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About the
Cape Cod Salties Sportfishing Club |
History
 The
Cape Cod Salties was founded in 1959 by commercial striped bass
fishermen concerned with access to the shoreline fishery in Chatham,
particularly Monomoy and Morris Islands. Many of the members of the
club at this time fished Pleasant Bay and the High Bank areas. These
were the days of plentiful bass, and these fishermen were interested
in promoting their interests. Multiple catches of 30-, 40-, and even
50+ pound fish from the beach at night were the norm for many of these
hardy fishermen. Some of our members continue this tradition today.
The Shaeffer Brewing Company supported a competitive derby involving
cash and prizes. Salties vied for these prizes in competition with
other fishing clubs.
In 1975 the club branched out to encompass recreational fishermen as
well as those with commercial interests. This change was made in part
to provide a broader membership base with more commercial and
political clout in advocating for the interests of fishermen. The club
established an annual striped bass and bluefish derby for members with
cash prizes for those over 16 years of age and trophies for those
under 16 years. Interestingly, perhaps as a reflection of market
values, the prizes awarded for bluefish were half those paid out for
stripers!
Purpose
The purpose of the Cape Cod Salties organization is clearly stated in
its by-laws as quoted below:
“The purpose of this organization shall be to promote and encourage
interest in saltwater sportfishing; to provide opportunities for those
interested in saltwater sportfishing to gather for entertainment and
good fellowship; to foster sound conservation practices and laws and
to see that these laws are properly supported and carried out by
members; to further good sportsmanship; and to disseminate information
concerning saltwater sportfishing to club members and to others.”
Structure and Decision-Making
Herbert Hoover said “All men are equal before fish.” The club’s
philosophy reflects this observation. The club is a diverse group of
approximately 275 men and women from all walks of life and all levels
of angling proficiency--from novice to professional--bound together by
a love of the sport. Members’ interests and expertise include
virtually all methods of saltwater fishing: surfcasting, spin fishing,
offshore and inshore boat fishing, and saltwater fly fishing.
The officers and a board of directors elected by the membership
oversee the day-to-day operations of the club. Decisions involving the
expenditure of $100 or more must be approved by the membership. Policy
decisions are also approved by vote of the membership. While this
process may make for some spirited meetings, control of the club is
firmly in the hands of its members. A number of standing committees
further supports the goals and needs of the organization.
Prominent Members
In mentioning some of the more prominent members of the club, the
writer recognizes that every member of the Cape Cod Salties is
important and that each member makes a contribution, be it small or
large. Apologies are made to those people whose names should appear
here but were inadvertently omitted.
• Molly Benjamin, former commercial fisherman, is the writer
of the fishing column for the Cape Cod Times through which she
shares her wit, humor, knowledge, and appreciation of the sport
and business of fishing with thousands of her readers. Her fishing
reports are lively and reliable. Recently deceased.
• Phil Coates, former director of the Division of Marine Fisheries,
provides the club with valuable knowledge of the workings of
governmental regulators of fishing activities.
• Al Brewster is a noted fisherman, outdoorsman, fly tier, decoy
carver, and raconteur.
Al is one of the pioneers in saltwater fly fishing for striped bass.
He is a fly tier of national distinction. His duck carvings are
coveted works of art. Al is a story teller who never fails to
entertain with his knowledge, humor, and humility. Al gives generously
of his time and talent in support of the club, particularly in
activities which encourage children to develop a love of angling.
• Paul Caruso is a fisheries biologist with the Massachusetts Division
of Marine Fisheries. Paul has written for Massachusetts Wildlife. Paul
shares his biology expertise with the club and keeps members abreast
of management issues which impact the fisheries.
• Stan Daggett, retired teacher of mathematics, commercial fisherman,
and shore fisherman of great reputation, is also a Cape Cod
Salties member. Stan is expert at stalking big bass from the
shore at night, using conventional as well as fly tackle. Stan
has taken a 40-pound bass on the fly! Recently deceased.
• Lou MacKiel is a tireless advocate for sporting interests. He is the
Cape Cod Salties vice president for environmental affairs and
advocates for fisheries’ interest with local, state, and national
regulators. Lou’s popular “Take a Course, Catch a Fish” course taught
at Nauset, Sandwich, and other locations reflects his desire and the
desire of the club to bring newcomers to sportfishing.
• Steve Sylver is a highly regarded angler who shares his expertise
through frequent workshops offered to Cape Cod Salties members. His
custom-built boat, surf, and spin rods are works of art and durable
tools for the discerning angler.
• Other notable members include Terry Tessein, Alec Chalmers,
Walter Burr, Lee Boisvert, Lou Mackiel, BillCottle and Robert
Jessup.
Activities
The Cape Cod Salties meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month at the
Yarmouth Senior Center on Forest Road in West Yarmouth. Workshops
begin at 6:30 PM, followed by the business meeting at 7 o’clock. The
workshops are designed to be skill-building sessions for members and
are generally given by members. Typical topics include schoolie
fishing tips, wire lining tackle, Atlantic outer beach fishing, guide
replacement, fishing leaders, tippets, and knots. You get the idea!
These presentations are the down-and-dirty, how-to-do-it topics which
skillful fishermen need to know. A speaker is scheduled to follow the
business portion of the meeting. These entertaining and informative
presentations are made by guides and captains, tackle representatives,
local experts, and writers as well as public officials.
The club hosts three dinners per year which supplant the normal
meetings for those months. The January dinner features the annual
awards presentations. The awards at this banquet are made in
recognition of catches made by club members and entered into the
season-long derby for members only. Dating from the days when members
vied for cash and material incentives, today’s derby prizes of
certificates, plaques, and trophies are no less coveted. The pride of
each member so recognized is evident on the smiling faces. After all,
they are being recognized by their peers for being the best of the
best: the Cape Cod Salties. The derby has divisions for youth and
adult, male and female, shore and boat, and conventional and fly
tackle. Recognized derby species are striped bass, bluefish, bonito,
cod, tautog, white perch, fluke, mackerel, winter flounder, false
albacore, and bluefin tuna.
A number of environmental improvement activities are sponsored by the
club. Cape Cod Salties members take part in a cleanup of the Cape Cod
Canal south access road each Fall. Members also clean the West Dennis
beach at least twice a year. The club helps to maintain a herring run
and has participated in the planting of eel grass to help restore
favorable marine environments. The club encourages catch-and-release
fishing through the use of tagging kits which are available at low
cost to members. These kits are obtained from the American Littoral
Society, of which the Salties are members.
The Salties support community activities as well. A “Learn to Fish”
Day is held in West Dennis in the late spring and offers instruction
and information to the public about all types of sportfishing. A live
tank displays specimens of sportfish such as bluefish and striped
bass. Members have supported the Marstons Mills River Day program held
each May by providing environmental and fishing instruction as part of
a fishing derby for children as the public celebrates the Marstons
Mills River. The club also provides financial support for young people
enrolled at the Junior Conservation Camp held each summer. The club is
proud to participate in the Wellfleet Oyster Festival in the fall.
Salties advocate for the interests of the saltwater angler as a
participant in the Barnstable County League of Sportsman’s Clubs,
which in turn is a member of the Massachusetts Sportsmens’ Council.
Through these two organizations, for example, the club initiated and
changed the policy on the catch of winter flounder so that the season
now allows the harvesting of fish in the early Spring thus affording
the shorebound angler an opportunity to catch these fish while they
are in close proximity to the shore.
Hook Up With The Salties!
You can readily see that the Cape Cod Salties Sportfishing Club
is a vibrant, lively organization for people who fish. Membership
in the Salties can improve your fishing skills and enable you
to network with people who share your interest in sportfishing.
Annual dues are $30 per year which includes spouse and children
under 16 years of age. No initiation period or sponsorship is
required. Why not join today? Just come as a visitor and if
you decide to join print out the application
form and send it in with your check for $30 to PO Box 1183,
S. Dennis, MA 02660-1183 or join at any regular meeting. The
Salties are a nonprofit, volunteer organization.
Membership
benefits include monthly seminars, a fishing derby, monthly
newsletters, discounts at some tackle shops, sharing information
and tips with experienced fishers, advocacy for fisheries issues.
And a new website was launched in 2004.
Sincerely,
Bill Cottle, President
For
further information, contact either...
Our
Officers:
- President
- Bill Dulude
- Vice
President - Bill Davis
- Vice President
Environmental Affairs - Lou MacKeil
- Treasurer
- Norm Clark
- Directors
-Dick Powell, Steve Unsworth, Dick Nicholsdon
- Secretary
- Frank Kuehn
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