Dolores Schmitt Farmer's
Long Island Fishing Memories
Ahhh, the smell of diesel fuel in the morning....
For me, it started as a young child, fishing mostly
with my Aunt Lorraine Angelillo (from New Jersey)
and sometimes my Uncle Milton O'Neill (Astoria) from the boats in
Sheepshead Bay. One of my
earliest memories is my Aunt showing me the Ambrose
Lightship while on a fishing trip in the early 60's.
I realize now how unusual it was for a woman to be taking a little girl fishing in
those days. I'm so
grateful Lorraine had the guts to do it. I am continuing the tradition with my own kids.
It was the start of a lifelong love of fishing. Skip to the 1970's...
The 1970's were great times for Long Island fishing. I spent most of my time
jigging blues and weakfish on the North Shore, although I frequented the
Montauk area quite a bit, too. We used to sell our catch to local restaurants
or fish markets. The same group of "characters" hung out at Four Winds Bait Four Winds Bait
& Tackle
& Tackle in Huntington, or at Knutson's Marina or the town dock. I saw the
same faces at Captree and Montauk
on my trips there. Sometimes I'd even sneak
off to Glen Cove to fish on the Lady Lil.
Mostly, though, I'd fish on the Everready
out of Huntington. We were like a large, loosely-knit group of
friends, all with the
same interests. If you went on the same party boat every week
(or every day),
you'd get to know the regulars...some of whom were almost as entertaining as the
fishing!
There was Bob Verga, a nice guy and novice fisherman,
who landed a 42 lb. bass because he was tangled in a bird's nest, and his jig
was dragging the bottom.
One eye'd Al Mezzo would come on the boat several times a
week...and fish
like a madman! He'd never rest. Another nice guy named Arthur Tubertini...who
Nick Karas kept writing up in his column as "Teddy Tweedlebaum" or
something like that.
I remember being so obsessed with fishing that I would climb the
barbed wire
fence at Knutson's Marina at 4:30AM, just to be certain that I got my
"lucky spot"
on the Everready's morning bluefish trip.
(Contrary to popular wisdom, I always
fished the bow.) Getting a "Skillful Angling
Award" from The Fisherman Magazine
was right up there with the Nobel Prize!
The following photos are from the most elusive of times....the good
ol' days.
If you were there, you know exactly what I mean.
My sincere wish is that these pages help you remember
your own "good old days", whatever they may be.
From the 1970's & early 80's
(Click on the thumbnail to see a larger photo)
more
pics
The guy with the big bass was named Bob Verga.
He hooked that bass (42 lbs.) on the Everready, while in a birds nest!
His jig was lying on the bottom, while the mates untangled his line.
Wish I had luck like that!
George Valentine had just weighed the fish at Four Winds
in Huntington. My weakfish was 13 lbs.
My fishin' buddy James Schneider unhooks a "cocktail blue".
(No, I don't recall why we called them that,
I guess because they were the size of an hors d'ouevre!)
James was the best fisherman I ever met.
A natural. And he could clean fish like a surgeon.
The second picture is the two of us on a codfishing trip.
In the last picture, I believe the guy in the baseball cap is
former Yankee, Willie Randolph. James had just gaffed a
fluke for him. I remember Willie was on the boat one day...can't
be certain, but I believe this was the day.
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pics
Various cod and pollack trips on the Viking Starship in 1979-80.
With me is fishing writer Al Ristori.
In Key West, with a Mutton Snapper.
In the Winter, the Viking Starship used to sail down to Key West
and offer 3 day trips to the Dry Tortugas.
I used to follow it. :-)
We never let the weather stop us!
Off Montauk with big blues.
more pics
Cap'n Packy Collins repairs the Everready, a party boat that sailed
from Huntington during the 70's and 80's. Captain Don Constantin
ran the boat before Packy. (That's Don getting his head polished
by James Schneider, on the right). Packy was a trip! The only
man
I ever met who could tell you who U Thant
was, and then recite
"The Rime of the
Ancient Mariner" from memory, all while putting
you right on top of the fish.
My "lucky" Diamond Jig, that caught 100 blues,
off the Obstruction buoy (Eaton's Neck), one morning in 1980.
You can see all the teeth marks in it. We encased it in plastic resin.
I still have it. Can't find my wedding ring, but I know EXACTLY
where my lucky jig is! :-)
Remember this?
Here's the original clipping...you might find your name
(or a friend's name) in it!
Check out The Fishing Line !
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