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Stripers on the Edge of Insanity
Stripers on the Edge of Insanity by Rick Bach
At first glance Montauk, a fishing town on the tip of Long Island in New York, seems like a quaint village ideal for a weekend getaway. There's a plethora of charming restaurants, a handful of motels, and beautiful ocean views. But to anglers, Montauk is a Mecca. So of course, as an intern at Field & Stream, I volunteered to cover the town's annual Surf Classic, a weekend tournament that awards cash and prizes for the largest striped bass and bluefish landed.
But visiting Montauk I learned something about surf fishermen that live there and flock to its shores: They're completely insane. This realization hit me like a 50-pound striper slamming a bucktail jig. I remember the exact moment it sank in. Montauk fisherman Gary "The Toad" Stevens had just left Paulie's tackle shop on his way to the beach and I was going to join him to experience surf fishing first hand. He mentioned on his way out the door that where we were going, "we might not come back." A Paulie's regular covered in tattoos and wearing a T-shirt older than me grabbed my sleeve and whispered, "Gary's one of the best fisherman out here...but he's *&@#%^* nuts."
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photo: Rick Bach
The famous lighthouse at Montauk Point stands tall over hundreds of anglers braving the rocks below in search of striped bass.
Stripers on the Edge of Insanity by Rick Bach
At first glance Montauk, a fishing town on the tip of Long Island in New York, seems like a quaint village ideal for a weekend getaway. There's a plethora of charming restaurants, a handful of motels, and beautiful ocean views. But to anglers, Montauk is a Mecca. So of course, as an intern at Field & Stream, I volunteered to cover the town's annual Surf Classic, a weekend tournament that awards cash and prizes for the largest striped bass and bluefish landed.
But visiting Montauk I learned something about surf fishermen that live there and flock to its shores: They're completely insane. This realization hit me like a 50-pound striper slamming a bucktail jig. I remember the exact moment it sank in. Montauk fisherman Gary "The Toad" Stevens had just left Paulie's tackle shop on his way to the beach and I was going to join him to experience surf fishing first hand. He mentioned on his way out the door that where we were going, "we might not come back." A Paulie's regular covered in tattoos and wearing a T-shirt older than me grabbed my sleeve and whispered, "Gary's one of the best fisherman out here...but he's *&@#%^* nuts."
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Surf fishing for striped bass in Montauk, New York, means taking your chances on snot-slick rocks and with vicious waves in the dark. We decided to send our intern, a Montauk rookie, out to cover the annual Surf Classic tournament during a hurricane to see if he'd survive. Story by Rick Bach IF YOU GO: What: Montauk Surf Classic Where: Montauk, NY When: 2009 dates TBA (check for updates at pauliestackle.com or call 631-668-5520) Register: Paulie's Tackle Shop, 131 South Edgemere Street, Montauk Cost: $15 |
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