49th Annual Children's Fishing Tournament

The City of Ocean City and the Ocean City Fishing Club celebrated their 49th Annual Children’s Surf Fishing Tournament on August 8, 2026.

We had 155 children pre-register for the event and 15 walk-ups in the morning. The kids fished from 9 AM until 11 AM under sunshine and calm southwest winds. This bright sun with a dead low tide at 10:06 AM made for unfavorable conditions to catch fish. The young anglers smashed it!

  • 57 children caught at least one fish

  • 489 total fish points were awarded

  • 17 flounder

  • 10 kingfish

  • 1 needlefish

  • 1 ray

  • 25 sharks

  • 6 skates

  • 23 spots

The first fish scored of the day was a 13-inch flounder, caught at 9:05 AM by 12-year-old Maddie Bauer. Great job, Maddie!

8-year-old Sal Judice had an incredible day, scoring the most fish points of the entire tournament with 44.5 points. Sal landed a tournament-high six fish.

The largest fish of the tournament was a 15-inch flounder, caught by 13-year-old Mason Law. Mason fishes with the Atlantic City Fishing Club, an organization run by Kyle Eisenbeis, a former Atlantic City police officer. Kyle and the Atlantic City and Pleasantville police departments operate a program that introduces local youth to the sport of surf fishing. The club did not receive its full grant money this year, and unfortunately, most of the kids could not participate. We were also pleased to have 14-year-old Jason Vargas, another member of the Atlantic City Fishing Club, participate in our tournament—a big shout-out to Jason's mom, Liliana, for making the trip to OCNJ.

16-year-old Nate Symchik caught a 3.5-inch needlefish, earning the distinction of catching the smallest fish of the tournament!

The award for Strangest Catch went to 10-year-old Owen Bryce, who pulled a plastic bag out of the ocean. Our runner-up was Margot Fallaize, who managed to snag a sand flea. Other unusual catches included spiders, blue claws, horseshoe crabs and seaweed.

 

We celebrated two birthdays on the beach. A crowd of about 300 people sang Happy Birthday to Jack Conte (8) and Hooper Irvin (11).

Our Judging Teams

A special thank-you goes to Bobby Gioiosa and Joel Richman Sr., who registered the most catches among our judging teams, with an impressive 18 catches scored. Joe McCormick was right behind them with 15 catches scored.

We also want to recognize 16-year-old Ethan Herzberg of Woodbine, NJ. Ethan attended the tournament with his mom and three younger siblings, who were all fishing. Ethan asked if he could help out, so we put him to work as a judge. He did a great job and recorded 10 total catches!

One of our club members found a locked iPhone on the beach. Drew Furst’s son Mason successfully asked Siri to “call mom,” and connected. It wasn’t a fish, but “hooking Mom” may be the catch of the day. The phone was returned Saturday afternoon.

A Great Day for the Club

Most importantly, the tournament once again allowed us to introduce young people to the sport we all love.

A huge thank-you to the City of Ocean City, all of our members, volunteers, sponsors, donors, judges, and everyone who helped make the tournament possible. From preparing 170 gift bags and loads of prizes, to registering the children, judging the catches, keeping score, and handing out the awards, cleaning up and packing tents, chairs & tables, this event takes a tremendous amount of effort.

And judging by the smiles on the kids' faces and the personal emails that I have received from parents, it was well worth it!

Thank you to everyone who helped make our 49th Annual Children’s Surf Fishing Tournament a success. We’re already looking forward to number 50!

 

Ed Parkinson

Tournament Chairperson

Ocean City Fishing Club Awards Annual Scholarship to Ocean City High School Graduate Martin Stanczak

OCEAN CITY, N.J. — The Ocean City Fishing Club (OCFC) has awarded its annual $1,000 scholarship to Ocean City High School graduate Martin Stanczak, who will attend Northeastern University in Boston this fall to study chemistry.

Stanczak discovered his passion for chemistry almost by chance.

“I accidentally enrolled in an AP Chemistry class during my junior year and found that I like chemistry a lot,” he said during a recent visit to the Ocean City Fishing Club Fishing Pier. “I like the concept of finding ways to help people and solve problems.”

While he has not yet decided which branch of chemistry he will pursue, Stanczak is interested in medical, environmental, and cosmetic chemistry. “I want to focus my efforts in an area where I can help people,” he said.

Before leaving for college in mid‑September, Stanczak will continue working as a beach tag supervisor for the City of Ocean City, a summer position he has held for the past four years. He is also a self‑taught piano and guitar player and enjoys spending time with friends.

During his years at Ocean City High School, he participated on the golf team and was active in the National Honor Society, Student Council, and the Latin Club. He also served as an OCHS ambassador and volunteered in the school’s annual food drive.

The scholarship recipient is recommended by Ocean City High School faculty and administration and reflects the Fishing Club’s commitment to supporting local students and giving back to the community.

In addition to its scholarship program, the Ocean City Fishing Club will host public open houses on the Fishing Pier from 6–8 p.m. on July 30 and August 13 to collect food and cash donations for the Ocean City Food Cupboard. The club will also host its annual Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, on the north‑end beach near the Ocean City–Longport Bridge, rain or shine.

Ocean City Fishing Club to Host Summer Open Houses Benefiting Local Food Cupboard

OCEAN CITY, N.J. — The Ocean City Fishing Club (OCFC) will once again open its historic fishing pier to the public this summer while collecting food and monetary donations for the Ocean City Food Cupboard.

The club will host Open House events on Thursday, July 30, and Thursday, August 13, from 6 to 8 p.m. Rain dates, if needed, are July 31 and August 14.

Located at 14th Street and the Boardwalk, the 635‑foot fishing pier will welcome visitors for an opportunity to tour one of Ocean City’s most recognizable landmarks while supporting a local cause. Guests are encouraged to bring non‑perishable food items or make a monetary donation to benefit the Ocean City Food Cupboard.

Last year’s first Open House event attracted approximately 1,750 visitors, who donated 290 pounds of food and $2,433 to the Food Cupboard, setting new fundraising records for the annual event.

“We’re grateful for the incredible generosity shown by our community each year,” said Augie Conte III, president of the Ocean City Fishing Club. “The Open Houses give visitors a chance to experience our historic pier while helping neighbors in need. We hope the community will once again support the Food Cupboard with food and monetary donations.”

Club members will be available throughout the evenings to greet visitors, answer questions, and share the history of the organization and its landmark fishing pier. The structure extends 635 feet from the Boardwalk over the beach and Atlantic Ocean and was lengthened by approximately 113 feet following an expansion completed in 2021.

Held in conjunction with Ocean City’s popular Family Night on the Boardwalk, the Open Houses are part of the club’s ongoing commitment to community service. In addition to supporting the Food Cupboard, the Ocean City Fishing Club sponsors youth fishing programs, awards annual scholarships, and advocates for recreational fishing. The club’s food drive began during its centennial celebration in 2013.

The Ocean City Fishing Club is the oldest continuously operated fishing club in the country.

 

Enjoy reading about our club activities, events, and tournaments. We also provide detailed information about the club and the pier. Watch for our annual Open Houses each year.

 

In 2013 our club celebrated 100 years! For more information about our history, check out the Centennial Page, view our Centennial Video, or read about 100th Anniversary Tournament.

 

For more information on our club activities, check the Events Schedule, Club Meetings, and Tournament Page,