It seems the best striped bass stories always seem to revolve around kids...like the one five years ago in New Jersey when a 50-pound bass pulled around a nine-year-old boy (who was fishing off a kayak) a for an hour and a half until the fish was finally subdued. There were many spectators and witnesses. There’s also the nine year old boy who wrestled a 45-pound bass in front of Gurneys Inn, that was choking on a flounder, and then brought it in by hand shocking everyone on the crowded beach. Or what about the surfcasters...the true die-hards: two years ago a 17 year old surfcaster caught a 60 pound bass off the rocks under the lighthouse in Montauk.

Last full moon, Montauk was all about the kids again. We start with the biggest one…a 57 pound slob caught by seventeen year old Vince Noblie from Dix Hills on his father’s boat, the Sea Savey.  Then a retired NYC fireman, “Rick the Fireman” trailered his, a less than glamorous, 1988,  21 foot Silver Fox, to Gone Fishing Marina and  started to steel all the headlines.

Rick, who was staying with family in their trailer on Gin Beach, went out  with  his  fifteen year old daughter and watched her land a 43-pound bass. The next night Rick brought his 22 year old daughter out and she hooked and landed  a 47 pound cow. Talk about girl power!

Both fish were officially weighed in at Gone Fishing Marina. The very next night, in a horrific (for a small boat) 22 mile north east blow, Rick’s cousin Jon, basically on a fluke pole, brought in a 54 pound slob. I was 50 feet from them and saw them bring the slob over the gunnel of the boat. (Rick’s cousin is not a kid, but still a good story.) I saw the fish and it was huge.

And the grand finale...the very next night Jan brought his nine year old daughter, Jana Brulhardt,   out and she hooked into a 49.75 pound bass (offically weighed in the next day)  with an eel and mono line. She got minimal help keeping the poll straight from her father. “When the fish stopped taking drag she would reel.” Jana’s sister, Carina, also nailed a 32 pound bass and 15 year old April caught a 43 pound striper the same night. All epic fish on an epic full moon in Montauk NY.

These kids had all the regulars and die hard fishermen, including me, scratching their heads in disbelief. But how can you be jealous of a nine year old? Rick will admit he had a very lucky week. “The kids were thrilled!”

He does not recommend  going out in a small boat on a north east blow. Over the years Rick has always chartered out Captain Mark and has always had a blast with him. So put your kid in the pictures above. Any one of the local charter boats knows how…where and when to catch fish like these. If it is anywhere near a full moon and you are in Montauk, try to get out there. Check the “Where Is It?” listings for charter boats in this paper for just a few charter boats that are kid friendly and legendary for catching fish. With all the regulations and environmental stuff going on, our opportunity to catch these great bass may sadly be narrowing.