Longing for the good old days

[Canyonfish]

I was looking back at some old family albums and came across pictures of my Dad, Uncle and Grandfather and me when I was 5 years old showing a heck of a catch of winter flounder. I am 51 years old so this would have been
around 46 years ago, early spring 1967 or 1968. My Grandfather passed years ago and more recently my uncle after a battle with brain cancer
may they both rest in peace. But the reminder of the times I spent with them as a kid fishing are priceless.

We would drive from NJ to a small marina in Mamaroneck, NY (can't remember the name).

We would rent one of those old very big heavy wooden rowboats. In the early years my Dad and uncle rowed, later on my uncle bought a
small hp Evinrude that they would lug and attach to the rental. We chummed with corn and I remember using droplines with spreaders
and catching so many fish (two or 3 at a time) that my dad could never keep his line in the water helping me pull fish off the hooks.

These were truly great times with unforgetable memories.

These were great days. I was only a naive kid but I felt the world was simple and the sky was the limit.

Quite a difference from the over regulated bearacracy that recreational fishing is burdened with today. And yes I understand that manging fish stocks appropriately is in all of our interests but crushing the recs out of existence is not.

Glad I got to experiece that great time, and glad I have had my kids fishing before it may all be a distant memory.

[bunker dunker]

X2 and some.i too miss those days.we would get a row boat in belmar and do the same.i miss the magic hour trips on the old fisherman when we would jig those tiger tales and catch just about
everything,stripers,blues,fluke,sea bass and those giant weakfish.
Truly much better times

[jmurr711]

Originally Posted by bunker dunker

X2 and some.i too miss those days.we would get a row boat in belmar and do the same.i miss the magic hour trips on the old fisherman when we would jig those tiger tales and catch just about
everything,stripers,blues,fluke,sea bass and those giant weakfish.
Truly much better times

i dunno this past years sea raven run was epic...

[PaBeerGuy]

Originally Posted by Canyonfish

I was looking back at some old family albums and came across pictures of my Dad, Uncle and Grandfather and me when I was 5 years old showing a heck of a catch of winter flounder. I am 51 years old so this would have been
around 46 years ago, early spring 1967 or 1968. My Grandfather passed years ago and more recently my uncle after a battle with brain cancer
may they both rest in peace. But the reminder of the times I spent with them as a kid fishing are priceless.

We would drive from NJ to a small marina in Mamaroneck, NY (can't remember the name).

We would rent one of those old very big heavy wooden rowboats. In the early years my Dad and uncle rowed, later on my uncle bought a
small hp Evinrude that they would lug and attach to the rental. We chummed with corn and I remember using droplines with spreaders
and catching so many fish (two or 3 at a time) that my dad could never keep his line in the water helping me pull fish off the hooks.

These were truly great times with unforgetable memories.

These were great days. I was only a naive kid but I felt the world was simple and the sky was the limit.

Quite a difference from the over regulated bearacracy that recreational fishing is burdened with today. And yes I understand that manging fish stocks appropriately is in all of our interests but crushing the recs out of existence is not.

Glad I got to experiece that great time, and glad I have had my kids fishing before it may all be a distant memory.

Were the dogfish as abundant back then as they are now? Maybe dogfish are poop eaters, that's why they are so prolific because we've been filling the ocean up with poop. Don't laugh, I might be on to something.....

[bulletbob]

I am 59, and remember those glory days as well..
I doubt we'll ever see them again.. Too much pressure everywhere.
The problem is simple.. too many people have eaten too many fish, and the prices for whats left keeps skyrocketing, adding fuel to the fire.

Commercials that kill anything and everything so they can keep their money fish... "bycatch'...my ass,,,, bob

[Blackfish Doug]

Here's a good old day picture Viking Cod on the nantucket wrecks. In the days with my Jim Morrison cut.

[Blackfish Doug]

Originally Posted by PaBeerGuy

Were the dogfish as abundant back then as they are now? Maybe dogfish are poop eaters, that's why they are so prolific because we've been filling the ocean up with poop. Don't laugh, I might be on to something.....

The problem is that this bread of dogfish can tolerate the cold water temperatures. Years ago once the Cod showed up in good numbers the dogfish were gone. They were around good numbers in early Nov. but by mid December there were very few around. By Jan you seen very few of them until the fall.

[Duffman]

Originally Posted by bunker dunker

X2 and some.i too miss those days.we would get a row boat in belmar and do the same.i miss the magic hour trips on the old fisherman when we would jig those tiger tales and catch just about
everything,stripers,blues,fluke,sea bass and those giant weakfish.
Truly much better times

Brings back some great memories!!! Jigging Nordic eels on the 3-9 trips! Like you said, catching everything you can imagine, and the tiderunners were monsters!

[bigal427]

The 70's and 80's where great . No regulations all the mackerel and whiting you wanted. I use to do the Big J offshore wreck trips always came back with a dozen cod and Pollack most over 20 pounds biggest 55. Miss the good old days. What ever happen to the whiting?

[RBC67]

64 reminiscing of days that will never return