Each fall, as the surf cools and the nights grow long, one event continues to carry the torch of Long Island’s surfcasting tradition—the Fred Golofaro Memorial South Shore Classic. Held across the beaches of Long Island’s South Shore, this annual tournament has become more than just a fishing contest; it’s a gathering that celebrates the passion, camaraderie, and community that Fred himself embodied throughout his life.
This year’s Classic delivered everything surfcasters could hope for—steady action, quality fish, and that electric feeling that comes when the fall run finally locks in. The surf was teeming with life, with dense schools of sand eels pulsing along the bars and troughs from Robert Moses to Fire Island Inlet. Anglers who matched that hatch with small metals, slender swimmers, or sand eel-style soft plastics were rewarded with fish that kept rods bent through much of the event.
At the top of the leaderboard stood George Lang, who landed a personal best 51-inch striped bass, a true surf trophy and a fish worthy of the Classic’s legacy. George’s catch was not only the winning fish of the tournament but also one that would have made Fred himself smile—a giant taken the right way, from the beach, on the move, in the heart of the fall run.
Following closely was Kurt Lawrence, whose 46-inch striper secured the runner-up spot and earned him the shop pool win at Captree Bait & Tackle. Rounding out the top three was Mike Estrada with a 45.6-inch bass, another impressive catch that reflected just how strong the bite was during this year’s event. While bluefish never made an appearance on the scale, no one seemed to mind—stripers were the story, and they showed in both numbers and size.
Behind those catches was a shared energy that defined the Classic’s success. The beach community came out in full force, from seasoned surf veterans to newcomers entering their first tournament. The fishing itself told the story of the season—a return to traditional fall rhythms, driven by clouds of sand eels and crisp offshore winds that kept the surfline clean and alive. As dawns broke over the South Shore, anglers waded into that familiar autumn mix of anticipation and salt air that has defined surfcasting on Long Island for generations.
Of course, no event of this caliber happens without strong support from those who keep the local fishing scene thriving. A special thanks goes out to Captree State Park, New York State Parks, and the many tackle sponsors who stepped up again this year—including St. Croix Rods, whose continued involvement helps maintain the level of quality and tradition that the Classic represents. Their backing, along with the collective enthusiasm of anglers, ensures that Fred’s name and spirit remain connected to the shoreline he loved so deeply.
For those who knew Fred, this tournament holds deeper meaning. It’s a reminder of his enduring influence, not just on Long Island’s surf scene, but across the entire Northeast angling community. Fred’s career was built on a simple belief—that fishing was as much about the people and the places as it was about the fish. Every fall, as anglers gather under the same tides he once wrote about, that belief lives on.
