American Angler Classic

On the Beach of Seaside Park, NJ

Schedule: 

Fishing 7:00am - 1pm

Registration, raffle drawing and awards ceremony location to be determined.

Sponsored by Century Rods/Advanced Fishing - USA, Betty & Nick's, Gabriel Tackle Co., Grumpy's and Hook House Bait & Tackle Shops, The Fisherman Magazine, Fishbites, Costa, Top Notch Tackle, J.T. Brooks Tire Deflators, Portarod Systems, Muller Insurance, Stop n Shop, Rainey's Rigs, Milspray Military Technologies and Fireplaces Plus.

Mobile judge stations will be every 500 or so feet.

This tournament has 4x4 access for an additional $10 fee as per Borough of Seaside.

Parking along North Ocean Avenue is available with paid metered parking or free parking just a block or so west of North Ocean Avenue.  

Early Registration:

Adult (18 and older): $27.00

Youth (17 and younger): $15.00

Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult, and are still required to register.

Day of (late) Registration: 6am - 7am

Adult (18 and older) $30.00

Youth (17 and younger) $15.00

4x4 Day Permit:  $10 fee as per Borough of Seaside.

Please include your License Plate #

Early Entry Incentive:

If postmarked or registered online by September 18th you will:

     - Save on adult registration fee!

     - Be eligible for a drawing for the Costa Del Mar Sunglasses.  Approximate Value $200+

     - Avoid delays!  Pre-registration allows you to go directly to the beach.

Go to our Home Page to download an application.  

PayPal and Venmo links are also available at the bottom of this page.

Registration fees are non-refundable.

Prizes below are awarded to the largest in length fish landed and scored as per the rules (see Rules section below).  Categories can not be combined.

Adults 18 years and older

First Place Prizes Adult:

• Century Surf Rod by Advanced Fishing - USA 
• Costa Del Mar Sunglasses gift card
• Porta Rod fishing system
• $400 in gift cards ($100 each from Betty & Nick's, Gabriel Tackle Co., Grumpys and Hook House Bait & Tackle Shops)

Second Place Prizes Adult:

• $200 in gift cards ($50 each from Betty & Nick's, Gabriel Tackle Co., Grumpys and Hook House Bait & Tackle Shops)

Third Place Prizes Adult:

•  $100 in gift cards ($25 each from Betty & Nick's, Gabriel Tackle Co., Grumpys and Hook House Bait & Tackle Shops)

Youth 17 and Under

First Place Prizes Youth:

• $200 in gift cards ($50 each from Betty & Nick's, Gabriel Tackle Co., Grumpys and Hook House Bait & Tackle Shops)

Second Place Prizes Youth:

• $100 in gift cards ($25 each from Betty & Nick's, Gabriel Tackle Co., Grumpys and Hook House Bait & Tackle Shops)

Third Place Prizes Youth: 

• $40 in gift cards ($10 each from Betty & Nick's, Gabriel Tackle Co., Grumpys and Hook House Bait & Tackle Shops)

Additional Prizes:

• ALL KIDS registered will walk away with prizes

Please note:  All Prizes are subject to change.

Day of 4x4 permits will be available for participants for $10 the morning of the event.  Walk on and 4x4 anglers may fish wherever they like in between streets in Seaside Park.  If a walk on or local non registered angler gets to a fishing area before someone in a vehicle, the walk on or non registered angler will have the rights to that location.  Please just move.  Two miles of beach are available for this tournament.  Otherwise, first come first serve!

Landed fish are encouraged to be released alive.  Anglers are advised to bring a bucket or container to keep their catch alive as long as possible until scored.

1.  Only the following fish exceeding the minimum length listed below are eligible for entry:

     Black Drum: 16+ in.    Bluefish: 14+ in.

     Red Drum: Slot size between 18-27 inches

     Kingfish: 10+ in.     Sundials: 10+in.

     Striped Bass: Slot size between 28-37.99 inches

NO BONUS TAGS!

Note: Minimum length for this tournament may differ from New Jersey saltwater regulations. Sharks, Skates, Sea- Robins and other species not above do not get scored!  Refer to the current Marine Digest for the saltwater fishing regulations.

2.   Fishing starts 7am and ends at 1pm.  Strictly enforced.  No fishing prior to 7am.  

3.   Fish caught from any boat, surfboard or other floating device will not be eligible.

4.   Fishing will be done anywhere in a designated area of the beach that is about a 2 mile area.

5.   Terminal tackle will be limited to 2 hooks. A plug counts as 1 hook. Individuals are limited to 2 rods while fishing.

6.   All fish MUST be measured where caught.  Mobile Judges will be available to measure both catch and release fish and kept fish.

7.   All kept fish will have a vertical cut in the tail by judges to show the fish has been measured.

8.  Fish shall be measured from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail (tail swiped).

9.   Fish will be scored to the nearest 1/4 inch once beyond the minimum length is achieved.  In case of a tie, a girth of the fish can be requested at the time of scoring.  Largest girth will break a tie.  If a second tie breaker is needed, first fish landed will be the winner of the tie breaker.

10.  No oversize or undersize fish will be eligible for tournament prizes.

11. This is a rain or shine tournament. Registration fees are nonrefundable.  Be prepared for foul weather.

12. No wading beyond your waist. This means if your waist gets wet from the surf in any way, back up! Judges will only give you one warning for this. A second infraction will disqualify you from the tournament. This is a safety and insurance issue.

13. Participants may enter as many fish to be scored no matter what qualifying species. However, only the 3 largest fish in the two categories will be winners.

14.  Only one prize per winner in categories.  No combinations, 1st, 2nd or 3rd place combinations, etc.  Adults cannot win any prizes in the Kids category and Kids cannot win any prizes in the Adult category.  The only exception is the Women's Category - that can be combined.  Any prizes not won will be returned to American Angler.

15. All rules, information and registration forms can also be found at www.americananglerus.com. Questions: contact Carl Hartmann at cfishigotu@aol.com or 201-481-4390.

16. American Angler has the final decision on all matters related to this tournament.

17. Tournament rules, location, prizes and all matters related to this tournament subject to change for any reason.

18. Have fun, be safe, enjoy and good luck.

The American Angler Classic Surf Fishing Tournament, its sponsors, Borough of Seaside Park, American Angler members and leadership and any persons connected with it shall be exempt from any liability whatsoever, it is expressly understood that all participants in this event enter at their own risk and assume responsibility for decisions regarding sea conditions and their own safety.