Yes, this has been a lengthy nor’easter attacking Long Beach Island complete with gusty winds, drenching rain, and multiple above average tides.

But no, it will not last forever, and sunny skies are in the forecast. This recent spate of nasty weather will just be a memory when the 69 th annual Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic kicks off on Saturday, October 7, 2023.

To get the Classic started on the right foot, There will be a Surf Fishing Seminar hosted by members of local fishing clubs at the Ship Bottom Firehouse. The activities will commence promptly at 9am on Saturday, October 7 and conclude at 11am, giving participants sufficient time to hit the beach and land their first entry of the tournament.

A wide variety of topics will be covered at the seminar, making the morning educational for both novice and expert anglers alike. Topics of discussion will include surf fishing gear as well as proper casting skills.

Learn how to identify promising locations, appropriate baits and lures, and even guidelines for driving on the LBI beaches. Other subjects will also be discussed, and pertinent questions are encouraged.

Not only is the seminar free, but breakfast will be available. How You Brewin’ will supply coffee, and Crust and Crumb Bakery will serve up doughnuts. There will even be door prizes donated by AFW/HI SEAS.

Once the nor’easter and the seminar are over, the question becomes, “what fish can we catch?”

After the waves settle down, the waters will take a day or two to clear. A great deal of fresh water has come downstream into the bay waters, affecting the salinity to some degree. In addition, sand stirred up by the currents will eventually settle back down, returning clarity to the water.

This year’s edition of the Classic offers prizes for five different fish species. These include striped bass, bluefish, kingfish, blackfish (tautog), and red drum. Prior to the storms, there was action for bluefish, kingfish, and blackfish.

Anglers looking for big kingfish on the beach will be working the breaker area with small hooks baited with live and artificial bloodworms. Those seeking blackfish work the rocks at Barnegat Inlet with some type of crab bait. Bluefish could be cruising anywhere along the beach ready to snap at a retrieved artificial lure or chunk of bunker or mullet.

Although reports of striped bass were limited prior to the storm, they have been known to suddenly show up when things calm down. The rough seas get them on the move, and they are hungry when things calm down. There will be anglers throwing artificials and soaking baits hoping the bass are around.

Only a few red drum are caught every year. Often, they fall for a clam intended for a striper.

Once again, the Classic has daily, weekly, 3-week segment, and grand prizes for striped bass, kingfish, and bluefish. There are prizes in each 3-week segment for the largest tautog and red drum weighed in.

There are a pair of new prizes for 2023. There is a $500 Grand Slam prize for the angler weighing in the most individual species. Four is the minimum number needed, and the total weight of the fish will break a tie.

This year there will be a Surf Master “Catch and Release” award. This will be awarded for the largest overall striped bass landed and released determined by total length. A picture of the fish is necessary before the bass is safely released.

Surf City Bait and Tackle in Surf City, Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven, and Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom are the official weigh-in sites. Registration and regulations are available at all three.

Entry fees are $30 for adults, and $15 for junior anglers ages seventeen and under. Anglers registering early will receive a 2023 LBI Surf Fishing Classic hat and decal.