It's All About the Pink!

[Flaptail]

Further research has led to the origins of the pink craze. If anyone fished the Cpae in the late 70's and early 80's one would have known of a tackle shop in Eastham called "Bass Run". The shop was started and owned by Tony Chiarapo, aka Tony C. A New York bass fisherman extrodinaire. Tony as you may know tied the teaser that took Tony Stezko's 73 pound monster which was lashed ahead of a live eel as I understand it.

Anyway, Tony convinced Donny Musso to paint up some pink plugs for him. Reluctantly, Musso did it and the result of that experiment was the birthplace of the pink plug craze.

A lot of big bass were hung outside the Bass Run shop for pictures and admiring in those days. #^&#^&#^&#^& Pleska picked up on the pink influence from his dealings with Tony as a Tackle ditributor.

Bass Run was the nerve center of the New York/New Jersey gang that had plied the outer Cape since the forties. A major influence on how we fish the beach eminated from there and still does to this day.

Tony C. was the brains behind the whole movement and I think he possibly was the major factor in a lot of other tricks of the trade as well but preferred to stay hidden behind the curtains.

Credit is due where it is due and we all owe Tony C. a thank you for this one!

[NIB]

So a New york guy tied a teaser for a nj guy who caught the largest bass from the surf in Mass.It's no wonder u cape guys dislike the southern invasion we catch all ur fish.


Nice article Mike.Ur site is a great place to visit.

[Tattoo]

I'm glad you guys enjoy the article. There are so many stories out there about the past I hope I can continue to connect the dots and share the history of the sport.

Flaptail is right on with Tony C ( a living legend ) and the BassRun Tackle shop. BassRun was the WallStreet of the surfcasting world. Some new information has been shed on the subject by Tony C himself, causing an update to the current article. Getting the story straight is always the main goal, but sometimes, as the years pass, and the old guard passes on, the dots become harder and harder to connect. Luckily there are still a few that were there and have offered to help complete the puzzle. An update to the article is coming......

[capesams]

Tony c. u old coot, I knew u couldn't let this one slip through the crack's.....I see u peeking in, come out from behind your dune and straightin out these youngin's before that 20 become's a 50 lber.

[Karl F]

capesams is right TC... come on "Senior Angler".. please feel free to join us here.

[nightfighter]

A Capesam sighting???? Been what, about six weeks since we last heard from you? That 1088 is being wrapped now. Will PM you later.
Ross

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by NIB

So a New york guy tied a teaser for a nj guy who caught the largest bass from the surf in Mass.It's no wonder u cape guys dislike the southern invasion we catch all ur fish.


Nice article Mike.Ur site is a great place to visit.

Doo bee doo bee dooo

[Ed B]

Tony C and I spoke this weekend. Tony is a gold mine of information and he filled me in on a big unknown which was the origination of the first pink plugs and how #^&#^&#^&#^& Pleska as the wholesaler got involved. Since #^&#^&#^&#^& has passed on to the great beach beyond, may God rest his soul, it is difficult to connect all the dots. Having Tony as a friend and resource is a treasure, and as he was talking I was writing down some really great info.

The bottom line is that the very first pink plugs came from Tony which he had hand painted and gave to #^&#^&#^&#^&. They were Gibbs 2 oz casting swimmers (bottle plugs). The color pink was derived from some experimentation with faded red hackle droppers with which Tony had been experimenting and having some success. I have to make sure I get the relationship and timing of the Musso and Gibbs plugs correct and the involvement at Bass Run. When everything passes muster with Tony, I will send the document file to Mike "Tattoo" for an update.

Even though almost 30 years have passed, accuracy is important because this is part of our surfcasting history. As Tattoo says, getting the story straight is the goal.

Thanks Tony,
Ed