The fall surf season on Long Island wouldn’t be complete without the Fred Golofaro Montauk Surf Fishing Classic, scheduled for October 3 through October 5. Sponsored by The Fisherman, Long Island State Parks, and the Montauk Anglers Club, this annual tradition celebrates the late Fred Golofaro’s enduring passion for the surf. Fishing begins at noon on Friday and runs straight through noon on Sunday, with the awards ceremony taking place 12:30 p.m. on Sunday at Montauk Point. The first 100 attendees at the awards will receive a special goody bag, and every angler present will get a raffle ticket for prize drawings.
A few changes are in place this year. All weigh-ins and photo submissions will be handled at Montauk Anglers Club, which will serve as tournament headquarters throughout the weekend. For anglers arriving late, there’s a Saturday morning, 9 a.m. deadline for in-person entries. The fee remains just $20 per angler, keeping the contest affordable and accessible, for all.
Tournament boundaries include all shore-accessible waters east of the western edge of Napeague State Park, with fishing limited to areas reachable by foot or wading—boats, kayaks, or floatation devices are strictly prohibited. At sign-up, each angler will receive an official tournament ruler and tag, both of which must appear in submitted photos along with a visible measurement and timestamp. To support conservation, the striped bass division remains length-based only, with catch-and-release encouraged to minimize handling stress. The bluefish division will continue as a traditional weigh-in, with a minimum qualifying weight of 5 pounds. This year’s top prizes have been bumped up, with $1,000 awarded to both the largest striped bass (length) and heaviest bluefish, a $250 increase over previous years. In the case of a tie, the first fish checked in will win.
Later in the month, the spotlight shifts west for the Fred Golofaro South Shore Surf Fishing Classic, set for October 24–26. Co-hosted by The Fisherman and Long Island State Parks, and sponsored by Captree Bait & Tackle, this contest follows the same format: $20 entry fee, noon Friday start, and noon Sunday close, with awards at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Captree State Park. Boundary lines stretch from Jones Beach West End Two Jetty east to the Moriches Inlet east jetty. As with Montauk, striped bass will be judged by length (catch and release) and bluefish by weight, with prizes for the top three in each category. The first 100 at the ceremony receive free tackle, and every attendee is entered into the raffle.
Both events honor Fred’s legacy by bringing together the surf community in friendly competition, camaraderie, and conservation. For questions, or if you’re a lure maker or tackle company interested in contributing to the raffles, please contact me at mbroderick@thefisherman.com.
