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.

Paul, Steve hit it, Harley Benton

Tony Stezco is probably the best living surfcaster, Zeno is going to be the most influential.

That's the guy. I'll never forget the day he got 4, 50#+ bass off Bonnet and Anawan. Fishes out of a 14' tin boat.

Growing up in Newport a couple of the best in the 60's and 70's(along with Steve Fougere) were Leroy Addison and Ed Straka.
They always had big fish in the local waters.