Moratorium Stories

[Back Beach]

^
Bob, I bet that picture is from the same day you and Mark had that mess of fluke.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[eelskimmer]

I wrote a story that was published by OTW in Dec., 1999
about fishing the 80s. Limit was one fish at 36" and most
of fish were under that. About mid-80s I ran into Bill Sales
and we toured the south shore hot spots. Until then I was
drowning eels in Canal at night. We started fishing together
and hit big fish (30-40lb) on eels. Finally Bill took his 50+
in 1988 and I took mine in 1989. I lost contact with Bill as I
stopped hunting stripers for the next 10 years. See if you can
get that back copy of OTW.
JohnP

[FishermanTim]

I gave up salt until the early 90's (just didn't care that much).
Stayed in the fresh, and when I did go back to the salt it was basically a bait soaker experience. by the mid 90's I changed over to artificials entirely. I have gotten more than my share of decent shore-bound catches (which is why I like to "pay it forward" with younger anglers just starting out).

I am starting to head back to fresh more now as the fisheries are in desparate need of repair.

[Soaker]

Used to spend my summers at Quonny Beach at the grandparents place. Sometimes we'd go out on the dunes from FD beach to the BW. Not sure if RIMS was around then or who owned that point but everyone went there? Bass were mythical to me. Never saw one and always heard the old timers say "you should have been hear last night". As a 10 year old I used to love sleeping out there and listening to their stories (many were from Hartford Surfcasters). During the day we'd fluke fish from the boat and catch a few monster weakfish too. When the weather was bad, we'd catch dozens of snappers in the ponds.

On a side note.... I saw the movie JAWS in 1980. It completely freaked me out and still does when Im in the wetsuit and swimming to rocks. Why my parents let an 10-year old see that is beyond me. thanks mom and dad.

[Rockfish9]

The 80s were good to me... I was young and eager... the Plum Island area ( Mass) had a lot of big fish in those days.. I took three fish over 50lbs in 86... a 61... a 58 and a 54... two other "50's" were caught from the deck of my boat by other anglers... a half dozen other boats got in on the big fish bonanza too.. so did a handful of surf guy's... I remember seeing boats from the cape fishing our waters... the beach was lined with campers with new jersey plates.. ...the 90's were not so kind... I fished harder and longer.. tried new places all for little reward.. they( the 90's) made me a better fisherman and taught me to appreciate what I have...I didn't catch another "50" until 2004... I do see similarities to the way it played out back then... the big difference...back then I didn't know what I was seeing..now..I'm not sure I want to..

[piemma]

I've told all my moratorium stories. You young guys will be making your own real soon.