Just about to head out and it has dawned on me that this is November 6th. On this date in 1981 Andy Stetzco (sp?) banged a 73 lber on a TEASER off Nauset.

:D

Probably one of the last great fish. I seriously doubt if I will have any serious luck tonight. NE at 13kts. I know one spot that might but it is a haul. Funny thing is it is the closest I can get to that hallowed area.

Don't expect anything special from me but lets take our hats off to our Cape Cod hero !:claps: :claps: :claps:

Never say never and never say last.

There's always one more out there... somewhere... waiting...
:D

With the # of 60 lb fish caught this year, I predict we will hear of a 70 lb fish next year. You heard it here first.

Happy Anniversary. :D :smash:

If he hears you called him...ANDY????...he probably won't be too happy!:doh:

So I cruise out to the absolute Northeastern point of the island tonight with dreams of big fish swimming in my head. Getting properly tuned I drive through the night quickly, believing I was only going to catch the last hour and a half of the flood and that was making me smile. Visions of swimming some fako's in what should be a decent set-up. The wind had clocked to the NE right before I left (%$#&@#!). It had been holding N all day.
When I arrived the rip was looking good but the water was still way out and it obvious there was a hell of a lag in this tide. The wind had shifted to the SE and my heart sunk like a rock when I saw a half dozen or so seals bobbing 25 yds out in the lee side of the point (know where I am yet ?). " I don't know Jack " I mumbled to myself as I waltz on down and toss a nice needle out into the rip. There is a lot of light coming through the clouds and I try and cheer myself up a bit as I settle into cast and retrieve mode. Reflecting on the days issues I work on a few ideas for tomorrow and smile wrly as I realize what a nutbag most people would think I am right now. Envious of my nutbaggness I hope ! It was so incredibly beautiful out there that I HAD to keep casting away, working the rip, knowing that I should be "fishing" the lure EVERY cast. All the time. The seals were swimming back and forth in the rip and I tried to convince myself that "there must be bait here" "look at these guys" "they must be eating"
Then I would think about the bass and what he would think of a half dozen or so 200+lb Harbor seals and how ridiculous tonight was working out.
Finally, I laughed again and began reminding myself of the fortunes of another fisherman, using a lure, 22 years ago on an Outer Cape beach. Oh man that lucky man. WHAT DID THAT FEEL LIKE ? All the while I am operating the rip retrieve mantra. Fishing all the areas of the bar. Convincing myself now that the only way you can find a fish is to have it out there and give it a chance.

Still nothing. Seals just aren't leaving....

I drift off into another handful of casts and finally realize I am exhausted and have to remember that there is a 25 minute drive in.
I reluctantly begin the "10 more casts" routine. Fishing each one with the best I got.
Right down to the last cast, the last 10 feet.
I swing up the rod and laugh again as open the bail for "One More !". This is to you Andy. Happy anniversary.

This is some cool sport.

Making us do things that ONLY participation can really explain.


:D

Is it Anthony ? Tony ?

No offense intended :(

Anton "Tony" Stetzko Jr. caught Ms. Bertha on 11/17/81.
I wonder what she would have weighed if he could have got it to a certified scale... he had to wait 8 hours if I remember right.... which came first... the teaser or the eel ;)

Come on Striperman, I know your in here, give us the details.....

Excellent Karl. I read where it was the 6th.

So your saying I still got a chance and my surreal experience last night was nothing more than a warm-up.

Thanks for the correction

Just read another one that said 11/3/81.

Anyone know Exactly which is right ?













Like it really matters

Beachwalker, Karl knows what he's talking about, believe me.

Karl what is the date he lost that heartbreaker?

Beachwalker, Slip, brain fart, now thay I am at work, with the hall of fame in front of me, got the official Tony Chirrapo photo, and the COC book cover.... 11/3 on 17 # test... guess that 17 was burned in my few remaining brain cells.. I'll check with Tone today, try to convince him to post his side. The heartbreaker was one week either side, that was an incredible fall, Tone and his dad had several high 50's ands a pair of 60's between them right before Bertha. Tony C. swears that fish went 80, couldn't get anybody to open up and weigh it!!!!! Jimmy Costas and Tony C. had 60's that fall too.
I'm looking at that pic right now, she seems to have the eel closer to her gullet, than the teaser ;)

Thanks Karl,

All ears for anymore info on that Fall.

Love to see the photo. Only heard stories but they were from some reputable fellas.

Thanks again


Wouldn't we just love to have a night like that ? :(

Back then (81) I was fishing very hard. I remember Tony's fish like it was yesterday. Those days were different. Fish don't seem to hang that late in MA anymore. Nov use to be a great month, even in MA. I went out the other night and ran into a couple guys (a rare event this time of year) we chatted about the fishing. They did get a couple earlier that night but only of med size and it pretty slow now. These guys were as old as I was and we all concluded that the fishing today is not as good in the late fall as it was back then. They seem to think that the lack of big bait is the reason and also the reason the stomachs of these fish today only have a couple small lobsters in there instead of the mullet, bunker, macks, herring and giant sandeels of the that were around in great swarms in the early 80's. We all reminissed about the huge guts of some of the fish back then. I wish I had taken more photos...some of those fish actually looked deformed they were so fat.

I think the world record bass will be broken with in the next 4 years. This generation of fish that are nearly 20 years old will get there. I just wish the big bait was around to hold these fish longer.

re:seals, when I see them I leave and head to a different spot. I have never caught bass when seals are feeding.

Saw Tony this AM, his fall heart breaker was right around Bertha, Spring, he said same year was the real one, well over 80.
This fall might just be getting started :D

re:seals, when I see them I leave and head to a different spot. I have never caught bass when seals are feeding

Off the gurnet in early october, stupid fishing at its best, the seals were airborn and the fishing was ..... good stupid fishing.

Love it guys.

Thanks :)

I have fished out here for 13 seasons and have only fished the Fall for about 7. In years past we have the slowdown and then some blitzing on the surface off 'sconset. It means start following the fish West but if it stays relatively warm, fish until it is freezing. Then it usually has only days left and it is time to smile and pack it in. No one has seen that blitz yet this year. There are 55-60 temps along the south shore still and there are definetly fish out there.

Nantucket doesn't get the big bass that other areas see but I bet we used to and I agree that the fish in the coming years will be bigger.

I have no problem with catching a 15 lb fish November.

Does anyone no more of the S & P fish and what happened there ?

:)