The Nantucket Inshore Classic Fishing Tournament kicks off this year with an opening party on September 9. Fishing begins on Sunday, September 10 and continues for five full weeks, concluding on Saturday, October 14.
The Classic was organized to promote and enjoy the exciting Fall Salt Water fishing on Nantucket while at the same time raising funds for the Nantucket Anglers’ Club Scholarship Fund, the tournament is open to ALL local and visiting anglers. Anglers do not have to be a member of the Anglers’ Club to participate.
The tournament will run for five weeks, which allows people who will not be on island for the entire tournament an opportunity to join in the fun and have a legitimate chance to qualify for prizes. Those people who will be here most of the time are relieved of the pressure of a shorter tournament and can fish whenever their schedule permits.
The tournament is an individual angler tournament. There will be three divisions; All Tackle, Fly Fishing, and Junior. Each division will have separate categories for fish caught from the beach or from a boat. Species eligible for prizes will be striped bass, bluefish, bonito, and false albacore.
Prizes such as rods, reels, tackle, beach passes, and local charters will be awarded for the heaviest combined weight in each division and category. Prizes are also given to the Angler with the heaviest fish of each species in each of the four categories. There are weekly prizes as well. Tournament results will be announced daily by e-mail, on the radio, and online so participants will always know where they are in the standings and the size of the leading fish in each category. Participants do not need to be at the closing ceremony in order to receive their prizes.
Interested anglers may sign up prior to or any time during the tournament. Tournament brochures, entry forms and rules will be available at Bill Fisher Tackle, Nantucket Tackle, and the Nantucket Anglers’ Club. Participants will register by bringing a completed entry form to the Nantucket Anglers’ Club along with the entry fee, which is $50.00 for the All Tackle or Fly Fishing Divisions. For anglers choosing to fish in BOTH divisions the entry fee will be $75.00. Juniors, under 16, participate for free.
Participants will receive a long sleeve tournament t-shirt and a tournament I.D. pin. They will also be invited to attend the kick off and closing awards parties at the Anglers’ Club featuring raffles, a raw bar, hearty hors d’oeuvres and the opportunity to swap stories with many other dedicated and experienced fishermen.
Tournament organizers have set a goal again this year of 300 anglers. The more people that participate the more fun everyone will have with more money for scholarships and the greater the opportunity to find out just how exciting fall fishing on Nantucket can be.
For more information, please visit the Nantucket Anglers Club website.