WE HAVE A WINNAH, Free Blackfish thread

[scurtis]

Capt. Dom,

If you've ever been to the Keys and seen the bridges, your about 30 feet up from the water so it was a heck of a batlle. The best part was all the onlookers watching to see if it was a monster and cheering me on. To me it was huge but when you fish the keys regularly and see how big these fish get a 40lber is a baby. The onlookers just congratulated me on a nice fish and went about their business. It was a blast! We'll talk soon.

SC

[cowcatcher1]

Hi Capt Dom,

I have added pictures to my profile. You will see the bridge and Chanel I talk about in one of the photos. I hope to hear from you soon.

[Petieboy]

Hello Capt. Dom and All of you out there. I enjoy this site and want to say thanks to those who keep it up.
The memories and fun I had growing up with fishing bring tears to my eyes. I wish I could do it all over again and if I could I would not change a thing. It's not the size or quantity of fish that make a memory and I'm not going to say something corny like its the company or friends I had that made experiences memorable. I fished mostly alone. There were not many kids from 7 years old through lets say 16 who fished all day, night and season. At 7 yrs old I would climb out the 1st floor window to go down the bay (Verrazzano to Owls Head or the other way to E.J Korvette's at Bay Pkwy and Shore rd) to fish shorty bass on what we named the "basic". The basic was a 4.5" rebel blue back sinker which was all we needed. Those fish were 10" to an occasional 20" fish and I knew every rock that held one. I would meet "old man Jack" out there with his perfect Fenwick's and Cardinal's each afternoon. He was always out around 17 ave and would point me to the fish. When he died I missed him, but I remember thinking; who got the tackle? I guess this was wrong, but hey...... I remember chasing bunker schools with weekfish and blues under them for miles waiting for them to get close enough to reach with that one cast, one oportunity at a big fish. I got in a lot of trouble and was brought back by the police many times those years because my mom could not keep me from the bay. There were no chains strong enough to keep me in the house. One day I went fishing with "fat Mike" to the Owls head plant outflow and on the way up the road we spotted a beat up small buck tail. Fat mike said it was junk but at around 12 years old we were well into the competition and ball breaking thing that I had to pick it up and take it. Well, when we arived at the flow bulkhead of course I had to use it and let mike know I could outfish him even with this piece of crap. My first cast I hit the biggest striper I had ever seen. It was probably only 15 lbs, but fat mike let me know how I stole the bucktail he saw first on the ground and how I blew it by breaking him off on the lift.
Things got a bit more interesting as I grew older. I was about 14 and out at Manhatten Beach in Sheepshead bay chunking when I got stripped so I decided to go home and get a bigger rod and reel. At about 10:00 pm I went out on Coney Island peir with my 4/0 and stand up gear. I carted everything out there with my moms shopping cart by "B" train on the El from 86 street and 20 ave station. I set up on the pier and I remember being the only one on the peir who spoke english. I did not care and they were all fishermen. I set up with 1/2 a large teen size bluefish as bait a long wire leader with 2 hooks and heavy weight on a fish finder rig. I remember the crowd laughing and pointing at my setup as I used the corner of the pier to swing the rig out the front a few feet. The laughing really got loud when I taped my thumb for the "run". I was so sure I would get a shark that I had ropes and gaffs and planned to climb down the pier to rope him when close. Dont ask how, but I was going to do it. Well it rained hard all night and I was miserable. The other men out there had tents, yes tents. I think they camped there for the season. They were dry. I had full skins and still was soaked to the bone. About 4:00 am it stopped raining and I was getting out of there. I had enough. I picked up the rod and the clicker started to go. I shook it off and came to my senses. At this time the rest of the crowd heard the reel going and came around yelling and screaming. I put my foot up on the rail locked the reel and hit it. Wow, this thing played me till first light then got pissed and stripped my reel. I still cant get that out of my head.
I walked the girders on the Marine Park bridge for stripers in the shadows. Dangerous but well worth it. Climbing gear and a safety harness was a must. Those crazy young days.
I worked on the Tampa V, VI, Avenger and the Sea Boots. The Avenger was most memorable and not for the fishing. My first instructions from capt "Willy W." were there would be no drinking or partying unless done in the wheel house. One night while I was fishing for the crew in the bow I noticed it was getting easier to flip fish over the rail. I looked down and the boat was noticably down in the bow. I said something to capt Willy and drew the usually response to all concerns "well, go check it out and let me know" so I went to the engine room door and went down the stairs to find it flooded to the floor. The mates and I would load cases of soda cans to the hold and toss them down. Well appearantly we clogged the flow from compartment to compartment with the lost cans and the water was stuck up in the bow. We had 2 shafts leaking pretty good. The shafts always leaked and would always have to lock at least one down. We never ran on all four engines. We made it back to dock and were told by the boss to quote " tie it up tight I'll be down in the morning". That was fine with us we did not have to clean the boat and went to Capt Walters for a few drinks and watch to see if the boat would break a line and flip.
Next day the lines were tight the boat was filled with water the tide was down and they lowered a man from a hellicopter to cut a whole in the deck and drop a pump to make the boat safe to go on and repair. That same care free owner "Billy E" ( owned Premier Ford on Kings Highway) decided he would get (or buy) himself a capt lic and take the peeps out himself. One night in a fog not soon after he started piloting the boat he called Peter "Red" up to the wheel house to ask opinion on a strange situation. The rader was not working properly and we appeared to not be moving which was false because "look the rpms are up and constant". Harvey, with half a bag on decided to show me something. He took a gaff of about 12' and poked the rocks off Kingsboro College. We were grounded. Harvey said "dont worry, He'll figure it out". After about 5 minutes the bow of the Helen H came over our stern as we swung out and our Capt figured it out.
I did catch a 52 3/4 lb (50 1/2 by weigh in) striper at Brandt Beach in LBI to win the chamber tourny about 20 years ago. That is a 20 minute story in itself with a whole cast of local characters over a 24 hour period. I was again by myself. I have pictures somewhere and a large trophy.
I had a boat when I was in High School. I went to Laffayett and kept the boat in Gagliano's at shore parkway. I would siphon 3 six gallon tanks from cars on shore parkway before school and prep the boat to go fishing immediately after school let out. No gas cap locks then and not a care in the world by me. I'm sure a lot of you remember those days.
Did I bring back memories for some of you?
I have a small Whaler I've been working on now since last season and it is just about ready to fish. I'll post some picture soon. I enjoy this site and will learn a lot from you fishermen and ladies. I see it is still magic for a lot of you out there. I'm glad because fishing is still magic for me. I have every rod, blank, reel and bit of tackle I accumulated through the years and I'm breaking it out now to use on my new to me boat. It's been a long time but it's still magic when I get a touch and hook up.
Good Fishing to all !
Pete

[yachtmerchant]

Dom,
own half of a big charter fishing fleet in cabo. fished around the world for 35 years. biggest fish: 1345 lb Black Marlin. will trade a day or 3 in Cabo for a shrk adventure with you. Buena Suerte........ jim

[CaptDom]

Originally Posted by yachtmerchant

Dom,
own half of a big charter fishing fleet in cabo. fished around the world for 35 years. biggest fish: 1345 lb Black Marlin. will trade a day or 3 in Cabo for a shrk adventure with you. Buena Suerte........ jim

Jim,

Where do I sign? The sharking here seems to be improving with numbers and sizes of both makos and threshers, how about out your way?

1345 Black. I can't even fathom how big she must have been boatside. I saw a 910 get weighed in, and it looked fake it was so immense, LOL.

[yachtmerchant]

Dom,
we get some nice Makos and some killer hammerheads but shark fishing here is just a consequence of fishing for Marlin and other billfish. say when and where and we will do a quid pro quo. you fish with me for big marlin and i come and fish with you for sharks.....seems reasonable. couldnt help but notice your chaos shirt. all of the rods on our boats are chaos. love those guys. Buena Suerte........ jim

[gman]

Originally Posted by yachtmerchant

Dom,
own half of a big charter fishing fleet in cabo. fished around the world for 35 years. biggest fish: 1345 lb Black Marlin. will trade a day or 3 in Cabo for a shrk adventure with you. Buena Suerte........ jim

JIm its Glenn Kross, how are you. We had an awesome time in Cabo with your fleet. Dom is the man you want to shark with, he is amazing. Our favorite

Glenn

[CaptDom]

Throw in a steak dinner afterwards?!?....geez.


Maybe its just the offer, LOL.

[Albatross]

Yup, the lack of responses to this extremely generous offer is absolutely ridiculous.....Lets go people!! Can I come and crush toggies with you Capt. Dom please??

[CaptDom]

Okay, since the general membership I already know and love is still posting like mad, lets throw in a side bet for any NBS "heavies" following this thread.

For the best photo, fishing or ocean related, that has no people in it, posted in this thread, 2 open boat spots in the fall for toggies......

post as many as you wish, Possum, my mate extraordinaire for this, will decide the winner of best photo.


should keep it interesting for all the loyal NBS'ers!!