I began as a deckhand at age 12 (sandwich and soda gofer) for a doctor who had an addiction to white and blue marlin. He treated tunas as if they were skates. From there I worked deck fulltime for many NJ party and charter boats. I worked for the Bogans, Larson, Egetter, Garafano, Pisanno, and Keller, to name just a few, over the next 7 years.

In my late teens I began dragging and longlining for anything from whiting and squid to swordfish and tiles. At a late age, (when I realized fishing was a dying business)I went back to school but continued to run charters for several different charter boats and work deck on draggers. I am 100 ton licensed captain. I don’t want to say I’ve seen or done it all because I haven’t. But I thought I might lend some insight to some of the readers of this site as to what it takes to become a "good" fisherman. At least off the coast of NY and NJ. I’m not saying I am a know it all… far from it. If anything is true it’s that Ive learned something new every time I leave the dock.

I am happy to be involved with Fishing United because of the quality people on the site. I am an old school guy and I have learned from the best old timers in the business. If anyone out there wishes to discuss old, tried and true methods, proper techniques, general proven successful fishing methods, I would be happy to correspond. I am more then happy to teach or direct a newer fisherman as to the ways that have made the best fisherman in the NY Bight, the great talents that they are.

The person who realizes that he doesn’t know everything about fishing and is willing to listen will gain a tremendous amount from this forum. As most of us know the best fisherman on most boats are women and children. Why? Because they listen, don’t question and do what they are told in order to catch fish.

I am happy to answer most questions regarding inshore fishing. I will tell you where I think ‘they’ live and just as importantly where I think they do not. I will also tell you why I think what I do. This is a critical step in becoming a "good" fisherman.