Back when Stripers equated to dollar signs for me

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by johnny ducketts

stupid question but, what constituted a large bass and what constituted a small bass, was it weight?, length, both?

As I recall, back in the days of the 16" limit, the breakdown was, smalls under 5 lbs, mediums 5-15 pounds, large over 15 pounds. Everything was weight back then--no one measured or sold fish by the inch

My dad worked at Macos in Buzzards Bay, and the owner, Al DeSouza, had a firetrap of an inboard that he used to take into Barnstable Harbor, and many times my dad went with him. They floated sea worms and loaded up on schoolies, and back in the 60s you got about a quarter a pound for them from Byron's.

Once they went to the 24" limit there was no cull for smalls--it was just mediums and large. Which is not to say that some shops wouldn't buy short fish.

In the 80s the price varied between $1.50 to $3.25 a pound. I don't think I ever got more than $3.25. The price also varied from market to market. Some shops gave you a consignment slip and you waited a week or so until the catch was sold until you got your check. Cataumet Fish and Roy Besse's did it this way, and you got a better price. The downside was that you had to wait a week or so for your money, and you also got a traceable check for the tax people if you ever got audited. Most of us didn't sell enough to worry about taxes, though. If you wanted cash, on the spot, you went to Capt. Harris and took about a buck a pound beating over what you could get in other markets--but you walked out with untraceable folding green. Bob's Sea Grill--which became Penner's Place later on--was another place that would occasionally buy small catches for cash. Fresh bass would be his menu special the following night. I sold him 55 pounds one night, and the next night my sister took me to eat there for my birthday, and pointed out the dinner special--I told her that there was no way I was going to buy my own fish back

Cataumet Fish would also take gutted bluefish off our hands--the price varied between 15 cents to half a buck a pound, and considering that we were often up to our asses in bluefish in the 80s, that made for a nice steady source of beer money.

Oh--in all the years I did this--not once did any market ask to see a commercial license or any other piece of paper.

[Joe]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Oh--in all the years I did this--not once did any market ask to see a commercial license or any other piece of paper.

There's a long list of RI restaurants that still don't.

[steve]

NIB, yeah, the fish guy's scale was THE weight. Too bad about that guy. It was probably a 50. Oh, by the way, back then, bluefish, gutted , were 8 cents a pound which goes to show you how plentiful they were in the 70 and 80's. Which is an interesting fact about stripers. They are one of the only fish which will last with their guts in them provided they are on ice.

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by Mike P

As I recall, back in the days of the 16" limit, the breakdown was, smalls under 5 lbs, mediums 5-15 pounds, large over 15 pounds. Everything was weight back then--no one measured or sold fish by the inch

My dad worked at Macos in Buzzards Bay, and the owner, Al DeSouza, had a firetrap of an inboard that he used to take into Barnstable Harbor, and many times my dad went with him. They floated sea worms and loaded up on schoolies, and back in the 60s you got about a quarter a pound for them from Byron's.

Once they went to the 24" limit there was no cull for smalls--it was just mediums and large. Which is not to say that some shops wouldn't buy short fish.

In the 80s the price varied between $1.50 to $3.25 a pound. I don't think I ever got more than $3.25. The price also varied from market to market. Some shops gave you a consignment slip and you waited a week or so until the catch was sold until you got your check. Cataumet Fish and Roy Besse's did it this way, and you got a better price. The downside was that you had to wait a week or so for your money, and you also got a traceable check for the tax people if you ever got audited. Most of us didn't sell enough to worry about taxes, though. If you wanted cash, on the spot, you went to Capt. Harris and took about a buck a pound beating over what you could get in other markets--but you walked out with untraceable folding green. Bob's Sea Grill--which became Penner's Place later on--was another place that would occasionally buy small catches for cash. Fresh bass would be his menu special the following night. I sold him 55 pounds one night, and the next night my sister took me to eat there for my birthday, and pointed out the dinner special--I told her that there was no way I was going to buy my own fish back

Cataumet Fish would also take gutted bluefish off our hands--the price varied between 15 cents to half a buck a pound, and considering that we were often up to our asses in bluefish in the 80s, that made for a nice steady source of beer money.

Oh--in all the years I did this--not once did any market ask to see a commercial license or any other piece of paper.

Cataumet fish did not always take gutted Bluefish. One year in October (the same night those Marines got blown up in Lebanon in thier barracks, 81' I think) I was on Race Point with Dave Kosewski, Stevie Britto and Peter Trainor. We were all using 9' glb1081m's wrapped by me into spinning rods with16lb Tournament Ande Green (the IGFA rated stuff) we took 620lbs of bluefish, gutted gilled and on ice. these fish were monsters. Dave K had a 22 lber, I had a 19 and the other guys ahd them near the same. All on loaded Redfins. I wanted to bring them to Old Harbor, Dave K insisted we go all the way back to Pete at Cataumet. We'll Pete said no way, Mercury scare in Blues he said he wouldn't touch them. Guess where they ended up? The dump. BTW myself and Dave K. had broken the world record for Bluefish on 16lb test that night and did not relaize it for years after after seeing an IGFA book. Dave would still have that record title if we had known to enter it. True story.

Same thing happened with Pete at Cataumet in July 86'. Me and Dave K. hit the bass big time at Hatches. I had 11 fish to the low 40 pound range, Dave had 13 in the same bracket all big beautiful bass. It was July9th. I wanted to go to Old Harbor in Chatham. Nope, Dave insisted that Pete would pay better. Okay off to Pete at Cataumet. I drop Dave off at Home and since we were in my truck I said I would drop them at Cataumet Fish. I go in and say to Pete I got some bass you want them? Yep he says So I unload all the bass and tag them. He comes out from the front and sees all the fish and says, "no way I only want 5 of them. Well having been up since 5 the morning before with no sleep and now into my 30th hour I said F()CK YOU and tossed all the fish back into my truck. Went back to Dave's house got him out of bed and loaded all the fish into his truck. Guess where he ended up selling them? Old Harbor way back in Chatham. Never dealt with Cataumnet after that.

[Rockport24]

these stories are all awesome...
thanks guys
I can't believe that dude prob got screwed out of a 50!

[Sea Dangles]

Some old slips from the '40's of fish weighed by none other than Stan Gibbs. I'd be happy to trade for a Numby Conrad Sr. if it came with instructions on how, where, and when to use it.

[OLD GOAT]

Bishops , Later known as Old Harbor fish could be real tough on price even knowing young Albert it didn,t make any difference.Once you dropped it off,you had to wait for the fulton fish market price even if the fish ended up in a cape restaurant.I had better luck at the co,op and then Dave Carns. I think the best i ever did was about 3.25 a lb. for smalls which meant one fish was about ten bucks and that was off cape.The biggest haul i know of was70 ,35lb bass=2500lbs at $2 a pound=$5,000 for one nights work. I think a ciggerett glow gave that spot away.Some fellas would use conventional gear and on hooking a fish,lock down the drag,turn around and march up the beach. Kindof like a tow truck,no sport at all.

[maddmatt]

i sold my first fish in 1974 at age 9. the fish was 32lbs off the beach at marconi. i made 20 bucks and man was i rich. i've been at it ever since. i've made alot more money over the years selling fish but nothing will be as rewarding as that first 20 dollar bill.

[Jenn]

Hey I can remember as a kid in the early eighties and dad selling our catch of blues. I still cant beleive that vast numbers to this day. The term "a dime a dozen" doesnt even come close to describing it really! Do I fault him for ever selling fish? no way. He did what he did so he could afford spend time fishing with us and what we didnt sell went in the freezer and fed us every friday for supper all year round..........