News6

Winners of the Bill Wood Memorial Fluke Contest on Saturday July 25, above right Keith Meyers, with 6.5 lb. Fluke and right , Paul “ Red” Bessinger , whose boat took second with a 3.45 lb. Fluke caught by his brother Al.

Tom Rosati, BOCW caught these fish 6/19/09 Sea Bass 2.97 lbs. Fluke 6.27 lbs.

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

a big Thresher Shark on a spinning rod with 12 lb. test

While fishing with a Wal-Mart spinning rod with 12 lb. test, a short wire leader and a bluefish hook 9-year-old Connor Olski hooked up a big Thresher Shark. Club member Rich Olski Jr, his sons Connor and RJ and friend Steve Aronoff and his son Tyler had joined club member Tom Olski and his girl friend Brenda on Tom’s boat “Bite Me” for a bluefishing trip near the BA buoy on August 1st. “Within seconds of putting his line in the water Connor’s rod was bent and he was being pulled across the deck,” his dad said. Rich took over the rod and fought the dangerous long-tailed shark for almost 45 minutes while Steve took pictures, capturing the shark as it leaped into the air. They lost it at the side of the boat when the shark slashed the thin line with his tail. “ I know if we had a longer wire leader we might of landed him, “ Rich said. Later they went on to catch several big bluefish, including a 13.5 pounder and Connor hooked up another big shark. The sharks may have gotten away-- this time -- but it made for a fishing “tail” they will never forget or forget to tell. Photo above left, Connor seated in the fighting chair, right RJ and Rich. Below, left Rich, right Tom Olski, and left Tyler and RJ show off their fish. Right, Connor takes a well deserved break.