The fall run on Nantucket brings hard-blitzing pelagics, migrating stripers, gator blues, and 21 years of island fishing competition and tradition. The 2026 Nantucket Inshore Classic returns for its 21st year, spanning five weeks from Sunday, September 6, through Saturday, October 10, 2026.
The event welcomes island regulars and visiting anglers alike, as well as inviting competitors of all ages and skill levels to test their angling skill – from boat and beach – across four species categories: striped bass, bluefish, bonito, and false albacore. The tourney operates under a catch-photo-release format and competitors will find that there are literally dozens of ways to win!
The festivities kick off on Saturday, September 5, at 5 p.m. at the Nantucket Anglers’ Club with the opening Gam. This will serve as the official kickoff before lines in; attendees will renew friendships and rivalries, enjoy a raw bar, and win door prizes before the fishing begins the following morning. Participants will be glad to know that the profits gathered through entry fees are put to great use via the Nantucket Anglers’ Club Scholarship Fund.
The competition spans All-Tackle, Fly, and Junior divisions across boat and beach categories, bounded within regional waters stretching from Nobska Light and Muskeget Channel out to the 3-mile line and the sandy shores of Monomoy. To facilitate a catch and release format, the tournament is decided entirely by length. Participants must register in advance to secure an official numbered pin, and log their catches under the aforementioned catch-photo-release format. Entrants are permitted to record only one fish per species, per day, per division.
Every submitted photograph must capture the entire fish laying flat next to an approved measuring device with the angler’s pin clearly visible. Measurements are taken in quarter-inch increments, calculating the straight-line length from the closed tip of the jaw to the squeezed tip of the tail. Photo submissions can be uploaded via the “Submit Your Catch” button on the tournament website. Overall division champions in All-Tackle, Fly, and Junior divisions will be crowned based on the highest combined length of all four target species, alongside individual category awards for the longest single fish of each species.
Getting registered is simple, and options are structured to keep the tournament accessible. Entry for Junior anglers is completely free, while adult registration fees range between $85 and $110 depending on the division and category entered. Weekly awards keep up the momentum throughout the five-week grind, culminating in overall tournament prizes. For complete tournament rules, boundary map, division breakdowns, online registration and prize details (as they become available), visit the tournament website at www.nantucketanglersclub.com/in-shore-classic.
