Red Hill Capos Go Surfcasting ’09: Part II

“Get Ready to Get Wet”

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2009

Dr. Charlie Boyz Catalano, last year’s surf rookie of the year, and Bobbie Avitabile, MVP of the Capos Surfcasting Weekend ’08, were first to arrive, late Thursday evening. Previously, I told them never to come back to surfcast because we could never reproduce the fishing success we scored last year. But they would have none of it. Mother Nature, however, shortly drove home my point.

At first light, fortified with scrambled egg sandwiches and a thermos of hot coffee, we were in the truck and off on a hunt for fish. Big Bob took a pass on the early morning run, citing five foot waves driven by gale force winds on Peconic Bay.

A vicious nor'easter blew more than 30 mph right into our faces at Montauk Point

A vicious nor'easter blew more than 30 mph right into our faces at Montauk Point

He swore he was not dreaming and I believed him. Checking the ocean near the East Hampton Main Beach jetty, it was obvioius we wouldn’t have any beach sand to run the truck on this day. Big wind. Big water. We headed east to see how things were shaping up on the town beaches of Montauk. The surf was fierce and very few sticks were in the water. Finally, we made our way out to Mecca: Montauk Point.  The wind blew with a sting and the surf heaved loudly in protest. Some 400 yards off shore, a long brown sand slick from the erosion of the north side beaches followed the current that swept around the lighthouse jetty. And though the breakers remained relatively clean, the fishing was shut down tight for the morning.

Shortly before noon, Felix Fanti and Tony Dolce arrived in Amagansett, so we headed back to Treasure Island Drive to suit them up. First, of course, the boys had to be fed. Eggplant parmigiana sandwiches with broccoli rabe on Semolina mini-loaves quelled most of their hunger.

Tony Dolce arrived well stocked with his private label vino: Cucini e Amici

Tony Dolce arrived well stocked with his private label vino: Cugini e Amici

Dr. Charlie Boyz went for a bowl of fish chowder and a piece of grilled lemon-and-garlic chicken.  We washed this all down with a toast from Dolce’s private label vinos: Cugini e Amici. Then, outfitted with rod, reel and waders, five of the six Red Hill Capos were ready to fish. Vinny DeNave was still in transit from Newark Airport where he arrived on the red eye from the west coast earlier in the morning.

We spent the afternoon bouncing back and forth between Turtle Cove, the North Bar and the town beach in Montauk. But there would be no fish for us this day. Once Vinny arrived, we  cut the day short with hope for better luck on Saturday. Dinner, some hi-low poker and rest for another battle against the nor’easter was the late afternoon plan. The evening’s menu was striped bass al forno with linguini, brocolli rabe contori, and Laura Papa’s Birthday Linzer Torte for dessert.

Click here for the full Capos Go Surfcasting 2009 Photo Gallery

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