I woke up this morning with nothing but sadness in my heart. Yesterday we lost close a very close friend and a hell of a surfcaster. A fixture in the Montauk surf for last few decades ,Mark Levy never was and never will be your prototypical Montauk Regular.

He was as stubborn as a mule, he had a stamina of a twenty year old and a piercing stare that would make you want to go fish twenty yards away from him. But to us who knew him, he was the most loyal friend, a fishing partner and man who loved life. He liked fishing on the sandy beaches of Nassau County but he LOVED Montauk until his last breath. There was no place on earth where he was more at piece, more in his element then when he planted his feet on a slimy rocks on the Montauk North Side.

I still have a vision in my head of a hard nor’easters under the Bluffs, with a driving rain that pierced your soul. A huge menacing waves that were ready to swallow you whole if you took a step too close to the water. And there was Mark, standing on his rock, always the same one, wiping his glasses away in a downpour so he can make another cast. Like the world did not exist around him, as if he was all alone, he paid no attention to hundreds of casters to his side. Just cast, reel, wipe glasses, lean , cast , hook up, and on and on… Oh , how he loved those storms on the north side of the Light, how he loved tossing Super Strike Poppers in the middle of the night and catching fish while everyone else just scratched their heads.

May the Montauk Light be an internal beacon that guides him in afterlife. I am certain that Mark is already sharpening his hooks in Heaven, waiting for another tide to flush all the stripers from their Heavenly hiding spot.

He was a long serving member of High Hill Striper Club who was actively involved in the club and was one of the most ardent proponents of conservation and catch and release. I am not sure if I have ever seen him keep a fish of any kind and I knew and fished with him for almost two decades. He was not the type to tell others what to do with their fish but you’d see what he was thinking on his face. He wore a heart on his sleeve, there was no gray area , it was either black or white. Or in case of his beloved Super Strike darters, yellow.

Man sure could fish that darter, but to me, I will always remember that it was him who uncovered the magic of the Little Neck Poppers at night, and not willingly either. You had to earn his respect. I will be eternally grateful that I did.

To all his friends, family and fishing buddies, sincerest condolences on your loss from all of us at the Surfcaster’s Journal.

World has lost a hell of a surfcaster yesterday..they just don’t make them like Mark anymore..

Rest in peace buddy …and catch em up in heaven.

It’s time to play…name that picture. Yes , it’s our bimonthly feature where Surfcaster’s Journal staffers pick their favorite photographs in this issue of the Surfcaster’s Journal Magazine. This time, the job of picking his favorite shot fell to our esteemed editor Roger Martin.

You guess what Roger’s favorite shot it and you’ll win…..

This mojo Sub Darter from Tactical Anglers and a pack of their TA Clips which have taken over the surfcasting in recent years. Hey, great products sell itself. So here is your shot, post below the page you think Roger’s picture is located. You it guess correctly, and you win.

I will see some of you at my seminar at FCA headquarters in Staten Island tomorrow. If you are still on the fence I suggest you get down before you hurt yourself..or at least that is what my grandmother would say..lol

Seriously, come down for a breakfast and a bullchit session till noon. It should be a good time for a good cause

Winter Shows

Ever since cod and whiting disappeared from the NY Bight (a looong time ago), my interest in local winter fishing has been nil. Now, if I want to feel the tug on the end of the line, it’s either a few hours on the highway… or take to the friendly skies. The next best thing remains the fishing shows, and I am sure many of you are doing these as well.

We all have our reasons for going, but it’s different going to a show when (a) you have too much tackle already, and your wife has threatened to kill you if you bring just one more ”fish thing” home, and (b) you already have strong opinions on most products as it is – see (a) because you own most of it already.

But I am still entertained by a few of the characters, and I always hold out hope for that one rare find.

What is most interesting now is how some venders or representatives connect with the customers.

Many local types still have the personality of a bitpull – friendly to a familiar face – but almost barking at mere mortals who are always assumed to know so much less than the “top dog.” Read More→

I am sure many of you are thinking of buying a new rod. Because surfcaster can never have enough rods…nor can our wives ever have enough shoes! But there are so many options to consider, so many blanks, configurations, ratings. Wouldn’t it be nice to check them all at one place, maybe even compare one blank against another and then talk to the rod builder?

We’ll, you are in luck

For all you guys and gals thinking of getting a new custom rod this spring, now is your chance to check out blanks from a few of the blank manufacturers all under one roof. You can check the selections from CTS, Century and Steve Petri will have blanks from Lamiglas. CTS will have their new 1 piece blanks on display. Century has a new Stealth arriving shortly and Steve will have the Lami work horse lineup of GSB’s

They will all be at the Long Island Surf Fishing Expo at the Islandia Marriott , exit 58 off the Long Island expressway. For more info go to http://www.longislandfishingexpo.com/ 

btw

Zeno forgot to mention one show in his post yesterday.

here is the press release from the Freeport, NY show

FREEPORT SHOW NOW IT ITS 30^TH YEAR Read More→