The Babylon Surf Fishing Cup was held from 5 p.m. Friday, October 30th through noon on Sunday, November 1st. Nearly 100 casters participated in the well run contest which was organized by Babylon Town Councilman Lindsay Henry with the cooperation of Town of Babylon Supervisor Richard Schaffer, and support from Paumonak Surfcasters and LIBBA (Long Island Beach Buggy Association). Boundaries for the contest were limited to Town of Babylon property stretching from the Sore Thumb to the western boundary of Gilgo Beach. The contest was open to both Babylon residents and non-residents, and the minimal $15 entry fee included a Town of Babylon 4×4 Beach Access Pass which not only covered the weekend, but is good for the rest of this season. It also included food and drinks at the post tournament awards ceremony, a free raffle, and free tournament T-shirt for those attending the awards ceremony.
On top of all that, the fish cooperated with a good showing of bass and blues, the latter which had been pretty much absent from the local surf scene prior to the contest. Before the sun had even set on Friday, there was a flurry of striper action that produced the largest bass of the tournament, as well as the winner of the Striped Bass Release Category. Things were relatively quiet the rest of Friday night and Saturday morning but a switch of the wind to the southwest Saturday evening triggered a nice plug bite before dark. The bite picked up again during the wee hours of Sunday morning with good numbers of bass in the 15 to 20-pound range caught and released on bunker chunks. As dawn, big blues replaced the stripers as they eagerly fed on chunks.
Billy Fischer of Big Fischer Lures nailed down first place in the bass division with a 32.5 pounder. Kevin Donahue’s 28.5 took second place, and Andy Richman settled third place with a 24.67-pounder. Brett Rainer released a 30-pound cow on Friday evening to take first in the release division. Bluefish had been a rare commodity prior to the tournament but that changed Sunday morning. Barry Barrone nosed out Daniel Turdo’s 13.43 pounder by just four one hundredths of a pound with his 13.47 pound chopper. Terry Marburger, who seems to have a way with big blues, finished the scoring with a 12.90 pound fish.
This is quickly becoming one of the area’s more popular surf tournaments thanks to the efforts Councilman Lindsay Henry, Supervisor Richard Schaffer, Paumonak Surfcasters and LIBBA. Kudos to all involved, especially LIBBA president Cooky Rondinella, who spent much of the weekend registering anglers and manning the weigh station.
The last surf fishing tournament of the season, the Jones Beach Surf Fishing Classic, kicks off at 9 a.m. this Friday, November 6 and runs through noon on Sunday, November 8. The entry fee is $15 and includes a T-shirt or hat. It is based out of the Jones Beach Fishing Station with $500 each for the largest bass and bluefish. You can enter in person at the bait station located at Field 10 Jones Beach (fishing piers). For more info, contact Capt. Ed Walsh at 631-559-5938.
