| Issue #16 - July 11, 2008 |
Montauk Fishing
An Interview With Two Of Montauk's Legendary Fishermen:
Gary Stephens and Paul Melnyk
What is your advice to a novice fisherman?
Gary: Watch others and if you have any questions, go to Paulie's Tackle.
Paul: Stay in Queens and learn how to cast before you come to Montauk.
What kind of bait and lures do you use for surfcasting?
Gary: I use clams and bunker chunks. For lures, poppers and hopkins in the day, at night, darters and metal lips.
Paul: For bait: live eels from Paulie's. For lures: the greatest fishermen use bucktail, bucktail, bucktail (Gary interrupted, "He can't spell lures").
Which are the three most dangerous areas to surfcast?
Gary: Under the Light when there's a big heave, middle of the inlet during a shark tournament and Shagwong Point during a storm or nor'easter.
Paul: Next to Gary, standing on a rock in a 5' swell or standing on the bluffs when there's 100 guys elbow to elbow during a storm.
Which rod and reel are your favorites?
Gary: The 11' Lamiglas rod, custom built by Paul Apostolides, of course, and tackle line it's Power Pro 40 lb. test braid.
Paul: My personal handmade rod, a 10' Lamiglas rod, 120/1M and the line is Sufix 65lb. test braid.
Which type of reel is your favorite?
Gary: Van Staal 250 Bailess at Paulie's.
Paul: My tattoo on my arm shows a ZeeBaas.
How do you dress to fish on a summer night?
Gary: Skirt and slippers. Oh, excuse me, how do I dress? I thought you asked how I dress the fish? Shorts and shirt, that's it.
Paul: First I take off all my clothes, then I put on a Hendersen 5 millimeter one piece wet suit, Aqua Skinz neoprene top and flippers.
What are the best fishing conditions?
Gary: Second day after a storm or a nor'easter.
Paul: Ditto.
Where would you suggest an average fisherman surfcast?
Gary: Turtle Cove or Town Beach.
Paul: Under the Verrazano Bridge. Oh, you mean Montauk? On the ocean beach in town.
How do the tides affect your fishing?
Gary: Tremendously! Tide is everything.
Paul: If the water's not moving you won't catch. An hour before and an hour after the mean high tide is the best.
What and when was your most frightening fishing episode?
Gary: Hooking Paul skishin' near the south side rock.
Paul: The day after a hurricane I swam in 7-10' waves and caught nothing but Joe and Atilla, standing ten yards from the beach were catching with every cast.
What is the average amount of money a beginner fisherman needs to spend on equipment?
Gary: A couple of hundred bucks.
Paul: It's a long time since I was a beginner but I would suggest you come to Paulie's and spend the amount he advises.
What was your biggest catch?
Gary: 53 lbs. on a 10 lb. test fishing line, a striped bass.
Paul: 525 lb. giant blue fin tuna. You mean here? It was a 53lb 40z striper.
Name some risks you have taken during your fishing career.
Gary: Going out on a too-rough surf without any gear.
Paul: Fishing an eel on Shagwong Point next to Joe the Plumber, fishing in the middle of a nor'easter with Joe Gaviola watching Eric the Treeman catch a fish and Joe and I were swept yards and thrown against a fence.
How has being called one of the best fisherman in Montauk affected you?
Gary: It makes me try to fish even better.
Paul: It has created in me the need to catch the world's biggest striped bass since I live in "the fishing capital of the world."
Who is your idol?
Gary: I don't have one but I respect guys who practice catch and release.
Paul: My idol and mentor is Master Jack Yee because Jack taught me where all the best rocks are, the finer points of wet-suiting, and he plays a hell of a game of chess!
- Eugenia Bartell
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