January 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
Meeting Notes
Demo Day
Club Contests
Winter Fishing
Fishy Reads
A Letter from our President
Greetings Surfcasters,
It’s FISHING SHOW SEASON! And not just fishing expos but outdoor expos too. Just sticking with fishing shows you can visit an expo just about every weekend starting with our CSA Demo Day to be held on Saturday, January 18 at the Clinton Town Hall, then the next day Sunday, hop in the Port Jefferson Ferry out of Bridgeport to attend the Surfcaster’s Journal, Striper Day in East Setauket, Long Island, and each weekend into March. Pretty much up until the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association’s New England Saltwater Fishing Show scheduled for March 7 through 9 at the Rhode Island Convention Center, there’s a fishing show within a daytrip driving distance. There are many fly-fishing demo days spread throughout our region. A quick Google search resulted in many fly-fishing expos and events throughout the region.
My purpose for attending a few events is to see who or what is trending as this year’s talked about products. I do not usually spend a lot of money on tackle though I will listen to seminars, rub elbows with old timers who remember Dacron line spooled Penn squidders. I also enjoy the conservation and ecologically oriented presenters and their spin on the future of our passion. That interests me more than anything, considering that to this day, I still firmly believe that a tackle bag with a Hopkins Shorty, an Alou Eel (O.K., I really am dating myself – substitute a soft plastic), a Danny and an Atom popper or Creek Chub Striper Strike is all that is really needed.
But what do I know?
Take a weekend or three to travel with friends or young anglers to attend a couple of shows. Wear your CSA proudly. And tell people about our jewel of an association out of Madison, Conn. Invite people. Give them my phone number – 203.556.7676. I may not be a preeminent angler, but I sure feel as if I am one of CSA’s most vocal cheerleaders. I’ll take that title gladly.
Tight lines everyone.
Mike S.
January 8th Meeting will be held at the Old Town Hall in Madison and begins at 7 pm.
Jim Munson is this months speaker his subject will be, Soft Plastics with a general discussion.
Members should be familiar with Jim, you've probably seen his name mentioned for Spring Cow, Striper - A - Month on the Top 10 List nearly every year. He's going to talk about soft plastics, which is not a new subject, but they've come a long way since the introduction of the SlugGo both in design and how they are used in the striper surf. Jim will cover ways of making, repairing and recycling these plastic treasures.
I'm looking forward to his talk since I thing that I learn more about soft plastics every year than any other lures. Maybe I'm just a slow learner.
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 November 2025.
je89224 ?
Mike Mullen
Jim Munson
Dave Nguyen
Liam Rosati
Bill Tesbir
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.
Winter Fishing by Mike Mullen
I’m really not much for winter fishing. I could have stopped back in November when the temperatures dipped below 40. Fishing NJ over the Thanksgiving weekend was a Booo… It was very cold and nobody was catching much, I actually only saw one fish caught in two days out. December was just cold here and I was more thinking about making lures than freezing my ass off out on the water. But then, just at the end of December we had that warm spell. I could see gulls picking at bait in the pond near my house. The temps were in the 50s and the wind was up and down, I couldn’t resist, I had to try out the new fly reel I got for Christmas anyway, so I went out with both the fly rod and a small spinning setup I like for fishing white plastic.
There were schoolies in the water. At first I had some trouble finding them, but I kept at it and managed to catch some fish every day of the 4 day warm spell, and then we were right back to winter and I was back at my work bench near my warm little wood stove. If the temps go up I’ll give it another try. Otherwise, I’m OK waiting until March.
Fishy Reads by Mike Mullen
This book was first published in 1988 and republished, by popular demand, in 2004 by Lyons Press in Guilford, CT. I’m not sure if any other reprints were made, but I know this has been an important read for many surfcasters up and down the coast for many years. I have read this book each winter, as bedtime reading, since the local publisher came to one of our meetings to offer it to club members 20 years ago.
Robert Post was a dentist on Martha’s Vineyard who took up fishing and enjoyed the sport and camaraderie of surfcasting on the island and especially liked fishing the Martha’s Vineyard Derby. He passed way too young, not long after the book was first published. The book is a collection of essays about some of the characters who shared that passion for surfcasting and enjoyment fishing the derby and was produced with their cooperation. Some of the subjects include: Nelson Bryant, Janet Messineo, Cooper Gilkes III, Kim Bramhall, Whit Manter and many more. The book describes their methods of fishing and talks a lot about where and when to fish many areas around the island. This is a truly wonderful book that has given me many nights of pleasant dreams.
The book can be found on the internet. It can be a little pricy, but worth every penny.
Please remember to support our sponsors.
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
January 8th
7:00 PM at the
Old Madison Town Hall
<;)))))))< >(((((((;>
See you there!