Montauk Pioneer - July 3, 2009 - The Word At Paulie's

"What's happenin'?" shouted Paul with a big grin, as another big bass came in to tip the scale. The surfcasters were pulling them in for sure, especially the 55 pound bass caught by Mark Foschi. As Toad announced, "It's time to follow Foschi...everywhere."

"Sandman Glen" did it again with his 25 pound bass and Mike Coppolla caught and released bass in the 30s-40s pounds. Also reeling them in on the sandy beaches were John Lendini with his 39.25 pounder, Tito Baez with a 39.25 pounder, Jeff Krist caught a 50 pounder which he released and Gary Krist caught and released bass in the 30 pound range. Geoff Bowen hooked a 36 pounder and Bob Neilson a 12.5 pound weakfish.

Paulie's Tackle keeps on moving up with tournament records, renowned surfcasters, and curious tourists who have heard about the landmark fishing shop. One of the main attractions

The "Toad" and the "Skisher" show off thier catch. Photo by Eugenia Bartell

here is a surfcaster who gave up fishing the rocks for swimming with his prey.

Roaring in his motorcyle to park in a special spot at Paulie's, is the red and silver, custom-made factory 2006 Big Dog motorcycle with a big, fat 250 rear tire, straight pipes and supercharged like a Grucci firecracker. The bike can go from zero to 60 mph in four seconds. Wearing a skid helmet, Ray Ban glasses and a t-shirt, the tattooed, muscular, free-spirited Paul Melnyk "cranks it up" loud as he rolls on the throttle, testing people's nerves and to let everyone know he has arrived.

A nationally-known figure in the world of sport-fishing, Melnyk has been featured and celebrated in Forbes, Sports Afield, Altantic Monthly, Men's Journal, Field and Stream, and the list goes on, for his extraordinary "skishing" fishing.

If he personifies the extreme end of extreme on a bike, he also lives on the edge in the water. One could say it all began summering in Montauk at the age of three when Paul loved fishing at the Navy Road Dock and riding his tricycle. Poles and reels were this little guy's favorite toys.

Roaming the USA like an Army brat with his sister, mother and conceptual artist father who worked for a defense contractor, Paul returned to Santa Cruz as a young man with his very pretty girl Dawn and became part of the rock and roll scene singing, playing a guitar, writing music and, of course, roaring around on a bike.

After a very bad motorcycle accident in 1975, ("my legs had to be sewn back on") he recuperated in Montauk, married Dawn, had two lovely daughters and bought the Ann Breyer Cottages which he and his wife have operated for twenty years. Now a master artisan, his cabinetry is so well recognized that his talent and workmanship are in high demand. Three of his fingertips are missing due to his exact, demanding precision.

Charismatic and charming, his talents include singing with the East Hampton Choral Society and The Montauk Community Church Choir draped in a maroon robe. His tenor/bass voice is often heard at Paulie's where he delights in entertaining the gang. Speaking in French, Spanish or even German, he tears the guys up with his loud one-man shows.

Wearing a wet suit and fins and with ability, stamina, guts and passion, Paul Melnyk has proven what it takes to be a skisher.

"Skishing is meeting your fish within his element," explains Paul. No longer battling the "tap dance of shoulder to shoulder anglers on the beach or on the rocks," it's beyond the breakers for the skisher as he bags one after another. It is here in the deep where the fish bump into him and where he caught his 45 pound cow.

With a 10 foot Lami, a Van Staal reel, diving knife, light, whistle, pliers and orange hat, Melnyk swims to meet his prey, wearing outfits he often changes. "He's a slave to fashion," Paulie joked.

Skishing for fifteen years, his first protegé was Atilla Ozturk, then Livingston Pope Noel, III, Bill Graph and currently, Frank Blasco.

In his acclaimed book, On the Run, An Anglers Journey Down the Striper Coast, David Di Benedetto writes about the amazing journey he took with Paul on a pitch black October night, swimming beyond the dangerous rollers to skish. "If a shark grabs me," yelled the fearless skisher, "I expect you to fight him off with your knife."

Fortunately, living on the edge has paid off for the maverick angler who has dreams of bigger fish. "After all, why not catch one of the big bluefin tuna I see breaching the waves out there? What a thrill it would be to hook up to one of those......"

National Geographic's new show HOOKED that begins this month, will feature Montauk's Paul Melnyk during a fall segment. Be sure to catch it.

If you have any comments or questions, please email me at: genia631@yahoo.com