Boundaries

Fish must be caught from the shores of Long Beach Island only—ocean, inlet, bay, and jetties. No boat fishing permitted. Please observe all local ordinances respect the property rights of others.

All contestants must register with the tournament before landing a fish. Registration forms are available at the Chamber of Commerce in Ship Bottom and at the weigh-in stations. The entry fee is $25 for adults (age 19 and older), or $15 for students (age 18 and younger).

Note: Registrations are not sold in numerical order. 

Click here for information about where to register.

A. Contestants may use no more than two rods at any one time.

B. From the time that a fish strikes or takes a bait or lure, the angler must hook, fight, and land the fish without the aid of any other person.

C. Minimum length for bluefish is 30 inches. Each angler may enter two bluefish each tournament day.

D. Minimum length for bass is 34 inches. Each angler may enter two striped bass each tournament day.

All fish entered must comply with current state regulations

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A. All fish must be weighed at one of the official weigh-in stations: Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle, 1501 Bayview Ave., Barnegat Light, 494-4566; Surf City Bait and Tackle, 317 Long Beach Blvd., Surf City, 494-2333; Fisherman's Headquarters, 280 W. 9th St., Ship Bottom, 494-5739;  361-9800; Jingles’ Bait & Tackle Shop, 1214 Long Beach Blvd., Beach Haven, 492-2795; Oceanside Bait & Tackle, 8201 Long Beach Blvd., Brighton Beach, 361-9800. Check with the weigh-in stations for hours of operation.

B. Fish must be weighed within 24 hours of being caught. Each tournament day ends at 6:00 p.m. Weigh-in data counts for the day of weigh-in, which may not always be the day of catch. Once the tournament starts, weigh-ins are recorded as received at the weigh-in stations based on a period beginning at 6:00:01 p.m. and then 24 hours later ending at 6:00:00 p.m. However, fish may only be weighed during the posted hours of each weigh-in station.

NOTE: On the last day of the tournament, November 23, the weigh-in ends at 6 p.m. Anglers must leave the surf in time to weigh their entries before the 6 p.m. deadline.

C. Anglers are responsible for weighing their own fish and may not designate another to do so.

D. At the weigh-in station, contestants must certify the time and town of their catch. Vague references such as (but not limited to) North End, South End, Mid-island, are not accepted. Incomplete or incorrect information on a weigh-in slip may result in disqualification of the fish listed on that weigh-in slip. Before signing your weigh-in slip, please be sure all the information is complete and correct.

E. The official weigher will certify the species, weight, length and girth of each fish entered and will clip the fish's tail after it has been weighed.

F. The official weigher will give the contestant a duplicate copy of the weigh-in slip and a souvenir button.

G. Buttons are awarded for released fish only if fish is of tournament size. Released fish are not eligible for any prize. Except that fish that are entered into the tournament via being weighed in at an official weigh-in station and then released are eligible for prizes.

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The six-week tournament begins Saturday morning, October 11, at 5 a.m. and ends Sunday, 
November 23, at 6 p.m.

A. For the distribution of prizes, the tournament is divided into weeks AND into two-week segments.

B. The first week of the tournament ends on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. Each of the subsequent weeks of the competition ends at 6 p.m. on Sunday

C. The three two-week segments also end on Sunday evenings.
The FIRST SEGMENT (16 days) begins on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 5 a.m. and ends Sunday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m.

The SECOND SEGMENT begins Sunday evening, Oct. 26, immediately after the close of the first segment. It ends on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m.

The THIRD SEGMENT begins Sunday evening, Nov. 9, immediately after the close of the second segment. It ends Sunday, Nov.23, at 6 p.m., when the tournament comes to a close.

A. No contestant is eligible for more than one Daily Prize in each category on any one day.

B. No contestant may receive more than one First or one Second Daily Prize or more than one Weekend Prize, Weekly Prize or Segment Prize in any one category during the entire tournament. Segment prize-winning fish are not eligible for weekly prizes. Grand Prize winners in any given category are not eligible for a Weekly Prize or Segment Prize in the same category for the entire length of the tournament.

C. Daily Prizes and Weekend Prizes are awarded within five working days at the Chamber of Commerce Office in Ship Bottom. Weekly Prizes, Segment Prizes, Grand Prizes and Special Prizes are awarded after the close of the tournament.

NOTE: Bluefish Weekend Prize eligibility period begins immediately after closing of weigh-in at 6 p.m. on Thursday, and ends at 6 p.m. the following Sunday.

D. Contestants ages 14 and younger are eligible for Juvenile Prizes. Proof of age may be required. Juveniles may win only one $100 Juvenile Prize for bass, and one $100 Juvenile Prize for bluefish. Weekly, Segment, or Grand prize winning fish entered by a juvenile are not eligible for the Juvenile Weekly Prize.

E. Contestants 62 years old and older are eligible for Senior Citizens' Prizes.

F. Ladies 15 years old and older are eligible for Ladies’ Prizes.

G. Special prizes presented by businesses, fishing clubs, and tournament participants and supporters are not guaranteed by the Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Tournament or the Chamber of Commerce.

Check our website often during the tournament for updated listings of these special prizes.

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A. Tournament officials reserve the right to cut open or otherwise mark any entry after it has been weighed.

B. Tournament officials reserve the right to authorize an acknowledged expert to examine any entry and to reject those entries not fully complying with tournament regulations.

C. The decision of tournament officials is final. In case of tie weights, the winning entry will be determined by length, then girth.

D. Tournament officials reserve the right to photograph any entry and to use those photographs for publicity purposes.

E. Any contestant found violating any of the rules and regulations of the tournament will be disqualified.

F. Neither beach conditions nor beach access is guaranteed by the Chamber of Commerce or by the Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic officials.

G. PROTESTS: All protests must be submitted in writing and signed. Please let us know how to contact you. The LBI Surf Fishing Classic Committee will review all signed protests. Anonymous protests will not be considered. Protests may be delivered or mailed to LBI SURF FISHING CLASSIC COMMITTEE, C/O Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, 265 W. 9th St., Ship Bottom NJ 08008.

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