Asbury Park Fishing Club Flea Market

[DarkSkies]

The lighting in there sucked big time, so the best shots were the closeups. If I took your pic and ya don't see it, it's because it looked lousy or blurry. I also tried to eliminate any pics where people had goofy faces or closed eyes. Builders not up here in the pics, let me know and I'll try to hit ya up at the next show you're at.

Any details I got wrong, PM me and I'll edit.

It was cool to see some people I haven't seen a long time, and I missed runnin into some others. The most noticable thing to me was that Gary Hull wasn't there anymore. I could close my eyes and see him from past shows, but then I had to open them and come back to reality.

It was kinda sad, really. I wouldn't be so presumptious as to count myself as among Gary's circle of friends, though I did meet him a few times. I admired his work, but I don't own anything by Gary2, I own very few custom plugs.

What I admired most about him was that he extended his advice and help to anyone who asked, whether it be about plug building, or fishing. I will always be grateful for the few times I did meet him.

Sometimes we take people, and their health, for granted. We think they'll be around forever, or at least another year or 2. Nothing is guaranteed on this earth, so treasure the people in your life while you can. RIP Gary, and all the otheer surf fishermen and old time anglers we have lost in the past few years.

[DarkSkies]

Met the guy from Luna Lures. He's a member of the Asbury club. Think he said he's been doing this for a year or 2, name is Nick

Don't know anything about his plugs, never fished em, but have seen some positive feedback here and there about them. Nice meetin ya, man.

[DarkSkies]

[DarkSkies]

Bob from Sunset lures. Relatively new to the scene. His plugs range from $15-25.

Among his biggest influences:
Billy McFadden, whom he called one of the "most sharing guys, with the biggest heart".
He's also been iinfluenced and inspired by Bill Lindner and Lefty.

Nice meetin ya.

[DarkSkies]

Mike Fixter from California is an established guy, has a good rep in the plug world. I never met him, heard a lot about him. Was looking forward to meeting him, but instead got to meet Dave who was workin his table.

Dave's a musky nut, the guy could write books about muskie fishin. But why would he? it would take away from his fishin time.

I never fished Fixter's plugs. He makes some huge stuff, some of em must have been over 5oz or more. Price ranges from $25-40. After checking out the plugs, I could see why musky and salt guys hold Mike in high regard. People say they're built to take punishment, and then some. Nice to finally meet ya, Dave.

[DarkSkies]

Joe from Bodega Bay lures, out of Cali, aka Sporty Guy. He's been into this for 6 or 7 years now, and said one of his biggest influences was Chumbucket.

Chumbucket is one of the humblest guys you would ever want to meet. First tiime I met hiim, I said someting about what masterpieces his work was. He just shrugged it off, like he didn't want to feed into the ego thing too much. Meanwhile, guys all around say what a helpful resource he has been to the plug building community, and how generous he is with his advice. I don't think you could find one person on this earth who would be able to say anything negative about him.

Nice meeting you guys again.

[DarkSkies]

Guppy Lures started in 2002 when brothers Peter and Wayne Hess bought the equipment and machines after Brad Pohler of Hog Hunter lures passed away.

They started to ramp things up around 2003 or 2004, and have been hard at it making plugs since. Nice meetin you guys.