LBI SURF FISHING CLASSIC KICKS OFF OCTOBER 6

[Bucktail]

Recreational Fishing Alliance
Contact:  Jim Hutchinson, Jr. / 888-564-6732

For Immediate Release

October 2, 2014
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LBI SURF FISHING CLASSIC KICKS OFF OCTOBER 6

Eight Week Contest Begins With $500 Opening Day Prize

Long Beach Island businesses should prepare for a busy day on Monday, October 6
- and a much smaller work staff with striper flu expected to hit surfcasting community!

The 60th Annual Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic begins on Monday, October
 6th, 2014 - the long-running surfcasters only event runs all the way through Sunday,
November 30, with three special 'daily prizes' to be awarded this season totaling
$2,000.

At the 6 p.m. weigh-in deadline on October 6th, the largest striped bass of the
day is worth $500; there will also be a $500 daily cash award given to the largest
striped bass weighed in on October 25th by the 6 p.m. deadline.  A special $1,000
prize will be awarded to the largest striped bass of the tournament day ending November
16th in honor of Frank Panzone.

Be sure to check with the participating tackle shops and review complete rules regarding
weigh-ins to cash in on these special prizes!

The eight-week tournament boasts thousands of dollars in other daily, weekly and
 grand prizes, with $1,000 cash to the angler who beaches the largest striped bass
of the contest and $1,000 for the top bluefish.  Those winners will also get a CTS
custom surf rod with matching Penn 'Z' series reel to boot.  In total, there are
 eight, weekly $125 cash prizes for each species, along with $400 prizes for each
of three tournament segments, not to mention various daily prizes.

There are various juvenile prizes (14 and under), ladies' prizes, seniors' prizes,
along with special daily door prizes just for entering the tournament. A $100 cash
award will also be given to the first legal red drum of the tournament, and $500
 will be awarded for the 60th striper weighed in (tie broken by time of catch) to
commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Classic!

This year, the Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic committee also voted to limit
the number of striped bass entered by anglers in 2014, with only one striped bass
allowed per day, per contestant, and at a minimum length of 34 inches.  The bluefish
size limit in 2014 has also been dropped to 30 inches to encourage 'chopper' entries.

Adult tournament entry remains just $30, and special incentive to attract more local
youth in surfcasting drops the price for kids 17 and under to just $15.  Plus, registration
also includes the commemorative tournament button, a 2014 LBI Surf Fishing Classic
hat, decal and a free slice of Panzone's Pizza (while supplies last).  A free "Super
Surf Casting Seminar" will take place on Saturday, October 11th from 9 a.m. until
1 p.m. starting at the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce location at 265
 West 9th Street in Ship Bottom.

Tournament registration is set to begin during the week of September 15th at participating
weigh stations including Viking Outfitters in Barnegat Light, Surf City Bait & Tackle
in Surf City, Fisherman's Headquarters in Ship Bottom, Captain's Quarters Bait and
Tackle in Brighton Beach, and Jingle's Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven.

Title sponsors of the 60th Annual Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic include
 AFW/Hi-Seas fishing line, Penn Reels, CTS Custom Rods, Surf City Bait & Tackle,
 Fisherman's Headquarters, Jingle's Bait and Tackle, the Recreational Fishing Alliance
and The Fisherman Magazine.  Local supporting sponsors include Barlow Buick/GMC,
 the Beach House Restaurant, Anderson Agency, Surf Taco, Drifting Sands Motel, the
Greenhouse Café, Bageleddi's, Bonanni Realtors, the Engleside Inn, Panzone's Pizza,
S&S Bucktails and the Long Beach Island Fishing Club.

For more information, visit a participating tackle shop or go to www.lbift.com

Captain's Quarters Bait & Tackle, 8201 Long Beach Blvd. Brighton Beach - 856-313-0562

Fisherman's Headquarters, 280 W. 9th St., Ship Bottom - 609-494-5739

Jingles' Bait & Tackle, 1214 Long Beach Blvd., Beach Haven - 609-492-2795

Surf City Bait &Tackle, 317 Long Beach Blvd., Surf City - 609-494-2333

Viking Outfitters, 19th & Bay Avenue, Barnegat Light - 609-361-9111

Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce - 800-292-7211
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About Recreational Fishing Alliance
The Recreational Fishing Alliance is a national, grassroots political action organization
representing recreational fishermen and the recreational fishing industry on marine
fisheries issues. The RFA Mission is to safeguard the rights of saltwater anglers,
protect marine, boat and tackle industry jobs, and ensure the long-term sustainability
of our Nation's saltwater fisheries. For more information, call 888-JOIN-RFA or
visit www.joinrfa.org