Fishing tournaments and clinics on Long Island

Long Island offers competitive fishing tournaments for every angler. And if you’re a novice, can catch a free clinic, many of which offer loaner rods and bait. Here’s a sampling of clinics and tournaments coming up this summer, many of which carry large cash prizes.

JUNE

JR. ANGLER FRESHWATER “CATCH AND RELEASE” FISHING TOURNAMENT, Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown, 631-265-1054, parks.ny.gov. Sponsored by Friends of Caleb Smith. Reservations required, accepted two weeks prior. Space is limited. Bait supplied, limited supply of equipment. Fee $15, plus $8 parking fee, free with current Empire Passport. Date 9-11 a.m. ages 5-8, 1-3 p.m. ages 9-12, June 8.

STAR ISLAND YACHT CLUB SHARK TOURNAMENT, Star Island Yacht Club and Marina, 59 Star Island Rd., Montauk, 631-668-5052, starislandyc.com. Prizes total more than $500,000, plus trophies, awards ceremony 7:30 p.m. June 15, captain’s meeting 7:30 p.m. June 13, charterboats available, register online. Fee $1,250 per boat; dockage fees: prices available upon request for boats 60 feet or larger; utilities fee. Dates 6 a.m.-6 p.m. June 14-15.

FREEPORT HUDSON ANGLERS SHARK TOURNAMENT, Guy Lombardo Marina, 898 Guy Lombardo Ave., Freeport, freeporthudsonanglers.com, 516-378-5181. 47th annual tournament offering 6 levels of Calcutta — $300, $500, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500 and $5,000. Captains’ meeting 7 p.m. June 14; rain date: June 16. Fee $300 per boat before June 1, $350 after; any size. Date 6 a.m.-6 p.m. June 15.

MONTAUK MARINE BASIN SHARK TOURNAMENT, Montauk Marine Basin, 426 W. Lake Dr., Montauk, 631-668-5900, marinebasin.com. Captains’ meeting June 20, 6 p.m. Fee $1,250 per boat; minimum 20 feet. Date 6 a.m.-6 p.m. June 21-22.

BAY SHORE MAKO TOURNAMENT, Bay Shore, 631-626-7288, bayshoretunaclub.com. Held at Nicky’s on the Bay, Bay Shore Marina, captains’ meeting 6 p.m. June 21; minimum boat length 23 feet, rain dates: June 23 (Note: in case of rain June 22-23, new rain date will be June 29. Fee$400 per boat. Date 4:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. June 22.

GREAT GUN ANGLERS SHARK TOURNAMENT, Based in Center Moriches, using the Moriches Inlet, greatgunanglers.com. Captains’ meeting 7 p.m. June 21 at VFW Post 414, Montauk Highway, Center Moriches, must attend in order to register. 5:30 p.m. last boat check-in before the weigh in at Moriches Yacht Club. Rain date: June 29. Fee $300 per boat (20-foot minimum); register. Date 6 a.m.-5:30 p.m. June 22.

AUGUST

CAPTREE SNAPPER AND CRAB DERBY, Captree State Park, off Robert Moses Causeway, 3500 E. Ocean Pkwy., Bay Shore, captreefuelbaitandtackle.com, 631-587-3430. For those younger than 16, nine prizes given each day. Bring own equipment and bait or buy or rent. FeeFree, no registration required, $8 parking. Dates 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 10-11.

GLEN COVE MAYOR’S SNAPPER DERBY, Prybil Beach Fishing Pier, Glen Cove, glencove-li.us, 516-676-3766. Children ages 6-16 are invited to compete. Must bring rod and reel. Fee Free. Date 8 a.m.-noon, Aug. 24.

SEPTEMBER

MONTAUK SURF-FISHING CLASSIC, Montauk Point State Park, 2000 Montauk Hwy. (Route 27) east to end, Montauk, 631-668-5520, parks.ny.gov. Bluefish and striped bass. Fishing boundaries are waters from westernmost tip of Napeague State Park, east, no age requirement, all fish hooked and landed from beach, surf, jetty, bank or pier, and accessible by foot or wading. $750 prize for each winner of striped bass and blues fishing. Participants must register by mail or in person at State Park Headquarters or Paulie’s Tackle in Montauk. By mail: P.O. Box 247, Babylon, NY 11702; checks payable to NHT-LI. Mail deadline Sept. 14. In-person deadline 9 a.m. Sept. 21 at Paulie’s. Fee $15. Dates Noon Sept. 20-noon Sept. 22.

OCTOBER

SOUTH SHORE SURF FISHING CLASSIC, Captree State Park, off Robert Moses Causeway 3500 E. Ocean Pkwy., Bay Shore, 631-321-3510; 631-587-3430, parks.ny.gov; captreefuelbaitandtackle.com. Bluefish and striped bass. Fish must be hooked and landed from beach, surf, jetty, bank or pier within legal boundaries. $750 prize for each winner of striped bass and blues fishing. Bring equipment. Fee $15. Date Noon Oct. 25-27.

CLINICS

FLUKE CLINIC, Captree State Park, off Robert Moses Causeway, 3500 E. Ocean Pkwy., Bay Shore, captreetackle.com. 631-587-3430. Bring own equipment or buy or rent. Fee Free, no registration required. Date Noon-12:30 p.m. June 1.

NYS OUTDOORS DAY FISHING CLINIC, McDonald Pond, Hempstead Lake State Park, West Hempstead, 631-444-0283. Instruction; free loaner rods and bait available. Fee Free, $8 parking; no preregistration required. Date 10 a.m.-2 p.m. June 8.

TOWN OF ISLIP PUBLIC FRESHWATER FISHING CLINIC, Knapp’s Lake at Brookwood Hall Park, 50 Irish Lane, East Islip, 631-224-5430, islipny.gov Focus on fishing techniques, biology and stewardship; geared toward families, open to all; loaner rods and free bait available. FeeFree, preregistration required with the Town of Islip. Dates 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 27, July 18 and Aug. 8.

TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN SUMMER FAMILY FISHING CLINIC, Lake Ronkonkoma Beach (Town of Brookhaven), Lake Shore Road, Lt. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Park, Ronkonkoma. 631-444-0283. Basic instruction, free loaner rods and bait available. Fee Free, no preregistration needed. Date 5:30-7:30 p.m. July 10.

CRABBING CLINIC, Captree State Park, off Robert Moses Causeway, 3500 E. Ocean Pkwy., Bay Shore, captreetackle.com. 631-587-3430. Instruction. Bring own equipment or buy or rent. FeeFree, no registration required. Date Noon-12:30 p.m. July 13.

SNAPPER CLINIC, Captree State Park, off Robert Moses Causeway, 3500 E. Ocean Pkwy., Bay Shore, captreetackle.com. 631-587-3430. Instruction. Bring own equipment or buy or rent. FeeFree, no registration required. Date Noon-12:30 p.m. Aug. 3.

SUMMER FAMILY FISHING CLINIC, McDonald Pond, Hempstead Lake State Park, Southern State Parkway, West Hempstead, 631-444-0283. Fishing follows basic instruction, free loaner rods and bait. Fee Free, $8 parking; no preregistration required. Date 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 3.

TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN FAMILY SALTWATER & CRABBING CLINIC, Corey Beach, Corey Avenue, Blue Point, 631-444-0283. Basic instruction, free loaner rods and bait provided, while supplies last. Important items to bring: string, crab net, crab trap and a bucket, supplies of these are limited. Fee Free, parking fee may apply; no preregistration required, space is limited. Date5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 15.

PECONIC RIVER SNAPPER FISHING CLINIC, Peconic Riverfront Park, Peconic Avenue, Riverhead, 631-444-0283. Summer evening fishing for families. Free loaner rods, bait provided. Fee Free, no preregistration required. Date 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 5.

FIRE ISLAND SURF-CASTING CLINIC, Smith Point County Park, County Rd. 46, Shirley, 631-687-4780, dec.ny.gov Basic instruction, free loaner rods and bait. Fee Free, $8 parking; no preregistration required. Date 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sept. 14.

TOWN OF ISLIP SEAFEST, Bay Shore Marina, Bay Shore. Basic instruction, free loaner rods and bait. 631-224-5430. Fee Free, no preregistration required. Date Noon-4:30 p.m. Sept. 21.

Fishing Regulation/License

Check the Department of Environmental Conservation website for current regulations. Marine registrations are free and valid for one year. Sign up at a licensing agent, at nwsdy.li/nyfish, or call 866-933-2257, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays.

All residents 16 or older who fish in the New York State Coastal Marine District and adjacent federal waters must be registered. For more about the Recreational Marine Fishing Registry, visit nwsdy.li/registry, or call 631-444-0430 (saltwater) or 631-444-0280 (freshwater) or visit nwsdy.li/nyfish. For rules on catching mako and other shark species, call 301-713-2347 (federal) or 631-444-0430 (state).

For rules on bluefin and yellowfin tuna, call 888-872-8862. Also visit the National Marine Fisheries Service permit shop at https://hmspermits.noaa.gov (outside NYS waters, 3 miles or more offshore) or nwsdy.li/nysalt (saltwater fishing regulations for NYS).