Celebrating its 13th anniversary, the 2018 Nantucket Inshore Classic Fishing Tournament starts this year on Sunday, September 9 and runs through Saturday, October 13. The main mission of the Nantucket Inshore Classic is to promote and enjoy the exciting fall saltwater fishing on Nantucket while at the same time raising funds for the Nantucket Anglers’ Club Scholarship Fund.
Organized by fishermen for fishermen, the five-week duration of the tournament was chosen with the intent of attracting as many anglers as possible. Local anglers can participate without the pressure of a shorter tournament and fish whenever their schedule permits. Visitors or people unable to be on island for the entire tournament can still join in the fun and have a legitimate chance to catch a prize-winning fish.
The tournament is an individual angler tournament. There are four divisions: All Tackle, Fly Fishing, Catch & Release and Junior. Each division has separate categories for fish caught from the beach or from a boat. Species eligible for prizes are Striped Bass, Bluefish, Bonito, and False Albacore.
In response to the strong interest in conservation and support from tournament participants, the Catch and Release Division was added to the tournament three years ago. Standings in the Catch and Release Division are determined by length using an approved measuring device supplied by the Tournament and to be photographed with the fish. This year, standings for the Fly Fishing Division and the Junior Division will be determined by the same procedure.
Prizes including rods and reels, tackle, beach passes, gift certificates, and local fishing charters will be awarded in each division and category. In the All Tackle Division, prizes will be awarded to the Angler with the heaviest combined weight in each category and for the heaviest fish of each species. There will be weekly prizes as well.
Catch and Release, Fly Fishing and Junior Division prizes will be awarded to the Angler entering the longest fish of each species and to the Angler with the longest total length entered. There will also be weekly prizes. Participants do not need to be at the closing ceremony in order to receive their prizes.
Participants will receive a distinctive long sleeve tournament t-shirt, a tournament I.D. pin and a tournament measuring tape. They will also be invited to attend the kick off and closing awards parties at the Anglers’ Club featuring raffles, a raw bar, and hearty hors d’oeuvres.
Tournament results will be announced daily by e-mail, on the radio at ACK FM, and on line at www.ack.net/ so participants will always know where they are in the standings and the size of the leading fish in each category.
Many anglers sign up for the tournament when they attend the kickoff party at the Anglers’ Club to be held this year on Saturday, September 8, at 5pm. Interested Anglers may also register to participate any time prior to or during the tournament. Brochures, entry forms and rules will be available at Bill Fisher Tackle, Nantucket Tackle, and the Nantucket Anglers’ Club. The entry fee is $50.00 for the All Tackle, Fly Fishing, or Catch and Release Divisions. For anglers choosing to fish in TWO divisions the entry fee will be $75.00. For all THREE divisions, the entry fee will be $100. Juniors under 16 participate for free.
For more information about the Tournament, go to the Nantucket Inshore Classic Facebook page or to the Nantucket Anglers’ Club website. You may also pick up a descriptive tournament brochure at Nantucket Tackle, Bill Fisher Tackle or the Anglers’ Club.
