Young anglers can show off their skills with rod and reel in the Ocean City Fishing Club's 44th annual Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament on Saturday, Aug.10.
Registration for the free event will begin at 9 a.m. at the north end beach near the Ocean City-Longport bridge.
Parents or guardians will be asked to sign a waiver for insurance purposes before their children can participate.
Each child must bring his or her own fishing gear and bait. Fishing starts at 10 a.m. and ends at noon, followed by an awards presentation. The event will be held rain or shine.
“Last year, we had to curtail the tournament after about an hour, at the first sound of thunder and lightning,” said Ed Hoban, OCFC chairman of the event. “Hopefully, we’ll have better weather this year.”
The tournament has three age categories: 8-10, 11-12, and 13-16 years old, with a boys and girls division in each grouping.
Parents can help cast for children 8-10 years old, but once their lines are in the water, those youngsters have to do their own fishing.
Kids had some great catches at the 2018 Ocean City Fishing Club's Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament. (Courtesy Ocean City Fishing Club)
Three anglers who catch the most fish in each age category will win a rod and reel.
The boy and girl who land the biggest fish overall will receive bicycles and trophies.
“The Miller family donates the bikes each year in memory of Ralph Miller, who ran the tournament, and his wife, Marion,” Hoban said.
Eighty-four youngsters participated last year and caught 32 fish.
Flounder was the biggest fish reeled in at 16.25 inches and 15.5 inches in the girls and boys divisions, respectively.
“We get a lot of support from local businesses that donate prizes,” Hoban said. “There’s a variety of things to award the winners, such as fishing supplies, gift cards for food, backpacks, coolers—just about anything you can think of that young people like.”
OCFC members will be on hand to measure fish caught to determine winners, as well as give expert advice.
Founded in 1913, OCFC is the oldest, continuously operated fishing club in the nation.
