Legendary Thousand Pound Nights From The Surf

[Clammer]

Yep // in July /sometime more than 27 years ago == my parter & myself had the day of days // tubing === we were doing doubles almost every pass for the better part of a day / at the time I was Running a 18' Mirrorcraft w/85hp merc/ sucker screwed for that time =we were slippin & sliding all over the boat /between the waves & the weight of the fish ,it was getting out of hand ,so we [[HAD ]] to quit // at that time we really didn,t take super care of the bass / we just threw them in burlap bags ,which were plentyful at that time & wet them down / We had coolers to keep the flats of worms fresh & to ice down the by-catch of Blues & Squeteague//
When we got to the dock we pulled into the first slip that was close to the truck / we bag them all & hauled them to the truck //
When we were done we were beat so we sat on the bumper to charge up & that,s when a older man got out of his car & said to us not a bad day guys / we agreed with while still catching our breath // than he said ya shudda caught one more / what the #$%^ why ???/ he said ya got 99 bass there ,ya missed by one //
I did have a copy of the slip & the check but after a couple of moves its gone // But I do know the check was for $987.00 that was a awesome amount of money .. & back then we got paid very little compared to now ///
that day I made the run to Spooners in Westport to sell while my partner was to secure the bait for the next day // I had a commitment that nite so we made arrangements to meet the next day before dawn === I drag @ss & made Sheila do the same // we got to where we were to meet up & there was a boat already there ==it had to be Earl =so I headed that way to get my worms / wrong / someone else by 1 hour after daylight there was 50 boats cluster @#$%#$%^ everything // Earl was real pissed & after a few runins & some bass he quit // Sheila &I hung in there for the better part of the morning to get a days pay // Till this day I don,t know how Spooner knew where we were fishing /but it had to be him ,because mant of the guys fishing that morning/ were not from around there /but we knew they sold at the same place ///////////
After that we hooked up witha guy name Bruce from Fall River / When we had a score we would get ahold of him & he would sell under his name & we would glady pay him10% plus fish // I don,t think he ever fished in his life / but I can only guess what kind of answers he gave at the dealers
I believe I still have somewhere the graph paper of the day.....

[piemma]

John:
Not here but on the Backbeach in the mid-90s. Some guys I knew from Thundermist had 1000 pound nights. I was with Lanny and Stevie one night I know of for sure. They had over 1100 pounds. All fish 34" and up. There were a lot of fish 35 to 40 lbs. They had 2 pickup trucks full of bass. We helped unload the bass at the Coop.
Another time Steve V came in from the Back with about 1/2 a Ton of Bass. They all came from Highhead. I am not sure this could happen now. I think they limit the take for the commercial rod and reel guys but this was 94 or 95.

[piemma]

Clammer. Great story and told well also.

[Clammer]

thanks PIe// always the good old days vv

[Flaptail]

The closest I ever came was 660lbs on Monomoy in July of 78' (26th to be exact) that was the total weight at Old Harbor Fish Market in Chatham for eleven fish. The smallest was 38 pounds and the largest was mid 40's. Dave LaPorte, my good friend, whom I met on Monomoy did 1100 pounds in one night in earlly October, 1980. My fish all fell to blue/silver 7 inch Windcheater Rebels, Dave's all fell to eels then eel butts and pieces as the night wore on.

If I knew then what I know now that 26th of July the total would have been scary. I must have dropped 30 fish. From dusk till dawn, tide didn't matter with 6 inch sand eels just piled along the surf edge. Dave's night was the same thing, dusk till dawn. I don't think we will ever see that again. What with seals and the way Monomoy and South Beach are configured.

What made it all possible was that Pleasant Bay flushed in and out every six hours. No break at Nauset. The Old Chatham Inlet and Long bar across from us. They would get mung we would get none, all summer. Makes you wanna cry when you think of it. Sigh, it will never be the same.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Flap;
dont doubt the pounds, but 11 fish for 660lbs = 60lb a fish
Still a dream season (and a damn good one at that) for most of us

[Flaptail]

My bad it was 14 fish at 616. I just went and dug out the old Old Harbor slip. Best to check after 27 years, The seventies did kill some brain cells. Whew!

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by piemma

John:
Not here but on the Backbeach in the mid-90s. Some guys I knew from Thundermist had 1000 pound nights. I was with Lanny and Stevie one night I know of for sure. They had over 1100 pounds. All fish 34" and up. There were a lot of fish 35 to 40 lbs. They had 2 pickup trucks full of bass. We helped unload the bass at the Coop.
Another time Steve V came in from the Back with about 1/2 a Ton of Bass. They all came from Highhead. I am not sure this could happen now. I think they limit the take for the commercial rod and reel guys but this was 94 or 95.

All true stories.From 1993 to 1999 this happened quite a few times. To keep it in context for everyone, the catches were made from small boats fishing close to shore with two people on most nights. In 2000, the fishing just completely dried up for whatever reason and has not been that good since. Steve and his partner had over 10,000 lbs in 1995. My best was 40 fish for 960# in 1999, and I took a picture of the check for 2,160.Sold my boat in 2000, and have been on the sand since.

[bassmaster]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

All true stories.From 1993 to 1999 this happened quite a few times. To keep it in context for everyone, the catches were made from small boats fishing close to shore with two people on most nights. In 2000, the fishing just completely dried up for whatever reason and has not been that good since. Steve and his partner had over 10,000 lbs in 1995. My best was 40 fish for 960# in 1999, and I took a picture of the check for 2,160.Sold my boat in 2000, and have been on the sand since.

didnt you have a hard time selling?
getting the fish was easy it was selling
man in the hole alone you was good for a few hunder b4 moving down the islands
I did 300 here i want 3 fish there 200 there. it sucked 125 a pound and dropped alot
keep the slips %$%$%$%$ that, toss that crap out show me the money

[fishdog13]

did have an 682 1 slip last year .