With September just a week a way, surfcasters are already prepping for their favorite time of the year which includes a host of popular surf fishing events. First on the agenda is The Fisherman‘s Surf Fishing Show and Seminar, slated for Thursday night, September 17, at the Huntington Hilton (quarter mile south of the LIE on Route 110). More than 60 surf fishing related tackle manufacturers will be represented, and also displaying their wares and offering special deals on surf gear will be many of the best tackle shops and tackle vendors from the region.
The first 500 attendees will go home with goody bags made up of an assortment of tackle items from Tsunami, Jetty Ghost, Blue Frog, Spiderwire, Hopkins, Spro, VMC, Suffix, Tactical Anglers, Owner, Storm, E-Poseidon, and Sea Striker. Every attendee receives a free chance to a raffle featuring great surf fishing related prizes, including rods, reels and surf fishing accessories from manufacturers like Penn, Tsunami, St. Croix, Century, Star Rods, Daiwa, Korkers, Cousins Tackle, Shimano, AquaSkinz and many others.
“Crazy Alberto” Knie will share tips on targeting cow stripers with plugs and bait; Super Strike Don Musso and Al “Gags” will host a Q&A on anything you want to know about fishing plugs and soft plastics; Mike Laptew will present stunning video providing valuable insight into the feeding habits and movements of stripers; Kayak expert Elias Vaisberg will cover fall striper tactics and opportunities in the Long Island, Metro area from a kayaking perspective; Fisherman editor Toby Lapinski will cover what you need to know to be safe and successful at the wetsuiting game; and Bill Wetzel will clue you in on how to score more fish in the Montauk surf.
Hands-on work stations will cover knot tying, surf rigs, and rod building, while Ralph Votta will provide tips on how to be successful with tins. If you’re into bucktailing, you can pick the brains of master bucktailer John Paduano of Premium Bucktails… Harvey Cooper will be tying up his popular teasers, and for the salty fly set, award winning author Angelo Peluso and Paul McCain of River Bay Outfitters will be sharing their extensive knowledge of saltwater fly patterns, along with showing you how to tie them. LIBBA members will be on hand to fill you in on what you need to know for safe and responsible beach driving.
Show doors open at 6 p.m. and the presentations get underway at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors 65 and over and $15 for children 16 and under.
A week later, the Montauk Surf Fishing Classic hosted by The Fisherman and Long Island State Parks will draw its usual crowd of casters to “The End.” This year’s contest is slated for Friday, September 25 through Sunday, September 27, kicking off at noon Friday, and continuing through Sunday at noon. The awards ceremony will take place at the Point at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The in-person entry deadline is 9 a.m. Saturday morning at Johnny’s Tackle Shop, or until 6 a.m. at the lighthouse lot. The entry fee remains just $15 per angler.
There are three places in the Striped Bass Release Division. First place prize is a Van Staal Reel, and the Striped Bass and Bluefish division winners will receive $750. Second and third place winners in all three categories will receive quality tackle prizes.
Next on tap and also in Montauk is Paulie’s Tackle Shop Striped Bass & Bluefish Surf Contest running from noon Friday, October 2 through 10 a.m. Sunday, October 4. Cash and tackle prizes will be presented for the three largest stripers and blues. An awards ceremony with free raffle follows the close of the contest at 10 a.m. Sunday. The entry fee is $25 and the entry deadline is 9 a.m. on Saturday at Paulie’s for those unable to make it “out east” on Friday. For more info, call 631-668-5520.
The popular South Shore Surf Fishing Classic is set for October 16 through 18 and is also hosted by The Fisherman and Long Island State Parks. The contest kicks off at noon on Friday, October 16, and continues through noon on Sunday, October 18. The entry fee is $15. The same prize categories featured in the Montauk Classic, Striped Bass Release, Striped Bass and Bluefish will be in play here. The awards ceremony takes place at 1 p.m. on Sunday at Captree State Park.
The first 100 attendees at Sunday’s awards ceremony will receive free tackle, and all attendees will receive a free ticket for the awards ceremony raffle. Boundary lines are the Jones Beach West End Two Jetty to the east jetty of Moriches Inlet.
The Babylon Autumn Surf Fishing Cup, hosted by Paumonak Surfcasters in cooperation with Town of Babylon will take place October 30 to November 1. Fishing is from 5 p.m. Friday to 2 p.m. Sunday. The tournament is open to Babylon Town residents and non-residents, and non-residents will have access to Babylon Town beaches for the tournament. Boundary lines are the Sore Thumb to the westernmost boundary of Gilgo State Park. The entry fee is $15 and you can register in person at the weigh station set up in the east end of the Overlook Beach Parking lot by 6 p.m. Friday. For more info or an entry form, call Councilman’s Lindsay Henry’s office at 631-957-4482.
Closing the fall event calendar is the Jones Beach Surf Fishing Classic sponsored by Jones Beach Fishing Station, Long Island State Parks and The Fisherman. It will take place from November 6 through 8 with fishing from noon Friday, November 6 through 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, with an awards ceremony following the final weigh-in. All weigh-ins are at Jones Beach Fishing Station. There will be cash and tackle prizes for the three largest stripers and blues, with $500 each for the largest bass and blue. Boundary lines are Debs Inlet to the Fire Island Lighthouse, including the South Shore back bays. For more info, call Ed at Jones Beach Shop at 631-559-5938.
