Slowly But Surely...Fishing Brings Them Back

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Since the September attacks, I have seen a slow but sure increase in the number of boats on the water in my daily travels on land or by sea. I remember the day of the ...

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Since the September attacks, I have seen a slow but sure increase in the number of boats on the water in my daily travels on land or by sea. I remember the day of the event and from my office I could see the smoke trailing out over the water of the NY Bight and even party boat captains had told me people at the rail once they heard what happened, just seemed to stop fishing.

It's been a little over a month since the attacks and while the city and the nation will never forget what happened, we will fully recover and fishing can be a part of that healing process.

The entire fishing industry here on the Island and MY Metro area came to a complete stand still almost immediately and many people's lives were affected. We all know about the fire and police departments across the area and what they and their families and those who worked in the towers and their families went through.

Tackle shop owners, party boat captains and all affected by the trickle down economy of the fishing industry were hurt as well. Everything from the boat rental stations to the local delicatessen and the local corner gas station were all affected by the lack of angler participation following the accts on 9-11.

Fishing is a sport we most learn by doing and participating and most of us learned from an adult of some sort in our youth. Fishing can also be way of healing one's health, mind, spirit and soul. I have one friend, Hank Patterson of Long Beach who joined my fishing club back in 1990 after suffering a stroke. I taught him to fly fish and on his first trip he caught a 5-pound rainbow on a fly rod and has been hooked ever since.

He joined the Long Island Flyrodders, started making trips to the Salmon River in the middle of the winter for steelhead and ever since his mobility is much improved, his sprits and attitude were way up and they remain that way today with excellent mobility and plenty of fishing buddies as well. This is just one example and I'm sure there are many of you reading this that can name a few fishing success stories as well.

The amount of E-mails to me from fireman and policeman who didn't have the time nor desire to fish from the exhausting work schedule they've been on, but were looking forward to fishing as a way to rest their minds and sprit was overwhelming. Many letters said the first "taste of fishing " they've had since the attacks was my seminar, they really enjoyed it and we took their minds off things for a few hours...this made me feel proud to serve them in some small way.

As time passed since the attacks, I see more people at the rails of the party boats, more private boats on the water, more anglers at the local fishing piers and it all comes at the right time as the area heals itself and the best fishing of the year gets set to begin. Fall fishing is the absolute best of the year no doubt and with a smorgasbord of species to choose from we could not ask for a better time of year for the healing process to be underway and for Mother Nature to cooperate in helping us get on with living, healing and of course fishing.

You can follow our web site for fishing reports and a full schedule of party boat changes to their sought after species and sailing times or special trips they have added for night striped bass trips. Log on to www.thefishingline.com.

SCHEDULES. Our radio show schedule changes for the fall season with this Thursday, October 25 our last Thursday night "Weekend Fishing Forecast Show" for 2001 and our Saturday show will cut back as well from 2-1/2 to 1-1/2 hours every Saturday. We will continue to go on air at 4 p.m. on WGBB 1240AM radio every Saturday at 4 p.m., 52 weeks a year.

This Saturday, October 27 is the last television show of the season for us as well here at "The Fishing Line," as we air an episode of a fluke trip to Moriches this past summer with the folks at Silly Lily Fishing Station. Don't worry though as we will be back the first Saturday in May 2002 with all new episodes for next year at a new time of 8 a.m. and may even find a home for a repeat schedule somewhere this winter off season, we will keep you posted here if we do.

BOAT WINTERIZATION. Every Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m., there will be a Boat Winterization course and seminar produced by Boater's World marine supply stores here on Long Island. The stores in both Massapequa on Sunrise Highway and the store in Stony Brook host these seminars on how to properly winterize your boat and engine, saving you money in the process by learning how to do it yourself and with in store special savings on the items you need to winterize you vessel or fishing platform. For information on these courses and seminars call the Boater's World store in Massapequa at 516-541-6811.

2002 SHOWS. Time to mark your calendars for the two big shows of 2002 with the NY Boat Show and the Long Island Sportfishing & Outdoor Expo. We here at "The Fishing Line" will be sponsoring and producing the seminar series at both. NY Boat Show January 5-13, 2002 at the Javits Center. Mondays through Fridays 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.boatshows.com or call 212-922-1212.

9th Annual Sportfishing & Outdoor Expo January 17-20, 2002 at the Nassau Coliseum. Thursday & Fri. 3-10 p.m. Saturday 10 to 9 p.m. & Sunday 10-6 p.m. Admission: $10 adults / $2 of on Thursday for seniors and for children $6. Call: 516-625-5021 www.coliseumexpo.com.