Surf--- Matt Squillante Boat-- Ray Jobin

On second thought
 

Surf-- (past) Matt Squillante - (present) Bill Nolan - Boat- Ray Jobin

On third thought
 

Surf- Pat Abate, Tim Coleman and Andy Lemar are some of the best I have ever had the PLEASURE to wet a line with!

Boat best
 

John Martini is right there with Jobin. Martini at night , Jobin by day.

Steve,

You too belong on the list of respected, accomplished and dedicated individuals that belong to our sport. In addition to your angling feats, many are grateful to have had you as a mentor. I think I speak for many of the guys here in saying that. Being considered among the elite to me means much more than simply the number of fish someone has caught. You've also been a great ambassador to the sport for many years in addition to your outstanding angling skills.

Backbeach- Thanks-- I'm blushing!

A name that has not been mentioned here is Capt Jim White, and I am surprised,...Aside from the tremendous amount he has done to save the Striped bass basically dedicating his life to the fish, He is in my opinion the most consistant fisherman on Narragansett bay, with 2000 plus bass a year to his credit year in and year out! No mention of Charter Captains would be complete without putting Jim at the very top of the list, Jim was the first to Charter exclusive in The bay when others said it simply cannot be done, 17 years later and his is one of the best operations in Rhode Island, and he never travels South of either the Newport or Jamestown bridge all season long. If anyone can put fish in the boat Jim can!

In the Surf, my close Friend and fishing partner for many years..Steve McKenna ranks at the top of my list, I have alot of respect and have learned alot over the years from him and he is certainly one of the best to ever fish the suds!If I needed a bass for dinner from the surf..Steve is the guy I would call first!Steve and I have had some memorable nights that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Others who I admire and are more quiet...

Boat..Joe Macari...Ray the "Butcher"..Ray Jobin...John Martini...Rich Colagiovani....These guys are unreal!I love these guys, workhorse fisherman who get it done! Joe Pagano is another guy who has to be mentioned, The guy slays the bass and you never hear about it, If I could only fish with one guy in the south county area as a charter it would be Joe..Your own member "Clammer" is also a guy who knows much more than he lets on about and can fish with the best of them!

There are many others of course....to many to mention..But this would be my A team

Of course in all of this, My measure has always been and will always be "Consistancy" I dont care about size as much as I care about a guy who can deliver time and time again, when the conditions are perfect or awefull....No Excuses!!! These names fit that bill! however, there are more than enough 50s amongst this mix.......

Just had to chime in...Oh and I am still fishing...have not died yet..Have a Great Fall guys!:usd:

I would say I also agree with BB..From my encounters of him an the accounts of others.
Steve is a asset to our sport.U watch him at work with beginners he has great patience.Not a easy task.
I also Like his list's of top guys..
Pat Abate is a super guy..In my travels.I stop by his shop just to say hello..
He has invited me to do some fishing.Unfourtunately it is always on the way home.One of these days I'm gonna take him up on it.Just for the entertainment value.

Good to see ur still around Bill.:D

Some Canal guys, in addition to Stan Gibbs, even though it's kind of specialized (these guys could catch fish anywhere, however):

Stan Kuzia, Bob Black, Harold Peterson, Bobby Aflaque, Andy and Al Mamarty, Kevin Heap. I'll second Flap on Dave 'Ski, too.

Slip and J Powers are no slouches, either. ;)

Bob Luce

Thanks alot NIB and Billy for your kind words.

Here is a second vote for Corsetti, some may or may not have liked him but you can't deny the guy has talent.

I have to agree with Mr. Nolan, Clammer know his stuff, and sometimes if you are lucky enough to be fishing with him, and paying attention you will learn some stuff.

Corsetti was very, very good. It's too bad he gave up bass'in. The CLAMMER is the best!!!!!

Forgot to mention Mr. Van Staal. Sorry Stevie. Mr. McKenna is certainly in a class by himself in the surf. Clearly one of the best!!!

Not to beat this into the ground, but I have to give another vote for Steve. One of the most (or THE most) talented surf fishermen is also the most unassuming, unpretentious, and friendly person you'll ever meet. Not only does he consistently catch when others don't, he does more to bring new anglers into the sport than anyone.

-Ty

Thanks alot Paul and wheresmy50. Boy, my head won't fit through the door now! Thanks so much.

I figure the best bass guys are folks we'll never hear or see anything written about. You know guys who just fish, tong huge fish and arent attention whores.

I will add to the criteria.

The Best has to be a guy/gal that can catch the largest year class of fish he has in front of him. To be considered the best the applicant should be well rounded and skilled in enough techniques to accomplish the above stated goal. Bonus points are awarded for accomplishments from both boat & surf.

Using this criteria, I bet the ranch on Lev W as far as currently active fishermen.

A name never mentioned in these threads is the person many feel is hands down the MOST IMPORTANT human when it comes to anything Striped Bass. Each and everyone of us owe a thank you to this guy. The "legends" laughed at him for years because of his "theories". The "who cares about the best because if it weren't for this guy we'd all love Golf" award goes to my hero, Mr. Robert "Bob" Pond.

I see ALOT of names that are internet/magazine personalities. Only a few of the best mentioned, and honestly, the best are #s counted in the multiple dozens of 50's.

His name to come to my mind

I'm surprised not one has yet mentioned Crazy Alberto Knie, a renowed LI surf bassman - clearly one of the most prolific and knowledgable ever with unbelievable instincts for where bass will be at specific times and conditions. I've had the pleasure of fishing with him and few are as unassuming or gentlemanly as he is.

I have seen Billy McFadden fished and was told he was one of best all-around to fish the NJ beaches for bass. Mickey Alpert is another NJ legend who has several 50s to his credit and is renowned for live-lining. Another guy few people really know because he's pretty secretive but is considered one of the greatest ever to grace the NJ surf for bass is George Tomkins. I've seen him fish and is clearly still a top-notch pro despite his advancing age. He's probably caught more bass than many of us combined.

Another for Billy Mcfadden of NJ, he is a good one for sure. Like NIB mentioned earlier, Fred Gartner, my mentor and friend, was simply amazing with any type of jig. Freddy knew how bass used current like no other, if it were'nt for his knowledge and teaching me so much I never woud have caught half the fish I have let alone my 50's.
Add some more NJ guys like Gerry Reddinger, Mickey Alpert, Mike Holowitz, Shell Carris, all top notch anglers IMHO.

Guy's, all great fisherman named here,but my vote and i am surprised his name has not come up.Al Reinfelder.P.S. Remember the Alou Eel?

Currrent day I would say.. Iron Mike. Two 50's a couple of years ago. He used to be on this site a lot, what ever happend to him?

Alot of great names mentioned but most of them fished back in the day when the surf was full of 40-60 pound fish and you would fall over them in 2 feet of water! Since the decline of the striper and the moratorium I would have to say that anyone who can go over 50 pounds on a regular basis post moratorium would have to be pretty darn good considering there are just not as many large swimming about as there used to be! I will say Tony Chirrapo who fished back in the day as well as he is still out there today banging 50's at will!! Crazy Al for sure! Bill Nolan, Steve McKenna.......these guys all work hard and do their homework!

I was thinking the same thing.

Friday night I fished with the two of the best, hands down committed to the hunt. These two guys fish harder than anyone, I mean anyone I know. How about three 50's in one night or tagging a 40 and recatching it a year later in the same spot on the same day. The other a master plug builder, uses nothing but his own stuff, fears no rock, no wave and is all business. Always thinking, going to extremes in both location and conditions. On my kids souls Friday night there were more legal to mid 30 pound fish taken by these guys than most guys land in a year in a spot so remote it's a challenge just to get thier and back safely and all done in the cover of darkness and never a word is said to anyone. Fifties are one aspect but there is a whole lot more to the making of the "best" fisherman.

If catching numbers of bass is important then Dave Pickering would certainlybe on THE list. He routinely lands more than a 1000 bass each season and seems to do it every year since I've known him(25yrs.) Dave can catch a bass in the most unlikely places a ndcertainly has the fishing "touch".

I would also be remiss if I didn't add these names to the list-- Boat-- some of Rhody's best-- Ray Rao, Jack Goda(deceased), Ted Stempien and Tom Needham. And lest we forget Mass' Charlie Soares. From shore, Art Lavallee was for many years, one of the best surfcasters I ever met. He's a boat guy now and still "catches 'em up" but keeps it quiet.

And, one of Narragansett's top surfmen, Tom McGuire. You will not meet a more ardent striperman than he.

Or quieter!
come to think of it I havent seen him around much.
He must be in ghost mode :ss:

Charlie S is a definite high hook.

Agreed. :kewl:


Paul, Bryan

Who's the old timer that only fishes the shoestring eels?

Who's the other old timer that only fishes black swimmers?

The historian for the narragansett club his some huge fish under his belt. Was running into him a ton last year around dawn, he showed me the clubs history albums. McKenna, Mcguire are in the pictures and theyre like 10-12 years old. Lot of big fish taken in that clubs photo history.

What about the Champlaine's They're good striper guys, Narragansetts too arent they??

steve van stall and #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

I agree with Z that geography has alot to do with peoples opinions. Im pretty limited to LI so 2 of the great ones would be
Billy the greek and Crazy Alberto. Most humble as well as successful would be Z.

I would think that until someone catches a 78lb 9 oz bass on rod&reel
Al McReynolds would be on the top of the list !
I'm pretty sure he (his son & daughter also) has quite a few 60s also !

Vic;
I think you are talking about Andy Lamar. He's close to 80 and still in the surf. My late partner Gill Guilletone was 76, had a stoke and was still fishing the bar at Deep Hole.

How about Tony Paliotti, Tom McGuires old partner. I saw tony get a 38 one March, yep March.

Bryan, who the old guy in the tin boat that had 4, 50s in one day a few years ago?

I can go way back to the 70s and talk about Lou Otheo and Jack Healan. These guys were commercial rod and reel and regularly had 1000 pound nights at Anawan.

How can we forget HARLEY BENTON-- boat. Lot of big, big bass consistently year after year after year.