Lep's Flea Market

Hi Mike - I well remember that day. We had Codfish Kenny along on that trip. Complaining the whole day, if I recall correctly. Some things never change.

Now I'll test YOUR memory.

Do you recall the trip to 17, maybe 15-16 seasons ago, during which we "rescued" Billy/NoTack's anchor and line? Now that was a "trip," in more ways than one!

For those that weren't there, the back story was that I had found a little "lump" on the SE side of 17 that was always loaded with big-ass tog. And I do mean always, as in every freakin' trip for about 8 seasons it was the only place I needed to fish down there. Never have I had a drop, for any species, that was as consistent as that tiny piece.

So my dear, now-departed buddy, Billy/NoTacks used to dock his own 26' Shamrock (a slightly mangy sister to my boat) right alongside me, behind a mutual friend's house in Seaford.

Billy was a great friend, but his fishing skills did need some assistance, as he would drool at the sight of the multi-tub catches that me and the boys would regularly bring back to the dock, from our forays to 17 and the near-by environs. He never came close to that kind of catching, despite my best efforts to bring him up to speed, verbally.

Billy needed more direct help, and after what seemed like endless asks for further info, I finally relented and gave him the numbers to my "secret" drop, along with some intel on how best to fish it.

As I said, Billy was a great and very helpful dock-mate, and so I felt somewhat obligated to help him out, after he had assisted me with some nasty boat-related repair or other. Who could possibly recall what that particular job was? Back in the day we were always tinkering around with our boats, and sometimes we actually managed to fix what was wrong, without screwing up two other things. Hey, think "learning curve." Everybody has to start somewhere, right? Anyway, he was super thankful for the info and promptly sailed down there on the very next decent day.

He called me that night to tell me he did go there, but had encountered a "slight" problem fishing it. Turns out that he had put a fresh 300' anchor line thru his trusty Good windlass the day before and thought he was all set to hit the big-time drop I had given him.

He did find it and marked it, (those were the days of the yellow Prestone bottle "markers"), ran up tide a good bit and put his anchor in the water. He backed down and backed down some more, and right as he got over the spot, he hit the "Up" button on his windlass control - and nothing happened. The boat didn't stop. So he looked forward - and there was no anchor line in sight.

He had forgotten to tie off the distal end of the line inside his anchor locker, and so the line payed out nicely, as intended, and apparently the very end payed out - right thru the windlass and pulpit and right the hell overboard. Can you say "GOOOOGAN move?" Wowza! So not having a spare anchoring setup on board, that was the end of that trip for the No Tacks.

He did sail back there later that week and attempted to grapple back his ground gear, but never did get it. So $300+ of line and chain, plus the 22lb Danforth, swivel and shackles, he was out a good penny.

Now flash forward three seasons. I was still fishing that drop, and had Capt. Mike aboard, for a two-man trip down there. I do recall we did quite well that particular trip, never having to lift the anchor a single time to make our catch. When it was time to go, I hauled back the anchor with my trusty Good windlass and when I got the anchor up in the pulpit, I noticed there was a line wrapped around it.

Further background - in those days there were a couple of lobstermen left that were still fishing 17, though that would pretty much end in a few more seasons. They would put their strings right next to and sometimes over my drop - and so it wasn't an unusual event to hang my anchor in their warps, which is why to this day I paint my anchor with white Rustoleum every Spring, so to be able to see the black poly warp lines wrapped in my anchor while it was still 10-20 feet deep, under the boat.

My windlass was strong enough to pull the warp that far, but many times it couldn't generate enough upward "umph" to bring the snagged anchor all the way to the pulpit. So it was always a big dance party dropping another line down and getting it under the wrapped warp, releasing my anchor and having it drop free, for final retrieval.

But this particular trip, the line was not black poly, it was dingy-looking white nylon. I worked with the windlass and throttle for a bit and got the anchor up to the pulpit. Mike went up thru the deck hatch, untangled the line from my anchor, and together we hauled in the formerly-snagged anchor line, with Billy's anchor still well attached. Dirty AF, but still perfectly serviceable, three seasons after Billy lost it.

That evening I gave Billy a call and told him to go down to our dock to see the "gift" I had left for him - nicely coiled and all. Billy was pretty shocked that his "old" new anchor and line were there, dirty, but otherwise fine. He had pretty much forgotten about that event, for which "memory loss" I could certainly understand. No one likes to be reminded of their screw-ups, right? He did pressure wash his gear the next day and stowed it aboard as a second anchoring system.

So between Capt. Mike and "Capt." Billy I am two-for-two on lost gear retrievals - and certainly hope that is the last time I have to come through like that for my fishing buddies. I'm good, but not THAT good! Hey, even Jake DeGrom is gonna be hard-pressed to go 3-for-3 on Cy Youngs. And he has waaay more skills than I do. For sure!

As for my king-pin drop? Now pounded flat as a pancake by the damnable Roller-trawlers, to the point that it is unidentifiable today, even with my Lowrance HDS - which is far more resolute than the old Sitex CRT I used, back in the day. What a big loss to our collective efforts that was. And many wonder why I've grown tired of the ocean-fishing game, here off the mid-South Shore. Humph.

So anyway, you remember that day, Mike? 😛

We have made a few unusual "catches" over the years but that is another one I will never forget. Its rare enough to snag and retrievevan entire rode. Even more amazing was the length of time between loss and retrieval. Obviously Billy set the hook really well the day he had to cut it. I'm sureno one was more surprised then he when he found it returned!
While on the subject of unusual catches, many years ago when we still had winter flounder on the North Fork a favorite spot of mine was just south or Orient Point, right where the underwater electrical/telephone cable lies. On more than one occasion I would snag the cable with my anchor. Being about 40 years younger and a lot stronger then, I found I could actually lift the cable until it was about a foot or two below the surface. No way I was going over the side to try and free my anchor. So I coiled up a bunch of anchor line in the bow, raised the cable as far as I could, then let it free fall to the bottom again quickly. It might have taken more than one attempt but I was amazed to find that apparently the free fall to the bottom caused the anchor to "bounce" and allow the flukes to clear the cable.
Tha spot was so full of Flounder that I had the cable lifting experience a few times. Worked like a charm!!

Pete, I enjoyed the story about Billy. Although I only knew him for a few years I admired his passion for fishing and Shamrock boats. A truly good man.

regards Holty

Hiya Mike - maybe you missed that Billy didn't cut his anchor rode, he failed to tie it off in his anchor locker. That's what makes the screw-up so funny. Even he laughed when he told me the story of that trip. Its a rare man that can laugh as he tells you of his colossal screw-ups.

Jay - you are right, Billy was as good as it gets. One of only three guys I've ever known that would show up at your boat with the proper tools (and sometimes the parts) to fix a problem, BEFORE you were able to hang up the phone. I don't know how he did that sort of thing, but it seems that was the case, always. What a loss in my life his passing was. It left a hole in my heart that has never healed. His wife asked me to speak at his funeral, but I was too choked up to even get a few words out on my good friend's behalf. He would have understood, I'm sure. Maybe even given me one of his deep belly-laughs too. . . "Hey Pete, What, you wanna live forever. . . ? Hah, Hah, Hah!" Jeez, what a guy he was. The best of the best.

Naturally you are correct Pete. I missed/forgot about the part where Billy actually forgot to tie off his rode. JoeBfishing also remeinded me of my poor reading skills/lapse of memory.
Sucks, getting old!!!🙂

Naturally you are correct Pete. I missed/forgot about the part where Billy actually forgot to tie off his rode. JoeBfishing also remeinded me of my poor reading skills/lapse of memory.
Sucks, getting old!!!🙂

I certainly didn’t say poor or old, those are your words... I hope to see you and Captain Neil Saturday?


Hi Joe,
Now that I think about it, you are correct. I do recall Pete telling me a long time ago that it was a real stupid mistake on Billy's part by not tying off his rode in the locker.

No problem on the correction. When you get to my age sometimes the "CRS" syndrome affects a few details of those largely accurate stories that occurred a long time ago.

BTW, I can't recall if we ever met in person. I don't always recognize everyone by their screen names. If you are coming to the Ward Melville show this Sat. my table is #17 in the Gym, directly opposite Capt. Neil.
Hope to see you there.
Mike

No offense taken, Joe. I was just kidding.
Apparently in addition to my "CRS" I also need new glasses!🙂
Look forward to meeting you Saturday.

Dear Capt. Mike, I certainly hope your "CRS" doesn't lead to the sale of a "CTS.”

Sincerely, Lep

😛

Next up from my personal collection - this super-nice Calcutta 400.

A solid 9+ in appearance and a 9.999 mechanically. I went thru it this week, installed new Carbontex drag washers, and a brand new drive shaft and handle nut. It already carries the latest power handle - worth an easy $30 alone, and is smooth, smooth, smooth. It was one of my Bay Bass Clam Chumming reels - and well, I don't get that opportunity very often any longer. So here it is on the Flea Market board. Used but never, ever abused, it has served me well.

$125 takes it - You can reach by P.M. here, called "start a conversation" on this site, or by text to my business phone at 516-635-8452. First come, first served, as is only fair.

That Calcutta is really sweet and a great price. Too bad I am not in the market for one.

BTW, as advanced as my CRS may be I have not totally lost all my marbles! As I expressed on the other CTS thread, I really love these rods and each one is well sutied to the fishing style I pursue.

The CTS collection on my rod rack is staying put!!!

I have to go over my collection ..I may have some doubles if I do just maybe put them up..wont be cheap !

Next up is a new old stock Abu 5600C3, with silver side plates installed. Never fished, never even had line on it. I will give it a full season-starting service prior to shipping. I will throw in a bonus of either of two power handles shown at no charge.

Price is $50.00 - a darn good deal, if I say so myself.

P.S> - the Calcutta 400 above is still available. Its a verrry nice reel that needs a new home!

Abu 5500 sold! Thanks NYAngler and J/F!

I picked up the 5500 great deal. Thanks Pete.

All the talk about CTS I do have my eyes on another CTS but need to move my BJ 700 to do so here it is. Have a beautiful custom wrapped CTS bj700 great jigging blank for sale with a hard to find Abu Garcia Record 40 on it to make a great set up. The blank is a cobalt blue color. Rod $300 and reel is $130 if sold as combo $410. Thanks

That’s beautiful...hmmm

Nice setup!

The BJ700 has been sold. Enjoy it Capt. Rick. Thank you Pete and NY Angler.

nice catch Capt. Rick

Last item trying to sell is a beautiful little Shimano Calcutta 50b in great shape with a Shimano wood power handle I also have the original paddle handle. I have box as well. Reel is in great shape actually threw on Berkeley x9 15 lb test yesterday incase I don't sell it I will use it. Selling for same $110 I was selling for prior to putting the line on yesterday. Thanks.