Posted on November 2, 2021 Stripers turning on for boaters The early report from Capt. Rob Semkewyc is that striper fishing is at least twice as good as yesterday on his Sea Hunter from Atlantic Highlands. The following photo was taken at 11:55. Vinny D’Anton fished the Monmouth County surf and said no one did a thing with lures though a school of bunkers got within a long cast. Vinny managed to reach them with a snag hook. snagged one — and fought a 15-pound bluefish to within sight before it cut off. When Vinny got tired of casting lures yesterday morning he switched to Gulp and found fluke up to 17 inches were as thick as they had been a month earlier. The forecast is for more northwest winds at 10-15 knots plus gusts to 29 in the afternoon. The Golden Eagle from Belmar had lots of striper excitement today as “some” were caught but all were much too big at “50 pounds plus”. Jim Hutchinson Sr. reports “Night temperatures are cooling, leaves are turning color, and football games are filling stadiums. Fall is on its way, On Long Beach Island that means the LBI Surf Fishing Classic is fast approaching.The 2021 version of this historic fishing tournament promises to be an exciting one with cash and other prizes awarded for four varieties of fish. Striped bass lead the way with prizes also available for bluefish, kingfish, and red drum.This year is the 67th annual running of the contest with a starting date of Saturday, October 10, and ending up Sunday, December 12. Entry fee is $30 for adults with those seventeen and younger paying just $15.Anglers can sign up at any of the three official weigh-in stations on LBI including Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven, Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom, and Surf City Bait and Tackle. “Official Classic 2021 hats and decals are available to those who register early.”Once again there are daily, weekly, and grand prizes available along with special “Bonus Prizes.” There are also special prize categories for junior anglers seventeen and younger, “Senior Citizen” prizes for those 62 and older, and “Ladies Prizes.”Prizes range from $50 daily awards to $100 and $250 weekly prizes, $500 and $1,000 for 3-week segment winners, and $1,000 for the grand prize for bluefish.Local fishing experts are optimistic about this year’s fall fishing run on Long Beach Island and its impact on the Classic.Steve Palmer, owner of Jingles Bait and Tackle, is looking forward to the upcoming action. “I have a gut feeling this will be an exciting tournament. We have had a good spring and summer on other fish, and I expect it to continue.”Palmer advises anglers to be ready to “put the time in.” He likes the prospects of action at Holgate to lead the way for surf fishing. He notes strong showings of mullet and other baitfish in that area already.Greg Cudnik from Fisherman’s Headquarters also expects good surf fishing this fall. He points to a strong run of striped bass in the spring and feels the new striper regulations seem to have resulted in more fish already.Cudnik is expecting a good number of new entrants this year. He has seen an increase this year in anglers new to the area and looks for many of them to enter the contest.He too is encouraged by the amount of bait in area waters and is keeping his fingers crossed for good weather conditions. “We have had good, clean water all summer. We now have plenty of anchovies and mullet around and as long as they are here, we should have fish feeding on them.”Sue Castrati of Surf City Bait and Tackle points to striper action already happening around Barnegat Inlet and the LBI Causeway with good numbers of schoolie stripers showing up. “We are having a good start already on bass, and the amount of bait in the water is encouraging.”Her shop has already had a goodly number of anglers signing up for the Classic and attributes the interest to “a great annual tradition.” She saw an increase in new registrations in 2020 and is hoping for more again this year.