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

[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.

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? 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!

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.




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.

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#. The shark leapt up and almost bit his head off!

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.

It was nice meeting you Joe!