Pixabay/Atlantic County Surf Fishing Derby kicks off Sept. 25.
The Pat Erdman Memorial Atlantic County Surf Fishing Derby will be held Sept. 23 through Nov. 24 on beaches on Absecon Island and Brigantine.
Derby headquarters is at Scott’s Dock, 9211 Amherst Ave. in Margate, with weigh stations located at:
Scott Bonar of Scott's Dock is chairing the event with longtime volunteer organizers Ed Berger and Don Brown.
Fish may be caught from beaches, piers, bridges and banks of water surrounding Brigantine and Absecon islands, from the Brigantine Inlet to the base of Longport side of the Ocean City-Longport Bridge toll road that are legally accessible to anglers.
Entry fee is $25. Tournament badges can be purchased at participating tackle shops. Anglers must have a Surf Derby pin and dash card, current vehicle registration, insurance card and driver’s license. Beach passes for 4-wheel-drive vehicles must be obtained from the local municipality. Longport does not permit driving on the beach. Operators drive on the beach at their own risk and must adhere to the 15-miles-per-hour speed limit, which will be strictly enforced by the municipalities.
Anglers are limited to one win in each of five categories – bluefish, striped bass, tautog, kingfish and new this year, sheepshead. Prizes for striped bass are first place $500, second place $200 and third place $100. Prizes for the remaining categories are $300, $100 and $50. Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the Derby at 3 p.m. on Nov. 24.
Official Rules and Regulations are available at http://www.facebook.com/ACSurfFishingDerby/
