Ocean City Fishing Club 56th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament
OCEAN CITY -- More than 100 anglers cast lines out Saturday during Ocean City Fishing Club's 56th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament, with Merchantville A taking first place fishing team honors for the second consecutive year.
Anglers on that team scored 369.25 points by catching 23 bluefish and two kingfish, besting the second place American Anglers White Team by more than 100 points. Fish points are awarded based on species, number of fish caught and size.
American Anglers White racked up 228.75 points with 14 bluefish and three kingfish, ahead of the third place Surf N Land with eight blues, six kings and a sundial for 184.25 points.
“We had a 17 teams and 12 individuals for a total of 105 anglers competing this year” said Augie Conte III, OCFC president. “The northeast winds were blowing up to 30 miles per hour at times, but conditions were fishable on a mostly outgoing tide.”
By the end of the tournament, anglers caught 130 fish, mostly bluefish ranging from 13 to 17 inches, some kingfish, a sundial and a 10-inch pompano.
Kevin Grieves, fishing with Merchantville A, scored 112.5 points to win most fish points for an individual, landing seven bluefish and one kingfish.
Kristy Rodano, a Creek Keepers team member, came in first for the largest fish caught by a woman with a 16-inch bluefish. Chuck Blubnyts, from team Seasick, caught a 17.25-inch bluefish to win largest fish for men. Charlie DeComa, also on team Seasick, took top honors in the youth division for catching two bluefish.
The tournament started at 7 a.m. with two 2.5-hour fishing sessions along city beaches from 41st to 57th streets. The first session ended at 9:30 a.m., giving participants a half-hour to relocate to a second position, where fishing ended at 12:30 p.m.
OCFC hosted participants to lunch at the Ocean City Intermediate School, which served as tournament headquarters where prizes also were awarded to winners.
“I’m glad we had such good weather for fishing after a few stormy days earlier this week,” Conte said. “We look forward to hosting our 57th tournament next year and hope even more anglers will participate.”
The city provided complimentary one-day passes for anglers to drive on the beaches. The tournament is held in coordination with the Association of Surf Angling Clubs and supported by local organizations and businesses that donated prizes.
Founded in 1913, the Ocean City Fishing Club is the oldest, continuously operating fishing club in the United States.
OCFC 56th Annual Fishing Tournament
You're Invited! Ocean City Fishing Club’s 56th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Ocean City Intermediate School – 1801 Bay Avenue, Ocean City, NJ
Whether you're a seasoned angler or just testing the waters, come join us for a fun-filled day of surf fishing, prizes, and community spirit!
Schedule
- Registration:** 5:30 AM – 7:00 AM (Free coffee & donuts!)
- First Fishing Session:** 7:00 AM – 9:30 AM
- Break:** 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM
- Second Fishing Session:** 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
-Lunch & Awards:** After 12:30 PM back at the school—free lunch, raffles, and prizes!
Entry Fees
- Teams (up to 6 people):** $70
- Individuals:** $15
- Kids under 16:** Fish for free!
- Optional Calcutta:** $10 entry for biggest fish prize
Prizes & Awards
- Top 3 Teams
- Top Individuals
- Biggest Fish (Calcutta winner takes the pot!)
Who Can Join?
Everyone! Friends, families, and solo anglers are welcome. Whether you're competing or just enjoying the day, we’d love to have you.
Questions?
Reach out to Tournament Chairperson Augie Conte III
609-320-6784
augustine.conteiii@gmail.com
Ocean City Fishing Club 55th Annual Surf Fishing Tournament
OCFC Scholarship Recipient 2025
OCEAN CITY — Matthew Bell, this year’s recipient of Ocean City Fishing Club’s annual scholarship, plans to use his love of math and a desire “to build things” to study mechanical engineering at the University of Central Florida this fall.
“I really like math a lot,” he said during a recent visit to the OCFC Fishing Pier, “and I like the concept of designing and building things from the start. It’s very cool.”
For how, he’s leaving open which area of mechanical engineering he’ll pursue, considering it’s many and varied applications.
“I don’t know what area I’ll specialize in,” he said. “There are so many options, and the advances in computerization are happening so rapidly, I’ll have a lot to explore while in college. Who knows what the future will bring.”
When he gets to the university, which is located in Orlando, he hopes his roommate, a student from Tampa, will help familiarize him with the area, though Matt is no stranger to the state. He and his family have vacationed in the Cape Canaveral area, where he’s enjoyed deep sea fishing.
Until he leaves for college in mid-August, he’ll continue to work as a lifeguard with the Ocean City Beach Patrol, a summer job he’s had for the past three years, as have his two older brothers, Jack and Nick, as well as his father, Mike. His mother, Chris, “escaped” being a lifeguard, he said, smiling broadly, and added that his family moved to Ocean City about 11 years ago.
During his Ocean City High School years, he enjoyed being on the swim team as a “sprinter,” he said, excelling in the 50- and 100-freestyle events, and as an anchor on relays.
The recipient of the Ocean City Fishing Club’s $500 scholarship is recommended by the school’s faculty and administration, and demonstrates the club’s commitment to community involvement.
OCFC also conducts two open houses on the fishing pier to collect food and cash contributions to benefit the Ocean City Food Cupboard. The open houses will be held 6-8 p.m. on July 24 and August 7, with rain dates July 25 and August 8, respectively, if needed. The club will hold the Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament at 10 a.m. August 9 on the north end beach at the Ocean City-Longport bridge, rain or shine.
Founded in 1913, the Ocean City Fishing Club is the oldest, continually operating fishing club in the United States.
July 24th 2025 OCFC Open House
OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Fishing Club will welcome the public to tour its pier twice this summer in hopes of breaking records set last year for donations to the local food cupboard.
The first open house is set for Thursday, July 24, while the second will be held two weeks later on Thursday August 7. Rain dates, if necessary for either event, will be July 25 and August 8, respectively.
The pier, located at 14th Street and the Boardwalk, will be open to the public from 6-8 p.m. both evenings. Pier visitors are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or make cash donations when they tour the pier.
In 2024, 2,203 pier visitors brought 480 pounds of food and donated $2,243 in cash to benefit the local food agency, which exceeded totals collected previously.
“We’re glad our open houses have been so successful in collecting food for the Ocean City Food Cupboard,” said Augie Conte III, OCFC president. “We’re hoping the public will again respond generously with their donations of food and money to help those who are less fortunate.”
The OCFC food collection program began in 2013, when the fishing club celebrated its centennial anniversary. Previously, contributions were given in memory of Bob Roth, a long-time OCFC member who died in 2022 and who had a strong commitment to the Food Cupboard throughout his life.
Fishing club members will be on hand to guide visitors and answer questions about the pier and the organization. The pier extends nearly 750 feet from the Boardwalk, over the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. OCFC began a pier extension project in December 2020 to add about 113 feet to its previous length. The addition was completed in Spring 2021.
The open houses coincide with the city’s Family Night on the Boardwalk, and are part of the OCFC’s commitment to community involvement through its youth fishing tournament, scholarship program and advocacy for recreational fishing. It is the oldest continually operating fishing club in the nation.
OCEAN CITY — Visitors set new records Thursday for attendance, food and money donated to benefit the local food cupboard during the Ocean City Fishing Club’s first Open House at the Pier this year.
By the end of the two-hour open house, 1,750 people filled barrels with 290 lbs of non-perishable food and stuffed $2,433 into a huge jar, all headed to the Ocean City Food Cupboard.
That’s 730 more visitors, 70 lbs more food and $1558 more money collected than at last year’s first open house. In fact, the cash donated last night tops the amount given at last year’s two open houses combined by $190.
“I can’t help but feel a sense of pride in a community that steps up to help those less fortunate,” said Augie Conte III, OCFC president. “Even in towns like ours—Shore towns with so many summer residents and visitors—there are still people who need help to put food on the table. We’re glad to host these open houses to help stock the food cupboard.”
The club will host a second Open House at the Pier on Thursday, August 7, from 6-8 p.m., with the following day as a rain date, if needed. Visitors again are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items or the make cash donations to help feed the needy. The open houses coincide with the city’s Thursday evening Family Night on the Boardwalk program.
At each open house, OCFC volunteers station themselves at various locations on the pier to answer questions and to help take photos for visitors with the Atlantic Ocean and Boardwalk as scenic backdrops.
The traffic onto the pier was steady and enthusiastic, with many expressing thanks to the club for welcoming them to tour the pier. The club has been holding open houses on the pier to benefit the Food Cupboard since its centennial celebration in 2013.
The OCFC, a private fishing club, has a strong commitment to community involvement through programs that include the open houses, the youth fishing tournament, which is scheduled for August 9, awarding scholarships and advocating for recreational fishing. Founded in 1913, it is the oldest, continually operating fishing club in the United States.
2025 OCFC Boys and Girls Fishing Tournament
48th Annual Boys and Girls Fishing Tournament
SPONSORED BY OCEAN CITY FISHING CLUB & THE CITY OF OCEAN CITY
FREE ENTRY FOR ALL AGES 8-16
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9TH
10:00 AM EST - 12:00 PM EST
The gate opens at 9 AM EST
Location is the North End beach by the Longport Bridge
Preregistration is available HERE
To prepare for registration, please print and sign the below document. It will be needed at the day of registration. (we will also have forms at sign up)
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