NJ shore Memories and Old-time fishermen from the past...

[buckethead]

I have seen so many good places and attractions get swept away by progress. It may be inevitable, we don't have to like it. I really do miss some of the old nj shore attractions. Anyone care to share with some old postcards or clippings?

[DarkSkies]

A friend sent me this clip of Seaside Heights back in the day.

_G-hVZ0rIf4

[DarkSkies]

I just realized there is a whole thread on Asbury Park by itself if anyone wants to stroll down memory lane. :cool:

http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=958

[bababooey]

Asbury got taken over by the alternate lifestylers who couldn't afford Ocean Grove, Dark.http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/images/icons/icon13.gif Who remembers the Long Branch fishing pier, and frostfish whiting in November?:fishing: :)

[storminsteve]

Who remembers the Long Branch fishing pier, and frostfish whiting in November?:fishing: :)

My grandpa took me there when I was a kid. There was this chum machine that put out ground up chum to the water, way cool. Also the Sea Bright wall used to be a lot different, but I didn't do much surf fishing back then, just pier fishing and fishing off the jetty for seabass and sea robins at Shark River.

[DarkSkies]

Asbury got taken over by the alternate lifestylers who couldn't afford Ocean Grove, Dark.http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/images/icons/icon13.gif Who remembers the Long Branch fishing pier, and frostfish whiting in November?:fishing: :)

I decided to add another dimension to this thread. During the last few days I've met so many old timers and got to listen to them reminiscing how things used to be. In many instances what they are relating is new to me. I soak it up like a sponge, I really enjoy it. :)

So I'll periodically be putting up snapshots of some old time fishermen in this thread along with some cool fishing stories. :fishing:

Some of them will be well-known, others maybe you never heard of them. I can promise you I will try to get the funniest or most unusual stories from them, in my usual folksy style.

I hope you people enjoy it. If you have any older fishing friends or relatives you feel should be featured here in this thread, feel free to PM me or e-mail me and I'll see what I can do. :thumbsup:

[DarkSkies]

Met these 2 characters today in Point Pleasant. They had stories from fishin that pier you wouldn't believe!

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I was honored to hear their fishing stories and how things were 40 years ago. I'll fill this post and the pics in when I can. In the meantime, here's a fishing nugget:

What was the biggest crab ever caught in NJ?

22", claw to claw (that's how they measured em back then), caught by Louie, in the 1950's. :wow::wow::dribble:
The story - he caught it in the bay around 1955. It was the largest crab anyone had ever seen. Instead of eating it, Louie kept it in his freezer. Whenever anyone asked him about that crab, he would pull it out of the freezer and show it to them.

When they first told me this story, it seemed hard to believe. Then I realized the "claw to claw" thing, and I'm thinking this crab could have been at least 12" across the shell, or bigger, for it to "tape out" at 22". No matter how you look at it, that was an impressive crab, and could have been a record if he documented it back then.

Current NJ record crab:
Crab, blue8 1/2"pt.to pt1995William DoolManahawkin

Thr "world record" crab was caught in Va, and is around 11".


Long Branch cast of characters from the LB fishing pier:
Little Johnny
Shop Rite Eddie
Matty
Cigar Tony
Eddie the Hammer

[DarkSkies]

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Frank (brown sheatshirt) and Louie (blue sweatshirt) have been fishin buddies for 14 years. They both used to fish the Long Branch Pier back 40 years ago, but didn't know each other then.

Some of the stories, as related by Frank and Louie:
The LB fishing pier used to have a chum machine ladling out chum. The fishing there was fantastic!

Frank used to catch buckets of whiting there on squid and clams.
He remembers one day of a "fluke blitz" where they caught fluke up to 5#, from 8-11:30am, at the end of the summer. :wow:

His advice:
"Listen to the old-timers, they know stuff! They taught me a lot when I was in my 20's, and that's how I learned to catch fish! ":fishing:

Advice from Louie:
"Be patient and remember what you caught the big one on!
In 2007, Louie caught a 26 1/2" fluke in the PP inlet, and he was known as the "fluke king" for the rest of the year.

It was great meeting you guys. Listen to the old-timers, they know. :learn:

[surfwalker]

-Throwing out a bunker head on a handline, dragging it in and scooping up some nice crabs. Later to be seasoned and tossed into a pot of sauce.
-Walking up to a back bay bridge on the outgoing and drifting a fresh spearing (just siened) and picking up little blues with a Garcia rod and reel.
-Riding a bicycle to the inlet and catching all the blowfish you could imagine.
-Wading in the back bay waters, feeling for clams with your feet and have some one dive under and grab them.
-Catching tinker mackerel under the lights of a nearby dock, and having Moms bread them and fry them up like french fries.


Good clean fun- enjoyed and remembered with lasting impressions- the foundation.

Happy Trails

[Pebbles]

My parents loved going to Atlantic City when I was a kid. I came across this old photo from the 50's. It shows the crowd of yesteryear, before the casino's took over.

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[jigfreak]

One of the reasons I enjoy fishing is I get to listen to the old timers. They tell great stories of yesteryear. They can recall things from how it used to be to their great catch. They are filled with pride. We should all take more time to listen.

[Shorelady]

Thought you might enjoy these. Quality of photo is not great, but fishing in your suit and tie?:)
I hope the photos attached, properly...









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Shorelady, the pics attached great! Thanks for posting them. Welcome to StripersandAnglers. :HappyWave:

I took the liberty of doing research about Seger's Sporting goods, and posted the 3 pieces you see below the 2 you posted. Was this someone in your family?

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SOURCE:
History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume 3, pg 242
By Lewis Historical Publishing Co

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[surfwalker]

Those are some priceless shots, thanks for posting them. Also welcome to the site.

Happy Trails

[madcaster]

Old timers ……I moved here in 1999 from the SF bay area. I have been fishing since I was a kid. Now I only live 3 miles from the bay in Keyport, so spring of 2000 I unpack the surf rod (which I found in a junk yard in Calif.) and slap on the old Dam quick 550 my father handed down to me. I drive down to the Grocery store where they sell bait. Pick up some bunker, which I never seen before. So I head down to the bay and rig up some bunker chunks and cast it out. This was early March when the bay is full of blue fish and I don’t know what blue fish are :huh:.(there are no bluefish on the west coast) I was the only one fishing in this spot and there was an old guy sitting in a station wagon next to me. Two minutes later my pole is bent over and I picked up the pole and set the hook and the line breaks. So I bring it in and the hook is bit off. So I pull out another hook (that as mono leader on it) cast out and 1 min later …same thing happens. I can figure out what’s going on:huh:. As I start setting up again, the old timer in the station wagon gets out and slowly walks towards me. He reaches out his hand and hands me a hook with a wire leader on. He says son you’re going to need this. So he tells me there blue fish and they have sharp teeth and to be careful when you try to unhook one. So I thank him for the hook and he turned and walked away as quietly as he came. I tied it up and then hooked into one …the fight was on and I landed it and I was hooked on blues fishing:dribble: . Landed four more after that.
That old timer saved the day for me.:)

[finchaser]

Asbury got taken over by the alternate lifestylers who couldn't afford Ocean Grove, Dark.http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/images/icons/icon13.gif Who remembers the Long Branch fishing pier, and frostfish whiting in November?:fishing: :)

I do, The restaurant was at the front of the pier. I started fishing the LB pier in 1955. First bass I ever caught came out from under the pier and hit a whiting (frost fish) in the shadow line when I was about to reel it up on to the pier. Caught many whiting,ling,fluke,sharks, bonita,albacore ,bluefish and weakfish to 15 and 16 pounds off the pier, they were great times. I'll put up some pictures after I digitize them

Then again I remember swimmingin the saltwater pool in Seaside in the video clip when I was kid

[DarkSkies]

Old timers ……I moved here in 1999 from the SF bay area. I have been fishing since I was a kid. Now I only live 3 miles from the bay in Keyport, so spring of 2000 I unpack the surf rod (which I found in a junk yard in Calif.) and slap on the old Dam quick 550 my father handed down to me. I was the only one fishing in this spot and there was an old guy sitting in a station wagon next to me.... As I start setting up again, the old timer in the station wagon gets out and slowly walks towards me.

So I thank him for the hook and he turned and walked away as quietly as he came. I tied it up and then hooked into one …the fight was on and I landed it and I was hooked on blues fishing:dribble: . Landed four more after that.
That old timer saved the day for me.:)



Madcaster, great story, especially since that was the first time you met the demon yellow eyed bluefish! :clapping:



Fishing with the Dam Quick550 handed down from your Dad, doesn't get any better than that. :thumbsup:

I fish that area every spring as well. The older guy in the station wagon, was his name Elmer? Skinny, in his 50's or 60's?






Then again I remember swimmingin the saltwater pool in Seaside in the video clip when I was kid

Got any pics of that? :scared:

[yukon]

This is my great grandfather fishing in Montauk in 1942. I was fortunate enough to remember him taking me to the local streams here in New Jersey. My Dad and uncles have some great stories of him dragging my great grandmother to camp out while he was fishing and how locals would follow him through the woods to get to the secret honey holes. I guess it runs in the blood:D

[Shorelady]

Thought you might enjoy these. Quality of photo is not great, but fishing in your suit and tie?:)
I hope the photos attached, properly...









**********************
Shorelady, the pics attached great! Thanks for posting them. Welcome to StripersandAnglers. :HappyWave:

I took the liberty of doing research about Seger's Sporting goods, and posted the 3 pieces you see below the 2 you posted. Was this someone in your family?

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SOURCE:
History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume 3, pg 242
By Lewis Historical Publishing Co

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Appreciate you taking the time to do some research, I have not seen that information before. Yes, that it my family. Fishing must run in the blood as every generation has continued this great sport. Wish I had photos of my grandmother in her dress fishing from the beaches of AP!
And thank you for the warm welcome.

[voyager35]

Wish I had photos of my grandmother in her dress fishing from the beaches of AP!
And thank you for the warm welcome.

If your grandmother was fishing in a dress in 1914, she must have been quite a progressive woman, Shorelady. Back then women did certain tasks, and men did the manly tasks. There were few differences in opinion over what was proper for men, and women. A woman fishing from the beach must have raised more than a few eyebrows. Good for her! Thanks for sharing the photo's. Welcome to stripers and anglers.:HappyWave:

[DarkSkies]

Great pics and memories, people, thanks for sharing them with us. :thumbsup:

[DarkSkies]

Met him the other day before I hit the beach, he was coming off. We compared fishin notes, and got into an extended conversation about the old times he remembers.

He's a big guy with a booming voice, thankfully not as loud as I am. :laugh: He's been fishiin for 43 years.

He has no use for the internet, but in respect for anyone who knows him, I'm not using his full name. I still had a great time listening to the stories. I probably should focus more on fishin at times, but these stories people tell me seem just as important. You only get one chance to hear them, and I like bringing them to you people. Some of the stories:

***



Long Branch fishing pier:
He remembers fishing that as a kid, and the whiting they used to catch by the bushel in December. They called them "frostfish".

Sandy Hook Big bass in December:
He remembers back in the 70's, they caught big bass up to 40# in the month of December as they came in to the bay and channels to feed on the herring that were stacked up there.

Sandy Hook working the rip with eels and bucktails:
He and a bunch of other guys used to "work the rip" with eels or bucktails. They would all start in a line, one after the other, and give the bucktail or eel a huge toss so it would float along in deep water. Then they would walk it down the beach to keep it in the strike zone for the longest possible time. A few secs after one guy threw out, another guy in line started, and they all followed each other down the beach without getting tangled. A lot of big bass were caught this way. Of course, everyone was more willing to cooperate back then. I can't imagine one single group of 20 guys being able to do this today at the Hook :kooky: without :argue:

Sandy Hook, when the "Hook" was a Real Hook:
Over 20 years ago, you could go to the last parking lot, walk out to the left, and there was an isolated "Tip" that extended out such that casting only a few feet out would put you into a 30' deep channel. Guys would converge in this spot and catch striped bas, fluke, and weakfish in the MIDDLE of the day in August! And BIG bass from here at night.

Of course, the tip was washed away by storms and not replaced. Many guys now refer to the area now marked by the range buoys as "The Hook" when in fact it's the "False Hook". The Original Hook is gone forever, but the memories live on in the minds and stories of the guys who fished there. :thumbsup:

Catching a 20# bluefish, and making Art Giglio laugh: :ROFLMAO
He caught a 20# bluefish one summer in Sea Bright. No matter how you look at it, a 20# bluefish could be considered a trophy, pound for pound they fight harder than bass. But he was angry! He bought that bluefish into the old Giglio's B&T to get weighed. He was in such a mood that he remembers Art Giglio laughing at him, asking why he was so mad? Are thought it was a great catch. :thumbsup: Big D didn't. Now, years later, he realizes it was one of the biggest bluefish he ever caught. :clapping:

The state of fishing today:
He said every year they change the regs so more things are restricted. He's sick of it.

The state of Angler committment today:
He said that most guys don't want to work to catch fish. They want to go to the beach, snag a bunker, and in 5 minutes be hauling a trophy fish up on the sand. He and the guys he fished with all put their time in, and he kind of resents the new "internet fisherman".

[DarkSkies]

Angelo is a hell of a character, and an even greater inspiration. I met him the other day. He's 69, and has been fishing for 62 years, since he was 7.

The way he fishes is very unorthodox, but because of his handicap it's the most logical way for him to do it. I don't consider him handicapped, and neither would you if you saw him out there, fishing in his chair, not from a pier, or the sand, but in the wash!!! :wow:

[DarkSkies]

Here's some background info on him, along with a video I shot of him fishing in the surf. I got choked up a little filming this, and the winds were blowin 20mph, so the sound quality might have suffered a bit.

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[DarkSkies]

Some more video, I'll fill in the rest later...



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People might like to know that before I shot this, Papa Angelo came to the beach every day, and hadn't had a fish in 2 weeks. Here he missed a strike as he's talking to me!!! http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/images/icons/icon11.gif

I felt bad, and let him go back to fishin after that. I'm glad to report that I don't have the killie curse ;) :HappyWave: as he got 2 bass after I left, and 2 bass early this morning, casting from that chair. Ya done good, Angelo!! :clapping::clapping::clapping: :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[DarkSkies]

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Mantoloking early 1900s
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[DarkSkies]

Joe is 84 and has been fishin for 74 years! He got quite a few bass today, and only left when the action slowed down. They were small for the most part. He joked that one was so small he could have brought it home for his fishtank. :D

Nonetheless, he had action, and a fun filled day.
Some info:

He lived in NJ all his life. Back when he was a kid he used to fish in the rivers and tributaries whenever he could. The Rahway river was a favorite place kids to fish and swim back then.

Imagine, swimming in the Rahway river? :eek: It's amazing how times have changed.

First fish:
Sunnies and trout.

Biggest fish:
At 21 he caught tuna at the Mud Hole, anywhere from 650-800 lbs! :bigeyes:

It used to be $150 for a 6 man charter, and they would take you up to 50 miles offshore for that price. You could catch all the tuna you wanted as they came inshore in the fall to feast on the whiting and ling from Aug to Sept.

He started fishing for striped bass 15 years ago when he couldn't play golf any more, and hasn't looked back since. :thumbsup:


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Military Service:
He enlisted in the Navy in Sr year of high school, leaving early to join. He was a first class Bosun's mate, and traveled with the Navy to Africa and Sicily.

He saw action in WWII against the Germans, hurting and partially crippling his back on Omaha beach during a gasoline delivery to his troops.

He got a Purple Heart and a WWII medal with 4 stars. He doesn't want too much fanfare for it, though. He says back then, guys just did what they needed to do to keep their fellow soldiers alive.

Wow. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Work and life after the War:
After WWII, he got work as a Mate on a party boat out of Point Pleasant, the 2 Sisters.


Most unusual catch:
He had some fun fishin times and stories there to tell me. One of them was when they were fishin for giant bluefin tuna. He went to grab the leader, and what they thought was a tuna turned to be a mako shark over 300#. :scared: The shark leapt up and almost bit his head off! :eek:

The Capn shot the shark with a gun, and gave it to Joe. He sold it at the market.

His take on the status of fishing today?
"More people fishing, less big fish!'


Favorite place to fish?
"Sandy Hook, because I have a bad leg & back, and can't walk too far.'

So if ya see Joe in the surf, casting and fishin, please give him plenty of space, don't crowd him, and thank him for his service to our county if ya want. :clapping::clapping:

It was nice meeting you Joe! :HappyWave:


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[DarkSkies]

Joe's surf bag. Tape gives it character. :thumbsup:
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Joe with the custom rod he built over 40 years ago and still uses today.
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[surfwalker]

Thanks for the stories and pics, they are priceless.

Happy Trails

[Monty]

Great thread, thank you for sharing.

[cowherder]

Some more video, I'll fill in the rest later...



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People might like to know that before I shot this, Angelo came to the beach every day, and hadn't had a fish in 2 weeks. Here he missed a strike as he's talking to me!!! http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/images/icons/icon11.gif

I felt bad, and let him go back to fishin after that. I'm glad to report that I don't have the killie curse ;) :HappyWave: as he got 2 bass after I left, and 2 bass early this morning, casting from that chair. Ya done good, Angelo!! :clapping::clapping::clapping: :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Dark I saw that guy last week, you're right he puts the chair right in the water, I asked him if he was worried if he would get washed away and he said he does it all the time. I'm glad he caught fish, great videos' :clapping:

[jigfreak]

long ago, does anyone remember Stevens B&T in Long Branch?

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[stripercrazy]

Here's some background info on him, along with a video I shot of him fishing in the surf. I got choked up a little filming this, and the winds were blowin 20mph, so the sound quality might have suffered a bit.

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:clapping: It's amazing how you are out there at the right time to film these. Great story!

[DarkSkies]

I have couple good memories of being invited to his house near the beach when we were kids. We caught a few striped bass and some bluefish back then. It was chiefly a bait and wait kind of thing, but it was exciting.

Sometimes we caught, sometimes we didn't. That's fishin. :don't know why:

I think it was the first place I got a striper, short, but still I was happy. I remember reeling it in, and how that bass fought! To me it was a start of the saltwater addiction.

I didn't get into the salt fully until years later because there were so few opportunities for us kids to get down there. We fished the hell out of every freshwater place I could ride my bike to instead.

I'm grateful for the times they did invite us down, and I was reminded of those memories 3 weeks ago when I went to visit him.

All the boys in his family fished, and sometimes the girls, but it was mostly a guy thing. They would be out there several times a week, bait fishing at the right time and tide, and I heard some good stories of bigger bass caught over the years. :wow:

He loved to go to the beach, just to be there. He worked hard all his life, demanding physical labor, to give his family and others the opportunities he never had when they grew up in the Depression. He paid the college tuition for my Dad, and his other brother. :clapping: Now he can't walk well, and can't fish. I'm trying to share more fishin stories with him.

He was the rock of the family, never complaining, never griping. If he had something negative to say about someone, he kept it to himself. He generously helped everyone in the family, and never needed a pat on the back for it. In fact, I only found out that he paid for others to go to school because we were on the subject.

He's a man a lot of people looked up to, but who was never comfortable with that, He was happier being humble and just doing his thing to make a good life for his family. I admire and respect that. :thumbsup:










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His early fishing memories of the Norma K:

"Norma K used to be one of my favorite boats. I've been on Bogan's boats and all the others. Nothing against them, they are all good boats. The NormaK always stood out in my mind, though. We felt she was the cleanest. The mates scrubbed her down every day just like on the other boats, but it was a little different, they always seemed to pay more attention.

It was like the Capn trained them exactly how he wanted it, and they followed it to the letter each time. They also put some kind of car wax on the boat for the weekends, which meant it always looked good. It was a good boat to go out on.

Capt Ken Keller, we used to go with him when it was the old Norma K I. That was his first Norma, an old tub, but he would go all over to get us some fish. And catch we did, we used to get sacks of whiting in the winter, those were the days! :fishing:

Then he had a boat built in Louisiana, which was the Norma K II. It was fast and new, great to fish on. Heated handrails were the latest. Before that you went out and suffered, and no one complained like these kids today. We didn't care what we had to do or go out in, if the fish were biting and the seas were navigable, we went fishing.

He had a good Capn, **** Hauser, Eventually **** left to open a B&T. I think it was on Channel drive in Point Pleasant, right by the inlet. All the mates and Capns were great, worked hard, and made those boats a good place to fish."

[captnemo]

My Dad used to go on the first NormaK and told me the stories as well. They would use the burlap potato sacks tied to the handrails, and fill them with winter whiting. When the whiting were around thew would fill the sacks. Then the Russian trawlers came and wiped them out, and we have basically a tiny fishery for them today compared what it used to be. Great thread, thanks for sharing.

[bababooey]

I fished on the NormaKII with my grandfather. He liked to take me whiting fishing because it was fun and easy fish for a kid to catch. I think he also liked to have me around so I could carry the fish at the end of the day. I would love to be able to go turn the clock one day and fish with gramps again. Great times, brings me back, thanks.:thumbsup:

[DarkSkies]

As related by Finchaser:


Fishing on the party boats, NJ and LI:

NJ fishing:
"We fished on the fastest of the NJ party boats at that time in the 60's and early 70's, the Superspray.
And the Buccaneer, which was later declared unfit for commercial use and sank at the dock.

There were no "heated handrails" back then. You suffered, and didn't complain about it.

Miss TakeII - first jigging trip.
Capt Whitey Morenz brought us as guinea pigs on his first jigging trip - before that they always used bait for bass and blues. He was trying out these new metal jigs, which later came to be known as diamond jigs or Avas.

We were the first fishermen in NJ to use those jigs, and also the "Bingle bananas"

Also went on Bogan's boats, have been fishing on Bogan's boats for 55 years.

Codfish in NJ:
Codfish used to be plentiful in NJ until the commercial draggers wiped them out. We used to catch them at the 1 mile marker out of Point Pleasant, Cholera Banks, Klondike, and Manasquan Ridge. No need to go to the 30 mile wrecks, as soon as it got cold, they were out there.

My father took me on a codfish trip in Feb when I was 6 years old. If I said something about how cold it was, he said:
'You want to be a man, don't ***** about the cold!' "

[plugcrazy]

Here's a pic of Capt. Morenz

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[jigfreak]

old atlantic city

[cracklepopper]

Historic Mantoloking pics. I can't imagine living at a time when the streets were unpaved like this.
http://www.jerseyshorevacation.com/MantolokingImages.htm

[paco33]

barnegat and old beach pics
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[skinner]

The ultimate beach buggy, back before they had air conditioning. Thanks for posting that.

[DarkSkies]

Captain Colvin's B&T was one of those places where you would go after a hard night's fishin. All the old salts would be there warming their cold fingers up.....warming their toes....comparing notes...and tellling fish stories and tall fish tales. ;)

It was a great place to be while it was there. All sorts of fishermen passed through his doors, some famous, some not so famous.

I found this article on the NJBBA site.
http://www.njbba.org/i/newsletters/07May.pdf


We also have a promotional thread telling you about them and what a NJBBA membership offers.
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=643


Read the story, and visit their site as well. :thumbsup: They could always use a few good members, and will be at most of the major shows this Spring.

Cap Colvins Bait and Tackle Shop, Seaside Park


Pencil Popper – The Beginning
By: Bob Lick



Today any caster and
cranker worth his salt likely
has at least one Pencil Popper
in his plug bag. To my
knowledge, I am the first
person to ever cast a Pencil
Popper in Jersey waters. Let
me explain.

During the late 1950’s I
kept my old 1929 Model A
Ford beach buggy behind
Cap Colvin’s Bait and Tackle
Shop in Seaside Park. Cap’s
was considered headquarters
by many in the Seaside
area.

As I was only twenty
years old I was a less experienced
“regular.” In those
years Barnegat Bay would
often come alive with bass
from late April into early
June. Bucktails were the
primary lure used until the
original Rebel plug hit the
scene.

Despite their easily straightened
hooks the Rebel, along
with the bucktail, became
S.O.P. on the flats behind
Island Beach where I would
fish in a 14 foot plywood hull
skiff.

One day, after fishing a slow
morning session, my partner
Hal and I returned to Cap’s
for a late breakfast and to
bemoan the slow fishing.

While we were engaged in
“regular talk” a large man
walked through the door. No
one in attendance knew the
gentleman except Cap who
greeted him warmly. Cap
then introduced his
“regulars” to Stan Gibbs.

Since a very early age, I had
been reading my Dad’s copies
of Saltwater Sportsman
from almost issue number 1,
so my brain went, “Wow, Stan
Gibbs!”

Stan was on a sort of plug
marketing visit to Cap’s. After
general fishing conversation
he pulled out a funny looking
plug he said he was developing.
It was white, skinny, and
about 5-6 inches long. He
said he was thinking of calling
it a “Pencil Popper.”

Stan went on to explain you
could only work the plug correctly
if tied directly to the
line and you were able to pat
the top of your head and rub
your belly at the same time. :laugh:
His instructions were to whip
the rod tip rapidly while reeling
slowly.

What happened next is one
of the highlights of my fishing
life. Stan held out his prototype
lure and gave it to me.
Why he chose me, I’ll never
know. Maybe he felt like helping
a young guy out.

Later that day Hal and I
were again on the water casting
the normal bucktails and
Rebels, again without much
success.

I got the idea to
experiment with the “Pencil
Popper.” You wouldn’t believe
what happened. On almost
every cast I had bass attacking
the lure while Hal went
fishless using the normal
offerings.

Feeling sorry for
him, I let him use the lure
after I had quickly caught my
limit of ten. He proceeded to
limit out.

Seeing our action a
Seaside Park resident friend
motored near us and hollered
over, “Bob, what the
hell are you using?” I responded,
“Pencil Popper.”

His response was, “What the
hell is a “Pencil Popper?” :don't know why:

From that day on my nickname
among the gang was
“Pencil Popping Bob” which
lasted a long time. We would
joke: “if you put a Pencil
Popper in Barnegat Bay the
bass would come from
Sandy Hook to jump on it.”

Stan Gibbs and I stayed in
contact via phone reporting
on each others fishing successes,
or lack thereof.

Years later he loved to hear
me tell him of some of my
great wet suiting nights in
Montauk using his Darters or
Bottle Plugs. Stan was a fine
gentleman, and I describe
him thus: “If you don’t like
Stan Gibbs, you don’t like
anybody.”
I consider myself fortunate
to have known him.

[DarkSkies]

Butch Colvins worked out of his Dad's place (Cap Colvins B&T) when he was a teenager. He went on to become a respected and knowledgable fly fishing guide in the area. He was one of the Co-founders of the American Fly fishing School with his good friend Capt Mike Corblies. He was well-known in the Ocean county and Barnegat Bay area during that time.

His contributions are part of NJ fishing history. :thumbsup:

Sadly, he passed away in 2002, leaving behind a legacy of good memories and great stories. I heard some good stories about him from some old-time anglers.

RIP, Butch.

Here is a little about his life, from his friend Capt Mike Corblies'
flyfishing site:
http://www.americanflyfishingschools.com/noreastschools/butchcolvinmemorialpage.html



Coastal Guides
Butch Colvin Memorial Page


Butch Colvin age 63, Master Guide and Fly Tier passed away during Christmas of 2002. Butch was a pioneer in our sport, having been a member of the original Salt Water Flyrodders of America Club that was formed in Seaside Park, N.J. in the 1960's.


To the best of my knowledge Butch was the first person to guide fly fishermen in saltwater for hire, any place north of Florida.


He started his career as a teenager working out of his Dad's tackle shop the legendary (Cap Colvin's) and guided on Barnegat Bay for many of the early fly fishing experts that were seeking stripers, blues and weakfish.


Notable anglers including Joe Brooks, Stu Apte, Lee Wulff, Leon Chandler, Lefty Kreh and many others enjoyed fishing with him. Butch's fly tying skills and original patterns became finally well known in the Nineties when he became a featured tier at some of the National Fly Shows.


Through many years of unselfish personal lessons, casting clinics and classes at our School, he introduced hundreds of people to saltwater fly fishing and passed on his love for the outdoors and the sport to them. Several of those who learned from him have gone on to become well known professionals including Bob Popovichs and Jeff Mancini.


All that had the pleasure to know him will miss Butch's great common sense and his twinkling smile. I am sure if there is a flyrodders heaven than Butch Colvin has eaned a good spot on one of it's jetties. We all miss you my friend...


Capt. Mike Corblies


Below is Capt Mike to the left, and Butch Colvin to the right.


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Here is a link to the home page if anyone wants to learn more about Capt Mike's site and possibly inquire as to a flyfishing trip or scheduled events:


http://www.americanflyfishingschools.com/homepage.html

[cowherder]

amazing article:eek:


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[storminsteve]

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[voyager35]

Great find on the Cap Colvins story, Darkskies. There are times when I wish I could go through a time machine to visit these places. Threads like this keep the memories alive.


Picture of the Miss Take II.

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[DarkSkies]

Some people know of PizzaJoe and Jim Cousins.
Maybe some don't. :don't know why:
Today I ran into "Chuckwagon" Chuck and he shared some stories with me. Most very cool, some embarassing, but all good. :thumbsup:

I'll try to post more when I get time.

Anyone who wants to share some memories of some other old-time NJ fishermen, feel free to post up.

[DarkSkies]

Some people know of PizzaJoe and Jim Cousins.
Maybe some don't. :don't know why:
Today I ran into "Chuckwagon" Chuck and he shared some stories with me. ...Anyone who wants to share some memories of some other old-time NJ fishermen, feel free to post up.




5-24 pm
...I was getting ready to fish that area when a stranger came by and we started comparing that day's fishing notes. (It was ironic because a few friends and I had just mentioned him 2 hours earlier as I met up with them on the rocks...and I had mentioned him just before I left to go fishing.)

Turned out to be Jim Cousins.

Spent the next 1 1/2 hours talking about everything under the sun, and even some fishin stories. ;)

It was an honor to finally meet ya, Jim! :HappyWave:



It was ironic, for sure. Sometimes things happen for a reason. http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/images/icons/icon3.gif

Whatever the reason was, I was honored to meet Jim. We talked about a wide variety of subjects, from the old days fishin the Hook, fishing rigged eels, the endless bass blitzes of the 70's and the big fish they landed, how the current crop of internet fishermen probably couldn't catch a fish without the seminars and internet How-to articles, while these guys did it the old fashioned way by putting their time in.

Too many more to mention, some other old timers he used to fish with, the dedication they used to have, and some of his interesting views on politics and disgust with the current political system. His knowledge of his subject matter had me hanging on every word.

Yep, for once I was almost speechless. ;)

It was truly an honor and a privelege to get to talk to him about so many things. For anyone else who wants to meet a guy who represents a part of NJ surf history, he's working Mondays at Giglio's in Sea Bright.

Stop in and buy some stuff, and ask Jim your best strategic questions about fishin. He'll have an interesting answer for ya! If ya go on another day than Monday, try to ask Ernie Giglio some questions, but be prepared for honest, candid answers from both of these guys. :thumbsup:

I'm gonna visit him at Giglio's when I get a chance and ask for permission to post some of the things he was talking about.

Until then, stop in Giglio's for some honest advice and a link to how fishin was in NJ in it's heyday. :fishing: :thumbsup:
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=4033

[DarkSkies]

Ran into Aaron this morning when I was trying to confirm a report of some bass under the RB blues last night. Some of the members here know the other kid who got one bass, 38", around 22#.

A quick walk of the area found that there was another guy who got a bass as well.

His bass was 39 1/2", about 23#. :clapping:

Background:
Aaron, originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica, 69 years young. :thumbsup:
He's been fishin since he was 6, which puts his total years fishing at 63. :lookhappy:
He started out fishing for yellowtail, grouper, and snook, using shrimp for bait.


He graduated to spearfishing when he was 7, using a rubber banded spear gun as the fishing weapon.
They used to go underwater, find the hole where the fish lived, and then drop a bloodworm into the hole, and sometimes pull out a big fish.
cool memory :cool: :
Diving on the reefs for lobster, and the world's biggest shark coming by and wanting to eat Aaron for a snack. :scared:

Occupation:
'I had many jobs in life, I can do almost anything...landscaper, construction, painting, etc. If I retire I will run out of money, and then I die.
I was a cook in a restaurant until I was 65"

11222


Family and Taking kids fishing:
" I think we should take kids fishing every chance we get. I am always trying to teach the kids something. I have one daughter, but she lives down South. So whenever other kids come here by the pier, I try to teach them what I know." :thumbsup:

[DarkSkies]

Life Philosophy:
"If you gave me a million dollars and told me to take the money and stop fishing, I would tell you to keep your money... I will never stop fishing. I was born in saltwater, raised in saltwater, and will die in saltwater...."


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[DarkSkies]

Favorite Music:
Bob Marley, but I like all music!


Favorite fish:
Blackfish, grouper, yellowtail, bluefish, striped bass, pilotfish.

I asked him:
"Aaron, how do ya cook a pilotfish, are they good eating?"

Aaron:
"I can't tell ya, cause it's my secret!"



Biggest fish:
"For 2010 so far my biggest fish was the 39 1/2" striper caught on bunker. I got bigger ones last year, and this year I got some big bluefish, they were devils, 36 to 39". I also got a doormat fluke on Tuesday but had to throw him back because the season was not open.

In 2009 I caught a tuna from shore, he was 38 pounds! Capt John went and gaffed him for me, he has the pics."

[* Note, I haven't yet talked to Capt John to confirm the tuna catch so I'll report more on that as I get confirmation. However, some of the old-timers on the pier said it was true. I remain skeptical, but I've learned that sometimes what seems impossible is probable given the right circumstances.]




Great to meet ya Aaron, John, and all the old-timers down there who shared some stories with me. :HappyWave:

I was supposed to meet him last night so I could see some of his fishin pics he was bringing down for me to look at. I ran out of steam, and crashed early. I'll hook up with him soon and hope to post up some more pics.

[DarkSkies]

There are a lot of great stories out there about Pizza Joe. Some are amazing, some embarassing, but all good, as he was one of the old-timers who left his mark as part of NJ surf fishing history.

I'm gathering a few stories, but for now I thought I would just write a brief background.

Last week I met "Chuckwagon Chuck" who spent a lot of time fishin with him in his later years. I heard some good stories.

A lot of guys knew and fished with PizzaJoe...Sea Bright Freddie, Chuckwagon Chuck, Jim Cousins, some of the top club guys, and scores of other dedicated fishermen.

Back when they fished that area, the Sea Bright wall and the herring runs were legendary. Sea Bright was so popular that there were 3 B&T shops in that small town, Giglio's being one of them.

[DarkSkies]

Thought I would post some up.

[DarkSkies]

some more

[DarkSkies]

They told me this bench was dedicated to Pizza Joe, in honor of all the time he spent sitting in that area and fishin. :fishing: :thumbsup:


Fisherman's prayer



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[ledhead36]

Morgan/Cheesequake


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[DarkSkies]

Angelo was asking me to find this thread for him. (posts 20-23)

Some personal things are going on with him now and he isn't fishing much anymore for now. I thought I would bump up this thread to cheer him up.

Hang in there, buddy. :thumbsup: :HappyWave:

[DarkSkies]

^FYI: For those who know him, the guys who hang out at Leonardo and the Hook, Angelo is doing a little better now, I just talked to him the other day. He's not fishin much, but at least he's OK. :thumbsup: :HappyWave:



***************

A Shark River Sharpie -
Met a guy the other day as he was taking his wife to the Dr. We started talking about kayaks and kayaking. Turns out he's a kayak fanatic, and long-time fisherman.
He's also one of the oldest members of the Shark River Fishing Club, and shared some stories with me.





The story of Ben Stanek and the 60# bass that got away:
Here's the story as he related it to me. I'll try to post pics and some other stuff when I get the chance to interview him. Even without that it's quite a story, here goes...

It was August 8, 1958. He was fishing on one of the jetties in the Long Branch area, late at night. The jetty he fished off of was near the Long Branch Fishing pier and is no longer there.

Ben was fishing eels, and he was tired. He had gone quite a while without a fish. Any fishermen out there can identify with this, sometimes your mind wanders...
And his mind was wandering, a little, when he got hit by a monster bass. It nailed his eel and took off. Ben fished every chance he could, and was no stranger to catching large bass. But this one was different, this one was a huge cow, he could feel the weight as she pulled drag, and he tried to turn her.

Finally he did, and got her near the jetty. She made one more small run, but he got her in close to the jetty rocks.

Just when he went to leader her in, his line broke. He got to see the fish, and estimated it was 60lbs minimum. Some fishermen are prone to exaggeration, this is a given. But Ben had caught quite a few big fish in his lifetime, and never one this big. He was sure in his heart, after seeing the fish, that she was a 60 or better. :drool:

So there you have it folks, the story of the big one that got away. He went back for a few nights after trying to find a fish that big, but he never did. The memory of that fish will always be with him. :clapping: :thumbsup:

Ben says he regrets losing that fish, as they were giving a new Cadillac away in a promotion to the angler catching the biggest bass. When he brought the fish in, all he could think of was how it would be to drive that sweet Cadillac. :dribble:

Big fish don't just break your line, sometimes they break your heart (and your Cadillac dreams) as well... ;)


(Note: this was also reported in the Newark Evening News by Henry Schaeffer, and later written about by John Geiser.


I'll try to bring more details up when I go down to interview him.

[cowherder]

Big fish don't just break your line, sometimes they break your heart (and your Cadillac dreams) as well... ;)



:dThey break your heart and your cadillac dreams, that's funny right there! Thanks for posting that I enjoyed reading it.

[baitstealer]

God grant that I may fish until my dying day.
And when it comes to my last cast, then I most humbly pray.
When in the Lord's safe landing net, I'm peacefully asleep.
That in His mercy I be judged big enough to keep.


Wow what an awesome prayer that was, thanks for taking that picture DS!

[DarkSkies]

Some people know of PizzaJoe and Jim Cousins.
Maybe some don't. :don't know why:
Today I ran into "Chuckwagon" Chuck and he shared some stories with me. Most very cool, some embarassing, but all good. :thumbsup:

I'll try to post more when I get time.

Anyone who wants to share some memories of some other old-time NJ fishermen, feel free to post up.



I got some bad news yesterday, people, Chuckwagon Chuck has passed.
The sadness I feel is deep. He was a helluva guy and a fishing legend among the Sea Bright old-timers.

I last saw him before the fall. We all get busy and think our heroes will live forever....
We forget how the ravages of time will eventually take their toll.

The last I heard, he was very sick and in hospice care.
I think it was Sunday that he passed on.

He was such a colorful guy.....
I am so grateful for the stories he shared with me, and a little sad that I didn't make the time to hear some more.......
My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

I will post more details as the wake and funeral arrangements become known.
Or if anyone else hears them first, please be so kind as to post them up for us in a separate thread.
Thank you. :(

[storminsteve]

rip chuckwagon chuck. Did not know him but from the way you described him sounds like he was a colorful guy.

[hookset]

He was a prince among men. Never too busy to tell a great story. Good friend of Pizzajoe as mentioned. Very sorry to hear the news. He will be missed

[cowherder]

I got some bad news yesterday, people, Chuckwagon Chuck has passed.
The sadness I feel is deep. He was a helluva guy and a fishing legend among the Sea Bright old-timers.

I last saw him before the fall. We all get busy and think our heroes will live forever....
We forget how the ravages of time will eventually take their toll.

The last I heard, he was very sick and in hospice care.
I think it was Sunday that he passed on.

He was such a colorful guy.....
I am so grateful for the stories he shared with me, and a little sad that I didn't make the time to hear some more.......
My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

I will post more details as the wake and funeral arrangements become known.
Or if anyone else hears them first, please be so kind as to post them up for us in a separate thread.
Thank you. :(

I have been away and just noticed this thread. RIP Chuckwagon Chuck

[7deadlyplugs]

Great thread, informative and sad at the same time. Hope all those who have passed on are fishing the great ocean of the Lord and there are big fish there. Thanks for sharing the stories.

[DarkSkies]

Thought some might like to see this again in light of the weekend and see how some things used to be....

[buckethead]

Always enjoy these threads. Those were the days. Chuck and Pizza Joe were real characters. Great storytellers.

[cowherder]

Love reading posts and threads like this. thanks for the bump DS.

[fishinmission78]

Pretty cool article in the app today about the monmouth beach cartoppers

http://www.app.com/story/sports/outdoors/fishing/hook-line-and-sinker/2015/10/30/fishing-cartoppers-beach/74677864/

[hookset]

Awesome article. I remember fishing off the mb jetty and watching them launch. Those were the days. Thank you for posting.

[porgy75]

Boatfuls of giant stripers! I can't even imagine catching them that big or that many in one afternoon.

[jigfreak]

Pretty cool article in the app today about the monmouth beach cartoppers

http://www.app.com/story/sports/outdoors/fishing/hook-line-and-sinker/2015/10/30/fishing-cartoppers-beach/74677864/

Great read thanks for the share.

[surferman]

old wildwood clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=bHclYbrKEek

[fishinmission78]

lavallette
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=21437&stc=1

[clamchucker]

Seaside postcard

[plugginpete]

Thank you for sharing. Simpler times, games must have been cheap back then!