Introduce Yourself...

[cchobot]

It's nice to see the action on here pick up a little bit lately, we really want to thank the community here and especially those who start threads and participate by posting.

While some members here may need no introduction (you know who you are ), it seems like there may be a bunch of people who don't post as often or haven't posted yet at all. We're going to keep this thread "stuck" up top of the General forum so everyone can get to know each other a little better.

Some other sites have traditions where new members can contribute something like a fishing story or a joke (let's keep it clean). So if you feel like it use this forum to make your introduction to the community.

[cchobot]

Guess I'll go first, my name is Chris Chobot, I've been working at The Edge for the past few years now. Born in Maine, but moved to CT when I was 4. Grew up mostly fly fishing for trout in CT and RI with my uncle (who taught me) and later with my dad (who my uncle taught as well).

About a year after graduating high school I moved in w/ another uncle who lived in Newport, RI. While I only stayed there a year I really wanted to get back and finally did about 4 years ago.

Now I live here in Newport and have a serious case of "islanditus" which puts a strain on my fishing since as everybody knows, there are no fish here .

Seriously though, fishing in saltwater is something I rarely did growing up but have come to truly appreciate. The sights, sounds and experiences of the surf and sea are amazing. Meeting members of the angling community through working at The Edge has also been a really enjoyable experience.

As one customer reminded me today on the phone, I've got my "dream job" at the moment. I get to talk and work on projects concerning angling all day long. Not too shabby

[Frightnight]

I am Chip,,, alias Frightnight,,, You may not know me? How many posts do I have now,,, ? LOL,, I frigging never shut up.

[FishnGrega]

Well my name is Greg Ring I've been fishing since I was about 6 years old. My father introduced me to the sport at a young age down at the causeway fishing for tinker mackerel and snapper blue fish. I will never forget the day he first brought me out. We were using diamond jigs at the time and I pricked my little finger with one of the trebles. Yelling and screaming so loud after he brought me home to put a band-aid on it I asked him "we going back out"? My father and I fished both fresh and salt water, mainly fresh water through out the years. To this day we've kept the tradition of fishing every opening day trout season.

In the past couple of years I began to fish more and more salt water. Chunking was our main style of fishing for stripers and bluefish. My father, uncle (Paul) and myself would spend countless hours fishing. Setting up shop down at Fort Adams where you were actually allowed to park down by the fog horn. Often we would pull all nighters (I thought that that was cool being only in my early teens) in search of the "one".

Recently with in the past 3-4 years I began playing around with the idea of surfcasting. In my head I didn't want to miss out on any fish that came my way, so throwing plugs would atleast give me that satisfaction of knowing that if there were fish in the area I would know sooner then later. I kind of have ADD when it comes to fishing I can't sit still. I want to have some kind of action. So throwing plugs is what I needed in that aspect. Like everyone in their fishing career you have to start somewhere, and I was pretty bad looking back on it now.

More recently I really was getting more determined to turn things around and become strictly a surf caster. I read books on stripers and their behaviors, learned about different types of plugs how and when to use them. Basically I just became addicted to the sport of striper fishing, I'm sure my family and friends can back me up on that one lol. Its a great sport and I have a great deal of respect towards it and the wildlife, and I hope to pass all of my knowledge to my children some day.

[Seajay]

I am married, have two girls and live in West Warwick. I presently work for Wells Fargo in the Reverse Mortgage Department, Senior Products Group.

First fish I recall was a pint sized largemouth on the Tennessee River at about age 6. As a boy down Alabama way, I fished catfish in golf course ponds, creeks and rivers with an occasional party boat out of Freeport, NY for porgy and flatfish. I really became addicted to fishing around 12 when fishing the reservoirs of Maryland for largemouth bass.

My first surfcasting experience was on my 12th birthday. Dad took the family to Assateague Island for the day. Equipped with conventional rigs better suited for party boats and being completely ignorant about the surf, I was unsure if I enjoyed myself or not! Between the old man yelling at my bird’s nests and the vicious horseflies - I was just a little underwhelmed.

I hated moving to RI as I thought I would have to give up my beloved largemouth bass fishing. At the time, nothing meant more to me then the pursuit of largemouths. Time passed and I adjusted to salt-water bait fishing when we moved to Newport in the 70's. My Dad and I fished a skiff and worked the shore for huge hauls of flounder (remember the flounder fishery in the 70's), mackerel, tog and weakfish. Different times then. Far fewer stripers and blues. I had my pick of the entire shore from Castle Hill to the Huttons. I could fish the lighthouse and seawall at GI, the sub piers or breakwaters on the base. I used to take my bird dog swimming at Agazzis.

Since that time, my fishing passion has ebbed and flowed. I have fished west coast Mexico Yellowtails and Calicos, So Cal largemouths, Colorado Brooks and Rainbows, Florida Sea Trout and Sheepshead and then back to RI almost three years ago. After returning to Newport, I ran into an old workmate from the Clark Cooke House while attending church (Rick Gallipeau) and he offered to take me fishing for bass. With Ricks help and help from guys like Sammy at Sams B&T, Kevin and Billy at Edwards, Newport County SWFC, RISAA Surfcasters and in particular SWE alum DZ, Mike Everin, Pete, Rob, Chris, Earl, Steve and my buds at RISAA Surf, I started to learn RI surf fishing.

My name is CJ. I love to fish.

[beaver]

Nice learning a bit about you fellas. I was waiting for the first, "Hi I'm a bassaholic," didn't take long.

Anyway, my name is Steve Barone, or as most of my friends and family call me, Beaver. Name came from the TV show. As a kid I guess I acted up like the character in the show and apparently the name stuck.

I just graduated from Roger Williams Univ. in Bristol and moved back home to Weymouth, MA. 22 years old and been fishing since 2 years. Grew up fishing anywhere from Boston Harbor to MV in the boat, and mainly just the canal from shore. My old man taught be every thing I know about fishing. He grew up fishing with his uncle in the canal, along side some legendary anglers, like Stan Gibbs. I'm still hearing stories about the canal in the old days, the moratorium, how he won the derby but he key didn't open the lock, and much more. I'm grateful to have started fishing at such a young age and really enjoy sharing my limited knowledge with others.

Fly fishing, surf casting, live baiting, trolling, boat, shore, fresh, salt, tuna, trout; you name it, I've probably done it. Really liking surf fishing lately and hoping to learn more and continue getting better.

Oh ya, I'm unemployed by choice, but nearing the edge of being broke. Fishing season is almost over so its about time I get job hunting, any suggestions

[scottw]

I though this was supposed to be the new guys...we already know you clowns ...ALL TOO WELL....

[cchobot]

I though this was supposed to be the new guys...we already know you clowns ...ALL TOO WELL....

c'mon new guys...

[Seajay]

how do you do the sound of crickets and a long silence? I thought if you were not born on the island you were always a new guy?

[Martyf250]

Hi All,

My name is Chris. I grew up in Portsmouth and just recently moved to Newport (big jump!). I started fishing when I was real young for bluefish on the Sakonnet river in my dad's 18' Manatee. I do lot of freshwater fishing around RI for largemouth bass mostly. Can't beat icefishing when the ponds freeze either! This past spring my brother and I really got into fishing for stripers on our 13' Whaler.
We fished mostly the Sakonnet River, Stone bridge, Tiverton Basin, and Mt Hope Bay. This fall I really got into surf fishing around 2nd and 3rd beach and plan on stocking up on gear in the spring. My biggest fish this season was only 31" under the Mt Hope bridge. Love reading all the insight this site has to offer!