Autumn Days Are Best Spent Surf Fishing LBI
The days of autumn for fishing in the Long Beach Island area has proven to be an interesting time for sure. Much like the old saying, “No two snowflakes are alike,” no two fishing seasons are alike. And the 68th annual running of the Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic shows that.
Thus far the striped bass fishery in the ocean, back bays, and on the beach has been decidedly more active than in recent years. The only complaint, from surf casters and boating anglers alike, has been that the fish are too big to keep. Finding a keeper bass in the 28 to less than 38-inches size can be frustrating at times.
The results from the first 25 days of the Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic are an excellent example of the uniqueness of this current fishing season. In recent years, striped bass entries in the first month and a half of the tournament have been few in number.
In last year’s event there were just two striped bass weighed in at this point. This year there are already 19 stripers weighed in by the current 429 registered anglers.
Then there is the kingfish category. In 2021 there were 43 of these bloodworm loving fish checked onto the rolls. Thus far, only one kingfish has come across the scales, the fish caught by Paul Donnelly back on October 8.
This result is curious as the kingfish bite from the LBI surf in the summer was pretty much normal. As the water temperatures continue to drop, the chances from more kingfish entries are slimmer and slimmer.
In last year’s Classic, one redfish was checked in, caught by James Worobetz on December 6. There has been no sign of them thus far this year, but one was beached last week just north of Barnegat Inlet at Island Beach State Park.
In years past, large numbers of bluefish were caught from the beach throughout the Classic. Last year none were entered at all. Thus far this year, only one bluefish has hit the scales, a fish weighing 1.42-pounds caught by Chris Masino.
A new category was established for 2022 for tautog. Already there have been 26 checked in, topped by a fish weighing 4.80 pounds caught by Fred Finger in Barnegat Light. In fact, all 26 blackfish entered have been taken in Barnegat Light with most falling for green crabs with others hooked on Asian crab or sand fleas.
The current action on striped bass has been a welcome happening for local anglers both on shore and in boats. Since there are multiple reports from areas north of Long Beach Island of large numbers of fish still making their way down the coast, the action should continue strong and even increase in the local area.
As the fall progresses, the smaller bass usually arrive later than the large females that we have been seeing. That custom bodes well for Classic anglers.
As far as trends thus far in the striped bass catch, 8 fish have been caught on some type of lure, 9 on bunker, and 2 on eel. Ten of the fish were caught in Barnegat Light, three in Holgate, one in Beach Haven, and two each in Harvey Cedars and Surf City.
In an interesting twist to the Classic, two brothers are fighting over family bragging rights. Tyler Conrad weighed in a bass on October 23 of 16.02-pounds while his brother Jack currently trails with his 9.78-pounder caught on October 25. With both brothers putting in their spare time on the beach, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
The Classic began on Saturday, October 8, and will conclude on Sunday, December 11. The three weigh-in stations are Surf City Bait and Tackle, Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom, and Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven. Complete information can be found by stopping by one of those shops.