THE Brooklyn Yacht Club, born out of prejudice after World War II, has grown into a diverse group whose love of fishing is a common bond.
The club was organized in 1946 by Jews who were barred from entering other such clubs that were established in marinas along the Brooklyn waterfront. It was from that small handful that the club grew to the open and warm group that it is today.
I came to know these men during their annual game dinner Tuesday evening at Chadwick’s in Bay Ridge.
The game dinner was started a few years ago and it has become a way to break up the boredom of winter. The dinner, prepared by Chadwick’s award winning chef Russ Titlands, was perhaps the best game meal I have eaten. I knew everyone else felt the same because when the food was served, all you could hear were forks hitting plates and not a word from the 18 anglers in attendance.
The rabbit and wild mushroom ragu over papperdella was the highlight, but the tenderloin of venison with some kind of Bordeaux sauce and the wild boar chops were both close seconds. There was also Cajun popcorn made from alligator that we ate like candy.
Most of the conversation centered on fishing. Phil Fravamni and Richie Shapiro, the offshore specialists, were lamenting about the wind that seemed to blow for two months straight, canceling most of the canyon trips.
Stuart Fries, who tags hundreds of fish each season for the Littoral Society, caught and tagged the same striped bass off Montauk over a period of four months.
Bob Notine was telling me about the seals that came up Gerritsen Creek in Jamaica Bay early in January – which goes to show you how diverse the wildlife is in the marine waters around New York. Jim Lehy, who was kind enough to share one of his fine cigars with me, was also sharing his bone fishing stories from the Florida Keys.
As far as the evening went, you could not ask for more – great company and great food.
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The 18th annual King of the Ice fishing contest will be held Feb. 16 at White Lake in Sullivan County, N.Y. Close to $3000 is divided among the winners in this contest sponsored by the Sullivan County Conservation Club. Applications and information can be had by calling Vinny LoCascio at (845) 794-2576.
The National Wild Turkey Federation’s television series, Turkey Call, will feature a turkey hunt in New Jersey. On Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. and Feb. 16 at 10 a.m., on TNN, the show will feature NWTF biologist Bob Eriksen working two Eastern gobblers with NWTF volunteer Mike Kitchens and Bob McDowell, the former director for the N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife. The NWTF cameraman said that this hunt provided some of the most scenic and exciting footage ever recorded for the show.