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

[DarkSkies]

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

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.
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!

It was ironic, for sure. Sometimes things happen for a reason.

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.

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.
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...ead.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#.

Background:
Aaron, originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica, 69 years young.
He's been fishin since he was 6, which puts his total years fishing at 63.
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 :
Diving on the reefs for lobster, and the world's biggest shark coming by and wanting to eat Aaron for a snack.

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"




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."

[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...."

[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.

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

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.