins. Last year a total of 43 kingfish were checked in, all caught early in the season. This year only one kingfish was weighed.

A coast wide decline in bluefish numbers evidenced itself as only one bluefish was taken, the same number as in 2021. Helping to fill the gap was the addition of tautog this season. A total of 47 were weighed in, all caught in Barnegat Light.

The current action in the Long Beach Island surf is now mostly smaller bass, with keepers mixed in. The appearance of sand eels has not gone unnoticed by sharp surf anglers. Popular and successful setups consist of offerings making the fish think they are seeing a sand eel in the wash.

Using a rig with a teaser ahead of the lure works well with the teaser itself often catching the hungry bass.

There is no closed season for fishing on the beach and in ocean waters. The waters inside the inlets are closed to striped bass fishing from January 1 through February 28.

The next striped bass competition on Long Beach Island will be the 21 st annual LBI Spring Derby slated to open in early April of 2023 and run into June. Local bait and tackle shops including Jingles in Beach Haven, Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom, and Surf City Bait and Tackle will handle the logistics.