April 2025
"The purpose of this organization shall be to promote, protect and preserve the surfcasting tradition, in its many forms, along our coasts...
CSA Bylaws, Article II. Purposes
Fish!
[intransitive] go fishing to spend time fishing for pleasure, Let's go fishing this weekend.
Contents:
President’s Letter
An Announcement
Meeting Notes
CSA Swag
Club Contests
June Cuttyhunk
Fish Pictures
First Fish!
Spring Fishing
April Skies
A Letter from our President
BYLAWS
Connecticut Surfcasters Association, Inc.
…
Article II. Purpose
The purposes of this organization shall be to promote, protect and preserve the surfcasting tradition, in its many forms, along our coasts; to serve as a forum for communication, socialization and recreation among individuals sharing an interest in surfcasting; to serve as a vehicle for interacting with other organizations having a similar interest in the tradition and sport of surfcasting; to develop a supportive and informational network for persons interested in surfcasting; and, to provide information and education in surfcasting.
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Greetings everyone,
Occasionally it is good to refer back to the documents that allow our association to exist, to prosper. Over thirty years ago three surfcaster friends, Frank Capone, Mitch Corah, and Steve Pynn founded Connecticut Surfcasters Association while on a surfcasting trip to Cuttyhunk Island. To their credit they drafted common sense bylaws providing that annually, each May, there are elections for open board of directors' positions. By laws require a minimum of 7 and up to 13 directors max, unless changed by the board. Each director's term continues year to year unless a vacancy occurs, resignation or removal. It is the directors, by majority vote that shape the associations "Communication, socialization and recreation," i.e., general membership meetings and outings, trips, etc.
This May there are four director seats available. Many thanks to Nate Kahle's recent service as a board member at-large and our club's raffle chairperson. Nate is stepping down from e-board duties. He has agree to remain raffle chairperson though indicates he would like to pass on the raffle responsibilities. NOTE liaison, committee positions such as membership, raffle, need not be a director. Yes, the directors may designate committee persons, however, the position does not require e-board status. The current directors are me, Pres., Charlie Gargano, V.P., Jim Savage, Treasurer, at at-large members Bill & Deb Goeben, George Baldwin, Pat Abate, Bill "Billy D" Delizio, Mike Mullen, and Steve Hasselbacher. That leaves us with four available seats. Not all seats need to be filled. But members who have shown interest are Dave Nguyen, Bill Fox, Joe Esposito, and Jim Munson. The e-board appoints its officers - president, vice president, a secretary and a treasurer. This year's elections look to the general membership to advise the e-board that Steve Hasselbacher be appointed president, while yours truly resume secretary responsibilities.
Surely, I have omitted a name or three that may want consideration for a board seat. And if not this year then next year, or the year after. Take into consideration that consistent, regular e-board meeting attendance is strongly encouraged. However, as president I have assumed one last duty to seriously look into possible remote e-board meeting attendance by means and methods akin to the formal and reliable means our Connecticut judicial/court system conducts most court hearings, and another NGO where I am the board chairman. I will do my best, and with the majority vote of our e-board, perhaps get reliable remote access to those not so local to our current Branford House Community Center meeting venue.
Here's my Formal Announcement
Greetings CSA members,
During May’s meeting at the Stony Creek Brewery in Branford our club will hold our annual elections, and it has been suggested to me by several members, that I run for Club President this year.
At first I was apprehensive. When I think of a club president, I think of someone who has been a long time member, with a great understanding of the clubs inner workings and service structure, who is well spoken, with a fancy wardrobe. That is not me. I am a relatively new member, having only joined 4 years ago, and being a board member for the last 2 and some change. I am however, a very dedicated and passionate angler. Member Jim Munson once wrote "I find that my resentments are saltwater soluble,” which resonated very deeply with me. From the relationships I've developed, places I've seen, and general sense of peace and serenity I've gained from this past-time, my life has been greatly enriched. I don’t know that time spent on the water makes for a good president, but I’m sure it doesn’t hurt.
One of the reasons I joined CSA, was to give myself a louder voice to certain issues that effect us all as fishermen. As an organization we can often carry more weight than the individual. My first experience with the CSA was in 2018 at DEEP headquarters during the amendment 7 hearings. I sat in a room full of acquaintances, who were there to stand up for what they believed in, rather than complain online. I didn't realize it at the time, but the majority of the people I knew were club members. Since then, we have helped make great strides in other issues effecting fisheries and access. "To promote, protect, and preserve the surfcasting tradition in its many forms,” is our mission statement. I believe in conservation and sustainability, but at the same time, believe in anglers rights. It's often a fine line between the two. I also often have strong opinions on what promoting the sport should constitute. But they are just that, opinions. And fortunately for the rest of the world no vote holds greater value than the next. Our current board and executive members are dedicated, and have done a great job keeping the club moving forward, and will continue to do so. But at some point, it's up to the next generation to step up and keep it alive. The fishery has changed, technology has changed, and the way anglers enter the sport and learn has changed. But the importance of fishing clubs has not. We are the ones who generally host our winter shows, seminars, tournaments, and other various events that make this community what it is. It's an honor to be considered for the position, and with that, I am throwing my hat in the ring to be president of the Connecticut Surfcasters Association.
Steve Hasselbacher
April 2nd Membership Meeting
On Wednesday, April 2nd 2025, Toby Lapinski, former editor of The Fisherman magazine will be presenting at the Connecticut Surfcasters Association monthly meeting.
Toby is, without a doubt , one of the most knowledgeable surfcasters on the east coast. Not just for schoolies, soft plastics are big fish lures too! Toby will break down his approach to targeting striped bass of 20, 30, and even 40-plus pounds in the surf on soft plastics. He'll cover the baits he likes to use and why, how to rig them, and how he fishes them along the open surf.
The meeting will be held at the Madison Memorial Town Hall at 8 Meeting House Lane, Madison, CT promptly at 7:00 pm and will end before 9:00pm (or shortly thereafter). There will be a short business meeting and a raffle featuring surf fishing lures, equipment and maybe a rod or reel (hint: bring some money, the raffles always have some great items).
See you there!
George
Renew Your Fishing License - portal.ct.gov › ctoutdoorlicenses
CSA NEWS FLASH!!!
CSA neon green knit caps and a selection of CSA bill caps
will be available at the April meeting.
Club Contests
Striper a Month 2025
Each year CSA runs a year long contest to see who can catch a striped bass in the 12 month period between December of the previous year and November of the current year. The following members have managed to catch at least one bass a month from December 2024 through March 2025.
Jim Munson
Liam Rosati
High Hooks and Top 10
High Hook Rules are as follows:
1. Fish must be caught from shore or surf, with both feet planted on Terra Firma.
2. The High Hook club tournament generally runs from the first Sunday following Thanksgiving for a period of one year.
3. Overall length, measured from the tip of the lip, to the end of the tail, is used to determine the winner. Weight is optional and not used to determine a winner.
4. Entries must be reported by the first membership meeting following the catch.
5. Entries can be sent to Mike Mullen at mike@highhooklures.com or the current Club President via email or submitted in writing at the next club meeting.
We are still looking for a Spring Cow
A Spring Cow is the first 40” bass caught on/after first day of spring.
Years ago the BOD agreed to add language “Below saltwater demarcation line.” And so, we can assume, as we are a surfcasting club, all Spring Cow entries must be from below the saltwater demarcation line and we agreed that would be the first bridge on any of Connecticut’s rivers.
June Cuttyhunk Trip - June 19, 20 & 21 - There’s still room for YOU!
Mary Howard enjoying Cuttyhunk
We are confirmed for Pete's Place Rentals for a committed 12 heads from Thursday June 19 through Sunday June 22. We have accommodations at Pete's Place Upstairs and Pete's Place Downstairs http://petesplacerentals.com. Both sleep 9 singles, or, if couples, up to 11. To round out the committed 12 heads we have our pick of the other smaller rentals such as Boat Shop, Horseplay or The Loft. The price is $120 per head per night. It's a far cry from past years, even the last couple of years. But Cutty has become a June wedding destination spot. Accommodations such as Lehner House gets primo rental during June. Here's the bottom line, no exceptions allowed. The club is committed to 12 paid spots regardless if we fill them or not. June 19-22 is just 3 months away. PLAN YOUR WORK/FAMILY OBLIGATIONS NOW. Once committed by paying $180 deposit by the May general membership meeting, that's May 7, your space will be saved. The remaining $180 balance due must be paid by the June 4 general membership meeting at the Madison Beach Surf Club. The first twelve $180 paid deposits will be the 12 going to Cutty. There will be no return of deposits! Be forewarned. So, if you can pay now, meaning you know for a fact you can commit now for a mid-June four-day trip then great. If you need to wait until the May 7 meeting then by all means do so. However, there is no guarantee that there will still be an available spot. Of course, full prepayment is always accepted. Depending on the sign-ups, committed paid-in-full numbers by the June 4 meeting, we may consider a waiting list. We may have some flexibility, and that's a big maybe, since by April - May most available Pete's Place rentals are spoken for by other anglers. So, PLAN NOW. Be it your first time or your umpteenth time, a Cuttyhunk stay in mid-June is magnificent. Every beach rosebush is in bloom, native brush and reintroduced native sassafras trees in flower.
Fish Pictures
Joe Esposito had a good day top mid 30s bottom near 40"
Devon LaCroix with his 38” bass
Madison Catches her First Fish!
Here we see Madison, who is Mary Howard’s niece,
with one of the first fish she ever caught surfcasting
Actually, it was the second, because the first one flipped off the hook before I could get a picture of it. For years Madison had been hearing about us going fishing and catching fish and having fun and she really started to get a bug about it. She and one of her girlfriends came down from Boston to try some fishing last year, but try as they might she and her friend went home with a skunk. She heard we were catching again and kind of invited herself down for another try. We where happy to have her and fortunately, she came on a day with good weather and favorable time for tides. It took a little doing to get her back into casting lures and trying retrieves that might work and it must have been frustrating for her because both Mary and I were catching fish. Well, finally after getting a few bumps Madison hooked up with a couple of fish in short order and she was thrilled. Now, we’re looking forward to later in the spring when we can try our luck fishing in the Sound and trying to catch something just big enough to eat. Then she’ll really be happy!
Mike M.
Spring Fishing by Mike Mullen
One of my first springtime stripers
I used to try to catch a fish during every month of the year, but then I grew a brain. It’s just too cold to go fishing most of the time in January and February, so I usually just wait at least until the first day of March or whenever it starts to warm up in March. Generally, I don’t catch anything my first few times out. But I don’t care. I just want to be there when they show up. Sometimes the fiddler crabs are out before the fish come. But I think it’s generally the case that the fish are biting just before the ospreys get here.
No matter what, I usually start by using white plastic with a 3/8 oz. jig head. I know everyone has their favorites and if they work, go with them. My favorite is the 5 inch ZOOM Salty Super Fluke in white pearl. I also like using the white painted jig heads. The hooks are made with rather thin wire, but that’s not much of a problem with the smaller fish. If the fish were bigger I’d like the HEADLOCK with 6/0 - 3/8 oz. Mustad jig. They have thicker wire.
I really like fishing with both spinning gear and a fly rod for schoolies and later for bigger fish as well, in certain places. You can see in the picture I have a green over white Lefty’s Deceiver, which I usually start out with. It’s just like using white plastic, they seen to be very similar offerings and both work very well. As the season starts I may catch one or two fish a day or just get skunked, but then things can pick up and I can get one after another. Years ago I would just see how many I could catch on a fly until I wore it out. I learned to add epoxy to the heads of the flys to make them last longer so I could catch more fish on the same fly. It got to be a little ridiculous, the numbers I would reach. To make it a little easier to live with myself, I started limiting how many fish I could catch before I would have to put the fly rod down and try the spinner or I’d make myself change locations or something just so I wouldn’t let things get too out of hand. Now, I catch five and make a change and I do put a reasonable limit on how many I catch in an outing.
Top a Lefty’s Deceiver and the my own Stream Mummy Clouser
As the season progresses, I make sure to look out for a local baitfish that the schoolies love to scarf on, stream minnows. They spend the winter hold up in the contributing creeks along our local tidal rivers. They live in quite large schools and can be seen near the culverts on the roadways that pass along the marshlands. I used to walk a lot and I would stop by some local creeks on my walks to see how they were managing during the winter. I could often see them through the ice if it wasn’t too thick. Toward the end of March I’d take extra care to check on them because as the water warms up, it finally gets warm enough for those mummies to head out into the larger river. That actually happened just last week. One day I was on my way out to fish, I checked the creek and just like that, they were gone. When I got to the river I spoke to another fisherman (who really should just go out and get a job) and when I mention the mummies being gone he said he had been fishing white plastic and couldn’t get a bite and then he put on black plastic and it was just one-after-another.
Well, when I got to a spot I like to fish, I put on the small clouser with the black top, brown or green middle, with a little copper crystal/flash and just a tiny off-white belly, that looks something like a stream mummy and I cast out. They were on it immediately. And so it went, I’d catch a few, I’d switch, I’d catch a few, switch. It’s a good life, this fishing.
Here is a collection of lures and flies that like to use for schoolies in the springtime.
I also bring a measuring tape.
April Skies by Mike Simko
This month's full moon is known as the "Pink Moon," not because of its color, but because of the timing. So many of our monthly moon-names came about through popularization by the Farmers' Almanac, a publication that dates to 1792. And the Almanac's popularized names are rooted in Indigenous North American traditions. This month's "Pink Moon" refers to the seasonal bloom of moss pink, or creeping phlox, one of the earliest wildflowers to appear in the spring.
The April full moon also happens to be a micromoon, the opposite of a supermoon. The moon's elliptical orbit around Earth varies greatly. Though the orbit averages about 240,000 miles, the closest approach 225,600 miles, farthest 252,100. This month's full moon is at the extreme end at 255,000 miles. A micromoon should appear visibly smaller then what you may recall of a prior supermoon. Also, compare your local high tides on the day of and the day after the April full moon. You should see tides nowhere near supermoon tides. Couple that with the earth being mid annual orbit around the sun tides swings will be fairly modest. What we had just a couple of years ago with a super moon right around January 1, and the earth's closest approach to the sun, known as perihelion, each year around January 3rd, THEN you have monster tide swings. And if the wind and weather accommodate you can witness extreme tides, perhaps once in a lifetime tides. I'll look ahead and advise in a future Suds
Dark skies, tight lines.
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Editor’s note: SUDS is generally better when more members contribute. Do your part and write something up. And remember, adding pictures can make a difference.
Mike M.
Our next meeting
will be
April 2
7:00 PM at
the Old Town Hall
in Madison
<;)))))))< >(((((((;>
See you there!