The ultimate Block Island trip for the troops auction

[GattaFish]

Wow…. I can’t thank the bidders enough. Also EVERY donation to help make this trip special. I have taken the time to look at every angle I can think of and to see who the winner was.

And after speaking with BOTH of the highest bidders we agreed that FishMTK had won.

Now with that being said the bidding had gone over $1500 which was a mark I set to add another additional day but did not advertise since I wanted guys to bid for the charity, not a fishing trip. Well they bid hard and for the right reasons.

So after speaking with FishMTK I realized I am truly lucky for the type of person he is and look forward to fishing with him on the trip. He has extended an offer that is something that is extremely generous and completely welcomed by all parties involved. He will share this soon. Remember this is HIS TRIP.

Since he is unable to come on Tuesday for the extra day I jumped on the phone and covered even more bases and have secured him lodging for Sat night on the island and he will have his opportunity to fish with Gary Soldati that night.

To accommodate his extra day John at Twin Maples extended an offer and Al Lemire from Lemire’s plugs has once again stepped up and made ANOTHER incredible offer to supply lodging for all the unforeseens that are going on.

Again, I cannot thank all those involved enough. I am truly fortunate to have the friends I do because they are the ones who have come together on this,,,,

Stay Tuned……..

[ChuckD]

Wow, Congratulation FishMTK (and what a gracious thing to do) and RI Bass. It is all for a great cause and i want to thank everyone who made a donation and bid.

Thanks to everyone for putting this together, now get packing

[rapidfflow0]

Wow congrats fishmtk should be one hell of a trip with that crew just stay away from the kitty Kat with them. Great cause
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[FishMTK]

So my wife told me that she doesn't think that I was this happy the day we got married...clearly not the case (just in case she reads this), but elated I am!

First, I would like to thank to Gattafish and everyone else that made this trip possible for such a great cause. Sounds like most of you picked up on the hints. Since this is such as great cause, I knew it was right to invite RI Bass to join me given his generous donation (and company match). I was even more stoked when he accepted.

I look forward to meeting, learning from and fishing with a great group!

Thanks again!
JC

[Piscator]

FishMTK sounds like one classy Dude!!!!

Hope you guys have a great time.

[fcap60]

Congratulations to FISHMTK and a great job by GATTAFISH for doing this.

FISHMTK- what is you favorite meal ? (Do you like Italian food ?) you can PM me if you like or post here, b/c the Friday night meal will be based on your likes (dislikes)...and don't worry about the others in the group. I can assure you they won't starve.

And by the way, let me know what your favorite breakfast is also.


Frank

[Big Water]

What a great end to an auction for a great cause. Hey FISHMTK since you are coming on Sat. that is the first night of my week on the Island. You will meet the guys I fish with, hope you have a hood for that wetsuit!Gary

[luds]

Congrats to everyone involved! Great job! Enyoy the trip FishMTK.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[JohnR]

Congrats Gents - and Thank You - Worthy cause....

[chrisjoe13]

Tom, Greg, and all the others: I know several people who have suffered a TBI, and what you have done here is truly impressive. You should be proud.
And to the winner(s), congrats!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[GattaFish]

Originally Posted by Clogston29

just don't go out for "a beer" with pete at 1 pm on a day you plan on fishing (although that day was probably better for us than those who made it out to fish).

in all seriousness though, this will be a great trip for whomever wins. those guys know the island and are a good bunch.

Wasn't this the night Paul got a 27-30# and you got your hooks straightened...?????

[Clogston29]

nope. that night you guys went to the kittens and mike and i got pounded on the south side, then we all went out later and got into some fish.

the next night pete, mike and i never made it out, but noone who did got anything. although i still wish i made it out that night, heard of some decent fish taken at SE on the ferry ride home.

good times either way.

[GattaFish]

Thanks for refreshing my memory,,,,, LOL.... my mind is a little foggy from all the trips last year.....

Originally Posted by rapidfflow0

Wow congrats fishmtk should be one hell of a trip with that crew just stay away from the kitty Kat with them. Great cause
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I am staying away from the kittens.... except our last night of the trip in July,,,,, Hmmm,,,, Wonder who will be there that night,,,,

[GattaFish]

Ok,,, Here’s what we are going to do.

FishMTK has requested that RI Bass come on this trip as well.

And in the words of RI bass “Hell yea I will go”. So it’s a done deal.

And after speaking to both guys there is no question in their generosity and thoughtfulness of each other and for RTHB.

From EVERYONE involved a huge thanks to both guys and from me a personal THANK YOU to them as well.

For Greg… You better run you’re A$$ off.

Now the trip. It was totally obvious they bid for the cause and the bid went over $1000 and then over $1500. So they both will get the additional day PLUS another. I am 100% certain we got some great guys on this trip.

We shifted a couple things to make this work….……

RI Bass will come out on Tues June 12th and stay until Sat. June 16th. FishMTK will come out on Wed June 13th as originally planned and stay until Sunday June 17th. Both guys will enjoy the benefits of the trip

Gary will come on Tues (hopefully early enough to go squiddin) to fish with RI Bass and then return on Sat night to fish with FishMTK. Pat Abate and Dennis Z. will keep their original schedules since they both already have ferry reservations but will plan to fish with both guys…..

John from Twin Maples on Block and Al from Lemire’s Plugs both made offers to do what it takes to accommodate the extras on this… So lets thank them both as well… side note: Fish MTK said he would sleep on the floor so RI Bass could go… Well… again generous offer but, probably the only thing that WILL NOT happen on this trip…….

Now… If anyone has any suggestions or thinks we may have over looked something Please let me know…

Most importantly…… THANK YOU to JohnR and S-B.com for not just allowing this but also being a HUGE supporter of GregW and RTHB

Sincere thanks again…. Tom

Guest Guides & Supporters who helped make this auction happen.

The Lajoie Family (and no Pete .. Text pictures of 30# fish at 2am last night was not funny)
Pat Abate
Dennis Zambrotta
Gary Soldati
Lemire’s Plugs
Twin Maples
The Narragansett Inn
Super Strike
Left Hook Lures – Plug Pack
Surfcasters Journal
Piemma - 2 BI Dannys
Fins32 - 12 tied siwash
JoeBaggs Bucktails - Block Island Bucktail package
The Dad Fisherman - Block Island Needles (Makes sweet needles)
Big Water Lures - Big Water Pikes
Rivers End Tackle - Rigged Eels

[spence]

Originally Posted by GattaFish

For Greg… You better run you’re A$$ off.

I certainly do hope this epic adventure is well documented.

Great job guys

-spence

[fishbones]

Way to go, guys! That's a huge donation for a great cause. Kudos to the high bidders and especially to Tom and the BI crew who are hosting and guiding. This is an amazing trip and as Spence said, make sure you document it.

[DZ]

Originally Posted by spence

I certainly do hope this epic adventure is well documented.

Great job guys

-spence

It will be documented - whether it's epic or not depends on the what the striper gods challenge us with.

I'll be sure to write up a story if Tom and others agree to it.

Looking forward to contacting RIBass and FishMTK personally to establish communications.

Thanks Tom and others for coming through big time.

Bravo Zulu!

DZ

[Chubby-Chaser]

Nice work by everyone involved!

[piemma]

Great job to all. Makes this old vet proud to be part of this organization. The only reason I didn't bid was because I can't fish that hard anymore.
The Block, Cutty, Montauk, are places that require a lot of stamina if you are going more than 2 or 3 night straight.
The 2 guys who won are in for the trip of a lifetime
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[joebaggs99]

Congrats to the both of you and get your sleep now. Cause your going to need it. Sun down to sun up. Block island tends to give you 3rd shift hours. I know that both of you will enjoy this trip and get into fish. I mean just look at the experience your going to fish with.. Have Fun be safe and land 40lber.

[eelskimmer]

I can't believe the success of this auction. With FishMTK's winning
bid of $1,600 and RIBass's donation of his bid and matching contribution is
another $3,200. Fantastic, it adds up to over $4,800. And for a great cause. Congratulation to everyone... It just goes to show you how the
Boss can pick great people for his website. Johnny R you're the greatest.

[Peter Lajoie]

Looking forward to this trip. Thanks to all the bidders. Get some rest.

[FinS 32]

Now for my part of the deal FishMTK, send me a PM with the 12 tail hooks you want, colors, size etc.

[agsurfr]

Y'know, this is a really cool thing that happened here. Very creative and impressive. An event like this is great for so many reasons, not the least of which will be lifelong memories and new friendships that come about as a result. People who don't fish look at me like I'm from Mars when I tell them fishing changed my life because of the associations and connections I've made with so many outstanding human beings. This event for this cause is a perfect example.

Really well done to all of the creators, guides, donors and bidders. You all deserve 50s and our Vets and those serving deserve more!!

ab

[Big Water]

"RI Bass will come out on Tues June 12th and stay until Sat. June 16th. FishMTK will come out on Wed June 13th as originally planned and stay until Sunday June 17th. Both guys will enjoy the benefits of the trip"

Had to laugh when I read, "Both guys will enjoy the benefits of the trip", this said from a guy that fished Block for three weeks straight last year, every night!! Come on Tom, your going to kick their butt and they should have some warning!!

[tattoobob]

Congrats to all involved

[GattaFish]

Originally Posted by Big Water

"RI Bass will come out on Tues June 12th and stay until Sat. June 16th. FishMTK will come out on Wed June 13th as originally planned and stay until Sunday June 17th. Both guys will enjoy the benefits of the trip"

Had to laugh when I read, "Both guys will enjoy the benefits of the trip", this said from a guy that fished Block for three weeks straight last year, every night!! Come on Tom, your going to kick their butt and they should have some warning!!

Gary this is their trip....I will let them choose the pace......

I will be sure to save plenty of energy for the following week when I fish with your group.....

[GattaFish]

I just got a message from Steve @ SUPER STRIKE..... He also sent me a picture of the custom needlefish lure donation he is making,,,,, all I can say is "WOW HFS" they look incredible.......

[tattoobob]

Originally Posted by GattaFish

I just got a message from Steve @ SUPER STRIKE..... He also sent me a picture of the custom needlefish lure donation he is making,,,,, all I can say is "WOW HFS" they look incredible.......

[ChuckD]

hahaha, tattoobob, i concur. Cough them up