The 2019 Bunny Clark Guestletter

[The digital image on the right is shot of John Spignardo (NY) holding his 32 pound Maine state trophy cusk. This cusk ties our second largest cusk ever caught on the Bunny Clark . It was, certainly, the largest cusk that John had ever seen. And certainly a great surprise to me in this day and age! I was so happy to be there to see it! ]

As I have mentioned before in previous Guestletters, I believe that the increased landings on the half day trips are largely due to lobstermen not being able to use float rope between traps (the push for "whale safe" gear). Without the float rope, lobstermen are reluctant to fish the really hard bottom areas for fear that the warp between traps will get caught in the rocks resulting in gear loss. And this is a very viable concern from a business standpoint. So lobstermen have been staying away from the hard bottom areas, where the cusk live. The cusk are largely territorial and tend not to go to the traps further away from their home turf. As lobstermen stray away from using herring for bait, less cusk will be caught in lobster traps in the future which will certainly help to bring the cusk population back. The inshore cusk population is just a fragment of what it was when I was making a living targeting them, tub trawling, in the late '70s during the winter.

[I took the digital image on the left during the June 28, 2018 marathon trip. The subject is Bill Harding (ME) holding his 19.5 pound wolffish. This turned out to be our largest wolffish of the fishing season. It might also be Bill's largest wolffish ever. The wolffish is illegal to keep so it was quit a show getting it out of the water, held for a picture and released alive. But all was completed as if we had done it many times before! ]

We don't normally target halibut. The reason is that the law states that a recreational fishing vessel can only keep one legal halibut per trip, regardless of the length of the trip. However, there were five times last year where we went to specific places to target halibut and were rewarded every time. That is definitely a first. Another first took place on one trip where, on a drift, we hooked up with three halibut all at the same time. Of the three halibut hooked, the first over the rail was a sub-legal 19 pounder caught by Dick Lyle (NY). The second was an enormous fish, hooked by Ray Westermann (MA), who lost the fish when another fisherman's line sawed his line off! [That was a heart breaker!]. The third was a 46.5 pound legal halibut that was caught and kept by Mark LaRocca (NY). We also had some other memorable halibut losses. Dana Decormier (NH) lost our first good one on May 8th. Alec Adams (ME) lost a keeper not two weeks later. When Adam got the halibut half way up, the fish made a run all the way to bottom. While bringing it off the bottom a second time, the halibut just dropped off the hook. One never knows where a fish might be hooked.

We only made one new improvement on the Bunny Clark over the 2017/2018 winter, before the 2018 season, that would have been noticeable to anglers. This was the new inflatable life raft. The other one was on the way out because of the material it was made from. It was twenty years old anyway. The improvements that might have gone unnoticed included all the cosmetic work both around the boat and inside the different compartments of the boat. Lots of sanding and painting goes on when the Bunny Clark is in the heated barn in the winter. We had some mechanical repairs, some work on the casting that holds the cutlass bearing by propeller shaft, some dings in the propeller that needed to be repaired and some little things like replacing burned out lights and switches on the control panel console. We also installed a new radar system to replace the smaller of the two radars that we keep in service. So the only major repairs were to the propeller shaft system. We had all winter to get it right. When we hauled the Bunny Clark out of the water in November 2018, everything was just as good as when we launched it, maybe better; we had another season of proven successful service under our belts!

[The digital image on the right is a shot of the only porbeagle shark that was landed on the Bunny Clark (NY) last season. The fish weighed 200 pounds and was caught by Dave Miller (MA), the angler in the center. Actually, if it hadn't been for Rodney Miller (MA), left, we never would have landed the shark. It was a team effort on a fish that was never meant to be landed on a cod rod! The other angler, also involved, was Steve Saunders (MA) shown right. Captain Ian Keniston and Ally Fuehrer were also instrumental in the boating of this great fish. Ally steered the boat as Ian and I tended to Dave, the gaffs and the shark.]

As I write this here today, the Bunny Clark is back in it's winter work area. As we did last year, Ian Keniston is the project manager/painter/electrician/builder/emissary along with my son, Micah, who is working and learning the ropes of boat upkeep and repair. He has had a lot of practice over the last two years! There are no real big projects on the Bunny Clark this 2018/2019 winter season. We will probably be installing a new hydraulic hauler system. We use this hydraulic system to haul the anchor. The oil reservoir is leaking and the hauler motor is old. The least we have to do is take it apart, put pressure in the reservoir to see where it is leaking and check the motor and vane pump.

We had no engine problems with the Bunny Clark during the 2018 fishing season. This was a wonderful thing. I love my Volvo.

For a couple of years now we have been buying our jigs from North Atlantic Jigs & Tackle. I deal with Dennis Toubeau and Kristine Gavin, the proprietors. They have been very good to me, bending over backward, at times, to get what I need. They can be reached at najigsandtackle@gmail.com. I'm still working on a single hook setup on the Lav 16 ounce jigs. A couple of years ago we offered them. They worked great. The main purpose with using the single hook was to eliminate snagging fish. In turn, the idea is that someone would be boating a larger fish and spending more time fishing with less time taking small fish or snagged fish off hooks. The single hook accomplished that goal nicely in trials of the past. I have different ideas for the 2019 fishing. And I'm getting some great help from Dennis on this.

As usual, two of the places I rely on most are Surfland Bait & Tackle, Newbury, Massachusetts and the Saco Bay Tackle Company in Saco, Maine. Kay Moulton, the proprietor and one of the most helpful people I've ever known in the fishing business, passed away last season. Her daughter, Martha, who was brought up in the business, runs it now. I have no doubt that she will do an exemplary job in her mother's position. And, actually, I have been working with Martha, for about five years along with her mother. I have had wonderful service from Surfland Bait & Tackle since the early 1970s. Both Surfland and Saco Bay have been responsible for building excellent rods to my specifications. Saco Bay Tackle Company specifically builds a deep water jigging rod that is second to none with the Bunny Clark logo and my explicit stamp of approval. I also buy specialized line from them. Both businesses are top notch tackle stores, the best.

Since the 2016 fishing seasons, I have bought all my snelled hooks and leaders from Sea Wolfe Tackle. The hook/leader combination is made by them or by companies in the far east, making the pricing competitive. I find that Richard & Judy are very easy to work with. I'm working with them on coming up with a stronger leader material on the new snelled hooks.

Our web site at http://www.bunnyclark.com continues to be the location where you can get information about the Bunny Clark operation on a daily basis during the season and off-season. We have a schedule and rates section, a photo section, a world records section and more. Our fishing update section provides anglers with up to date information on the daily catch, fish sizes, daily weather, angler deeds and fishery management information. This Guestletter resides on our web site along with some of my previous Guestletters. Although I can’t personally answer all the email that comes in associated with the site, our staff does a great job with this while also answering reservation questions and scheduling fishing dates. At this time we are also considering a service that will work with us while also allow booking reservations by credit card on-line. This same company works with other passenger carrying vessels in the Cove with much success.

[On the May 24, 2018o offshore marathon trip, I took a picture of Chuck Lennon (MA), shown left, holding the best double haddock catch (both fish caught on the same line at the same time). of the year. Chucks two haddock weighed 5.5 pounds and 5 pounds. The backdrop with the clouds, blue sky and calm seas made it a digital image worth posting. ]

This is the sixth season that I haven't worked on my groundfish tagging program. I just didn't have the time. I plan to start it up again in 2019. I know I made the same statement on last years Guestletter. But I plan to be more vigilant about it this year. The proof is in the pudding. Right?

We maintain a healthy Maine state trophy program in order to recognize larger than normal fish. Maine is very good in honoring those who catch great fish. It was a much better year for trophy fish last season as compared to the two seasons before.

On July 5, 2018, Jayde Meader (ME) caught a 5.5 pound whiting, the largest whiting that has ever been caught on the Bunny Clark. In fact, this weight was over the existing International Game Fish Association's (IGFA) all tackle world record of weight of 4 pounds 8 ounces caught by Erik Callahan (MA) aboard the Bunny Clark on August 8, 1995. Weighed officially, Jayde's whiting weighed 5 pounds 3.9 ounces. We went through the procedure of registration. Jayde went home, I finished up the documentation here and sent the forms to Jayde to be signed before a notary and sent back to me. My plan was to get the documents back from Jayde, package all this up along with digital images, etc. and send it to the IGFA. I never heard another thing from Jayde. He never sent the forms back. So I have no idea what is going on or if he is still interested in pursuing this. I plan to be in contact with him later this winter to see if I can help in any way. Stand by.

Twelve days later, on July 17, 2018, Steve Selmer (NH) caught a big hake on an offshore trip. It looked like a big hake of 40 plus pounds. But it wasn't until I gaffed the fish and went to lift it out of the water by the gill plate that I realized it weighed much more than that. On the scale, moments after boating this fish, it weighed 54 pounds even, the largest hake that had been caught on the Bunny Clark since Tom Giorgio (NY) landed a 55 pound white hake with me in the summer of 1985 and well above the existing world record! I had to have Ian's help to hold the scale with me in order to get an accurate reading. White hake lose a lot of weight over time after caught. So I have never wanted to go through the motions of registering a big hake like that without the fish being significantly larger than the existing world record. Such was the case with Jim Mailia's (MA) 49 pound hake caught with me on November 3, 2003. The world record at that time (and when Steve caught his hake last year) was 46 pounds 4 ounces caught by John Audet (ME) aboard the Bunny Clark on October 26, 1986. That fish had weighed 51 pounds when first boated. Steve's fish was boxed and put on ice since we weren't going to be able to weigh this fish officially until the next day, more than thirty hours later! But it was well within the weight range to go through the procedure. As with the whiting, I helped Steve go through the motions the next day. I had to captain the Bunny Clark that day. Steve met me at the dock to complete the paperwork after the trip was over at 4:00 PM. The official weight was 48 pounds 4 ounces, exactly 2 pounds larger than the existing IGFA all tackle world record! On January 18, 2019, we were informed that Steve's fish had become the official new white hake all tackle world record! This is the Bunny Clark's forty-first world record. We have two others pending, including Jayde's whiting.

There were eight trophy fish caught on the Bunny Clark last season that represented the largest fish of their respective species that has ever been caught on the Bunny Clark. These eight fish included a 37 pound barndoor skate, the first Jensen's (shorttail) skate that has ever been caught on the Bunny Clark at 4 pounds, five halibut from 95 pounds to 103.5 pounds and Jayde's whiting. We also scored a tie with the second largest cusk that has ever been landing on the Bunny Clark. This cusk weighed in at 32 pounds. I will write more about size relationships below with the accompanied trophy list. You may enjoy checking out all of our current and past world and state records by accessing the records link at http://www.bunnyclark.com or by going directly to http://www.bunnyclark.com/records.htm.

At the time of this writing there are no regulation specifics available to inform you about for the 2019 fishing season. I have heard that one of the models that determines what we will be able to keep, shows that it could be possible to keep one cod per person. And, also, that we might be able to keep haddock throughout our season in 2019. The work on generating a model that would be more beneficial to us on a regulatory basis died with the partial government shut down. As of this writing, the government is still in partial shut down mode. I will post the new regulations on the Fishing Update section of my web site when I know.

[The digital image on the right, taken by Captain Ian Keniston is shot of Rick Schwarz (NH) holding his 5 pound Maine state trophy whiting. This whiting ties with two other anglers for the second largest whiting ever caught on the Bunny Clark. The other two anglers were Eric Callahan (MA) in 1995 and Jason Collier (VT) in 2015. ]

Since the fiscal Federal fishing season starts on May 1, 2019, the regulations will be the same as they were in 2018 when we start our season on April 11, 2019, a marathon trip. Haddock can't be kept until April 15, 2019. On that date, the bag limit will be twelve fish per person at a minimum size of seventeen inches. There will be no possession of cod. The haddock and cod situation could change after May 1, 2019, as mentioned above. There will be a 12 inch minimum size on winter (blackback) flounder, a 19 inch limit on pollock (with no bag limit), a 9 inch limit on redfish (with no bag limit) and a 41 inch limit on halibut. Halibut landings are limited to one halibut per vessel per trip on the Federal level The question on halibut take will be taken up during Council meetings in late January. There is no size limit or bag limit on hake (both white, red & silver hake), mackerel and cusk. There is a minimum size of 54 inches (caliper fork length) for possessing mako sharks, porbeagle (mackerel) sharks & thresher sharks. You will be able to land a bluefin or two or three or four (per vessel) of an undetermined size (to be established at the beginning of the season on June 1, 2019). It is illegal to keep barndoor skates, eel pouts and wolffish.

I have changed the time in which reservations will be taken. Reservations for the 2019 Bunny Clark fishing season will start at 6:00 AM, February 1, 2019.

As a suggestion, you might want to check out the previous Guestletters if you are interested in the history of the regulations within our fishery. I have not delved into my opinions of the regulatory process as much I have in other Guestletters in hopes that this will be a more interesting read. I tend to get bogged down in the minutiae of the subject.

As I feel that the greatest achievement in angling is the ability of a person to hook and land a trophy fish on their own, I have listed the guests who caught the top five largest of each significant species during the 2018 fishing season. Keep in mind that all the represented weights of these fish were taken aboard the Bunny Clark using a registered scale shortly after capture (the same way it has been done since our first fishing trip on the Bunny Clark in May 1983). I feel that this is the fairest comparison between the angler’s fish since weight loss is proportional to the amount of time the fish is out of water. This also makes the weight of every fish caught on the Bunny Clark comparable through all of the past fishing seasons.

NAME (STATE)

FISH - lbs.

LENGTH X GIRTH (inches)

DATE CAUGHT

[The picture on the right was taken by Captain Ian Keniston on one of his extreme day trips in June. The digital image shows Ron Neil (MA) holding his 4 pound Jensen's skate, also called a short tail skate. Thinking it was a small barndoor skate, Captain Ian had Ron release the fish alive. It was too small to be used for anything anyway. This is the only Jensen's skate that has ever been caught on the Bunny Clark!]

David Miller (MA)

Porbeagle Shark 200

74

6-7-18

Ron Neil (MA)

Jensen's or Short Tail Skate 4

Released

6-13-18

Mike Graham (MA)

Lobster 1.5

Released**

5-4-18

David Smith (ME)	Monkfish 23.5		11-5-18
Rick Wixon (ME)	Monkfish 21		7-24-18
Dan Killay (VT)	Monkfish 16.5		10-26-18
Wilfred Vollmerding (NH)	Monkfish 16.5		11-4-18
Brian Walsh (NJ)	Monkfish 13.5		7-29-18

Bill Harding (ME)	Wolffish 19.5	Released***	6-28-18
Dan Killay (VT)	Wolffish 17.5	Released***	8-13-18
Steve Linn (PA)	Wolffish 17.25	Released***	6-28-18
Dale Jackson (ME)	Wolffish 16	Released***	5-28-18
Kevin Oldenburg (CO)	Wolffish 16	Released***	7-2-18
Dave Miller (MA)	Wolffish 16	Released***	7-10-18
Tim Rozan (ME)	Wolffish 16	Released***	7-17-18

[The picture on the right is a shot of Jason O'Connor (ME) holding his 1.75 pound redfish, one of the bigger redfish caught on the Bunny Clark last year. This picture was taken on the first trip of that season, April 12, 2018. We caught no trophy redfish that I know of last year. The angler closest to catching one had to be Steve Selmer during a fall marathon trip.]

Chris Ramage (NY)	Pollock 28	40 X 23.25	7-31-18
Ben Barzousky (MA)	Pollock 27	40.75 X 22.5	10-2-18
Sean McMahon (MA)	Pollock 26	40 X 24	6-5-18
John Baker (ME)	Pollock 26	41.5 X 20	8-30-18
Zack Crocker (RI)	Pollock 24.5		7-29-18
Jeff Rickett (NY)	Pollock 24.5		8-3-18
Tom Nazzewski (MA)	Pollock 24.5		10-2-18

Steve Selmer (NH)	White Hake 54	49.5 X 32	7-17-10
Lewis Hazelwood (MA)	White Hake 47	48 X 32	7-17-18
Dan Killay (VT)	White Hake 45	48 X 30.5	7-17-18
Tim Rozan (MA)	White Hake 41	44 X 29	7-17-18
Bryan Lewer (FL/ME)	White Hake 39	46 X 28.5	7-17-18

Leonard Singel (PA)	Haddock 8.25	28 X 16	6-21-18
Andrew Kerns (MT)	Haddock 7.25	26.5 X 14.5	5-31-18
Ed Vross (NY)	Haddock 6.5		5-24-18
Wade Will (MA)	Haddock 6.5		5-31-18
Jim Quinney (NH)	Haddock 7+	Lost at Boat!	5-22-18
Bob Gorghan (NY)	Haddock 7+	Lost at Boat!	5-31-18

[I took this digital image of Mark LaRocca (NY), right, holding his 46.5 pound halibut which he caught on one of my summer offshore fishing trips. This is Mark's first halibut. The time that Mark was fighting his halibut, we also had two other halibut on at the same time! This picture shows the underside of the halibut, a side of the fish we rarely show in a picture. ]

John Spignardo (NY)	Cusk 32	42 X 24	9-27-18
Tony Mazziotti (NY)	Cusk 25	39 X 20.5	9-27-18
Bryan Lewer (FL/ME)	Cusk 22.5	38.5 X 21	7-17-18
Jonathan Griffin (MA)	Cusk 16	32.25 X 22	6-14-18
Dave Miller (MA)	Cusk 15	34 X 19.5	7-17-18

Dimitar Pavlov (ME)	Cod 28	Released***	9-17-18
Rory Casey (VT)	Cod 27.5	Released***	6-12-18
Adam Towle (NH)	Cod 25	Released***	7-10-18
Leonard Singel (PA)	Cod 24.5	Released***	6-21-18
Dick Lyle (NY)	Cod 24	Released***	7-17-18
Steve Selmer (NH)	Cod 24	Released***	7-17-18
Don Johnson (MA)	Cod 24	Released***	11-6-18

Joe Balas (OH)	Halibut 103.5	60.5	7-30-18
Steve LaPlante (CT)	Halibut 102	60.5 X 43.5	7-3-18
Brian Johansmeyer (ME)	Halibut 100.5	56 X 46	6-19-18
John Baker (ME)	Halibut 98	58 X 45	5-8-18
Jay Rowe (NH)	Halibut 95	57.5	8-21-18

[This digital image was taken on the same summer offshore trip that Mark LaRocca caught his 46.5 pound halibut. The scene shows Lewis Hazelwood (MA) holding his 47 pound Maine state trophy white hake. This hake ties with my son, Micah's, hake (caught in 2011), for the eighth largest hake that has been landed on the Bunny Clark in the new millennium since it began in 2000.]

Sheri Fister (ME)	Barndoor Skate 37	Released*	8-18-18
Bill Weller (NY)	Barndoor Skate 28	Released*	9-2-18
Anthony Arria (MA)	Barndoor Skate 27	Released*	9-3-18
Steve Balevre (NH)	Barndoor Skate 27	Released*	9-3-18
Chris Tankred (OH)	Barndoor Skate 27	Released*	9-27-18

Jayde Meader (ME)	Whiting 5.5	26.25 X 12.5	7-5-18
Rick Schwartz (NH)	Whiting 5	25.5	8-27-18
Dave Walden (CT)	Whiting 4.5	26 X 13	8-2-18
Dave Bingell (CT)	Whiting 4.25	23.5 X 12.5	6-14-18
Chad Johnston (ME)	Whiting 4.25	26 X 13	8-2-18

Where there is a tie in fish size, anglers are arranged in order of the date caught.

* Barndoor skates are presently on the endangered species list. All the skates listed were released back to the ocean alive after a quick picture of the angler with his fish.

** These fish (lobsters) were sub-legal or illegal to keep and released back to the ocean alive.

*** Federal regulation has prohibited the retention of wolffish for a few years now. Federal regulations for the whole 2018 season also prohibited the retention of cod. All wolffish and cod were released back to the ocean alive.

[The digital image on the left is shot of Sam Readinger (PA) holding the two cod he caught at the same time during an early spring marathon trip. These cod were both weighed and released alive immediately afterward. One of the cod weighed 8 pounds. The other weighed 9 pounds. It was the first big "double" of that trip. We caught many other doubles afterward that day. ]

Chris Ramage's 28 pound pollock was a pound shy of the largest pollock that was caught in 2017. Last season there were forty-seven pollock of 20 pounds or greater with four trophy (over 25 pounds) fish. This was better, slightly, than other recent seasons. The "slammer" list included only thirty fish in 2017 with three trophies. Twenty-five slammers were landed in 2016 with one trophy. Forty-six pollock of 20 pounds or better were caught in 2015 with three trophies. Only sixteen slammers were landed in 2014 with two trophy pollock recorded, both 27 pounds. Thirteen slammers were landed in 2013 with two trophy pollock caught, both just over 25 pounds. Fifteen 20 pounders plus were caught in 2012 with one trophy, a 26 pounder caught by my son, Micah, forty-three in 2011 with one trophy and forty-one with one trophy in 2010. So under the present fishery management plan, the pollock population has not really been allowed to grow. And I can't believe that, in my lifetime, we will see a year where 996 anglers receive trophy awards for pollock over 30 pounds as it was during the 1986 Bunny Clark fishing season. In those years, I only recorded the pollock over 30 pounds, only one trophy award was awarded per species per year by the state regardless of how many you caught and, that year, Al Robinson (ME) landed over 100 pollock over 30 pounds himself! And he wasn't the only angler to catch many pollock over 30 pounds that year, our best big pollock year ever. Eight world record pollock were caught from the Bunny Clark in 1990, most being line class world records. The largest pollock we have ever seen was a 51.25 pound pollock caught by Linda Paul (ME) in 1990. Weighed officially seven hours later, it was just under 47 pounds and remained the all tackle pollock world record until it was defeated eight years later!

[Steve LaPlante (CT) caught this 102 pound halibut (pictured right) on July 3, 2018. At the time, it was the largest halibut ever landed from the Bunny Clark. It is still tied for the longest halibut that has ever been landed from the Bunny Clark! I think it was only fitting that it was Steve. The trip was a regular eight hour full day trip. But it was a tribute trip for Ron Roy, an regular angler who passed from cancer a few years ago. He was a good friend of Steve's and almost everyone else on this trip. It was also appropriate that some of the anglers that day, Ron's friends, helped to boat Steve's fish. It was a wonderful trip even without the halibut. But the halibut made it so special! ]

[The shot on the right is a digital image of FY '18 Jonathan "Griff" Griffin holding his 23 pound trophy barndoor skate, the sixth largest barndoor skate caught on the Bunny Clark last season. The picture was taken by Captain Ian Keniston. ]

Before I end this Guestletter, I want to cite those anglers and experiences of note that deserve an honorable mention for their uniqueness and/or fishing prowess during the 2018 Bunny Clark fishing season. I realize that this is a value judgment on my part but I believe that my conclusions are recognized as a popular opinion and/or statistical fact among my crew and fishing guests and are based on many fishing trips and many seasons in the business. These special anglers and incidents are as follows:

Fisherman of the Year (FY-’18): Jonathan "Griff" Griffin (MA) wins this award for the fourth time in as many seasons. He has been close for many years including fourth place in 2014 and third place in 2013.

As most of you know by now, the FY award is based on a point system that relates to specific achievements during each trip for a season on the Bunny Clark. Each achievement is worth a set of points. The individual with the most points at the end of the season wins. In order to compete in this category, you have to have paid for and completed at least 10 different trips on the Bunny Clark. I have had many excellent anglers who fish with us on a regular basis every season, any one of whom has the potential to become the Fisherman of the Year. Griff was the man again last season. Griff did very well in a number of categories that propelled him to the top.

[In the digital image, left, FY '18 Jonathan "Griff" Griffin can be seen holding the fourth largest cusk of the 2018 Bunny Clark fishing season, his cusk, weighing 16 pounds, a Maine state trophy by 4 pounds. ]

Griff is always one of our best anglers. His attitude is fantastic. He doesn't get rattled. The weather doesn't bother him. He's, technically, one of the best anglers I take fishing from year to year. He makes it fun for everyone who is in attendance on any fishing day. He's happy to get anywhere his captain takes him. And he has that luck. When Ray and Griff show up to go fishing in the morning, they make you want to do something special. As a captain, you might feel disappointed if they went fishing with you during a slower than normal period. It shouldn't bother you as they are the first to understand that "fishing is fishing". But the other side of the coin is that they can make a slow spot more productive just by being there. And, of course, Griff garnered the points to prove he deserved this title.Congratulations, Griff! Another great year in the books!

Griff's total point count was 98, a few less points than he won with last season. Joe Columbus (MA) came in second place with a point total of 77. Dan Killay was third with 73 points. But Dan didn't fish the required number of days to warrant placement. I think if he had, he might have done much better. So Lewis Hazelwood was really third with 62 points. Shawn Rosenberger would have come in fifth/forth with 60 points had he fished the full ten trips required.

Female Angler of the Year: We didn't have enough female angler participation to fill this category.

[The picture on the right is a shot of Ray Westermann holding his 29.25 pound Maine state trophy white hake which he caught on an offshore marathon trip in November on the Bunny Clark. This hake was the Bunny Clark's fourteenth largest last season. It was a rainy day that day but the wind wasn't strong.]

Best Bait Fisherman: Shameless Ray “The Pole Tossing Master Baiter” Westermann won again last season, his tenth season (out of the last eleven) taking this award. Everyone else who could have been tops in this category died of attrition! Ray is excellent with a rod & reel, one of the best. And he does take advantage of every situation. He works well with a jig. But he's the first one to switch over to bait if the situation warrants. And he's great at bait fishing, whether he's targeting hake, haddock, cusk or anything. Plus, he plays with the weights at different depths, something that only usually includes Griff, his dory mate. He was high hook, far and away, more times than any other angler. You just don't fall into high hook status, you have to work at attaining it. It isn't the luck that gets you there, although good luck helps. Ray makes his own luck. Ray was an easy choice for me in this category.

Most Aces: For those who don’t know, an angler scores an Ace when he or she lands the three (or more) largest fish during a single trip. There can be no ties in fish size with other anglers in order to achieve true “Ace” status. There was only one Ace landed during the 2014 fishing season, six Aces in 2013 and not a single Ace in 2012. The 2012 season was the first season that the Bunny Clark didn't see a single Ace. The 2015 season was the second! During the 2016 fishing season there was only one Ace. The 2017 season saw five Aces caught, three of which were "Double Aces" (the four largest fish caught on a trip). Last season there were two. The first one came in late August. The angler was John Baker (ME). To my knowledge, he only went on one previous trip before then. And on that trip, in May, he caught a 98 pound halibut. At the time, it was the largest halibut that had ever been caught on the Bunny Clark. On the late August trip his ace included a 20 pound white hake, a 22 pound white hake and a 26 pound Maine state trophy pollock, a tie for the Bunny Clark's third largest pollock of the fishing season! The second and last ace of the season came in mid October. This time the angler was Phil Lamb (MI). His fish included a 13.5 pound cod, a 12.5 pound cod and an 11.5 pound pollock.

Most Trophy Fish (including hake over 15 pounds, cod & pollock over 20 pounds, redfish 2 pounds or more, haddock of 7 pounds or more and the fish seldom caught with rod & reel including monkfish, barndoor skates, whiting, torpedo rays, porbeagle sharks, bluefin tuna, wolffish & halibut) of the Season: Griff caught the most with a count of seven. Joe Columbus, Dan Killay, Steve Selmer and Shawn Rosenberger all tied for second with six trophy fish each last season.

Top Five Largest Fish of the Bunny Clark Season: Dave Miller caught the largest with his 200 pound porbeagle shark. Joe Balas came in second with his 103.5 pound halibut. Steve LaPlante was third with his 102 pound halibut. Brian Johansmeyer was fourth with his 100.5 pound halibut. John Baker was fifth with his 98 pound halibut.

Most Trophy Fish during a Trip: Shawn Rosenberger caught the most trophy fish during a fall marathon trip with a total count of six. Dick Lyle (NY) and Joe Columbus tied for second with a count of four trophy fish each. Chris Tankred, Steve Selmer, John Baker, Bryan Lewer and Tim Rozan tied for fourth place with three trophy fish each.

Most Pools (largest fish of the trip): Jonathan Griffin and Bill Socha (NH) tied for the most boat pools during the 2018 Bunny Clark fishing season. Their count was three pools each. Shawn Rosenberger took third place with a total count of 2.5 pools! You will have to ask Shawn about that one! I am to blame, by the way! There was a tie for fourth among two anglers with two pools each. Those anglers were Mike Horwitz (NH) and Art Kemler, Jr..

[I took this digital image of Ally Fuehrer on the way back from an offshore trip in early November, our last trip of the 2018 season. I was trying to get a picture of her that I might use in the future but I couldn't get a shot of her face without a pose. Finally, I yelled out, like I was hurt. I was waiting with the iPhone when she turned around. She was an angling passenger that day but she was helping the crew clean the boat on the way in. Some habits die hard. She did a wonderful job for us last season.]

High Hook: Ray Westermann was high hook (the most legal fish on a trip) on nine different trips, the most for an angler during the 2018 Bunny Clark fishing season. Jonathan Griffin, Joe Columbus and Fred Kunz tied for second place with six counts each. Jason O'Connor (ME), Art Kemler, Jr., Dan Killay and Mike Horwitz tied for fifth place with three counts each.

Hardest Luck: The hardest luck of the year has to go to Butch Edgar (NH). Butch was late to the boat one morning, a day that I was the captain. I'm not sure if he thought he could get there at 7:00 AM, when the boat leaves? Or he got into trouble finding Perkins Cove? Or, whatever. At any rate, I didn't think he was going to make it. I was just about to start the engine when he pulled up in his truck above the dock. So I went up there, told him to park in the corral across the street from Barnacle Billy's and leave the keys in it. I would call someone to move the truck and keep the keys. In his haste, Butch took out the right corner post of the parking lot with the right side of his truck creating a large rent starting at the aft part of the wheel well forward of the passenger door on to the middle of the passenger side door. The truck had been immaculate. Dark Green. Beautiful. That wasn't all. He was tangled frequently on the trip and he threw back a 5 pound haddock, thinking it was a cod that couldn't be kept! I tried to call out to him before the fish went over the side but it was too late. I think the haddock turned in the water and winked at Butch before heading to bottom. I can't be sure of that last. And I think Butch felt worse about losing the haddock than he did about hitting his truck! And, yes, Butch got the shirt. He had no idea why I asked him what size t-shirt he wore when he got aboard the boat that morning!

I think I should mention Richard Clark (CA) here as well. His hard luck happened during a Sunday extreme day trip with Captain Ian and Anthony. There were only five anglers aboard the Bunny Clark that day. Richard fought a porbeagle shark for an hour and fifteen minutes before losing it near the surface. It was a very big porbeagle. Had they landed it, it would have been the largest we have ever caught on the Bunny Clark. Richard's fishing set-up was not conducive to landing big sharks. He was fishing with a rig that included a sinker on the bottom and two cod flies above the sinker. He had hooked the shark with one of the flies. His leader was 80 pound test. Even then I wouldn't have expected the fight to last fifteen minutes with the monofilament so close to the hook. They had the fish to the leader twice but just could not get it close enough for the flying gaff. Nor could they have harpooned it effectively - had they had a harpoon.

Should I mention the trip where Joe Sinkler (NY) was so tangled during the first three hours of one of my most successful offshore marathons [of 2018] that he couldn't take advantage of catching of the extra large fish that were being caught around him? Maybe I should leave that story for another day. I will tell you that Joe did finally catch a nice fish but it wasn't until we left the best spot of the day!

Most Improved Angler: Maybe if Mark Weldon (NH) practices over the winter he can win in this category next year as he did in last year's Guestletter. It wouldn't take much as he got into a slump, of sorts, during the 2018 season.

Best Team: The team of Ray Westermann and Jonathan "Griff" Griffin were the team in 2018, without question. I always seem to have two choices, one of those being the team of Brian & Marian "Merv" Murphy (NH). But last season it had to be Ray and Griff. The one time that Griff decided to go it alone, his vehicle broke down so he couldn't make the trip! Ray and Griff feed off each other, so much so that they have greater success together than they do alone. The same can be said about Brian & Merv. Last year was Ray & Griff's year. Enough said.

[The image on the right is a shot of Jay Rowe's 95 pound halibut, the last halibut caught last season. Our fifth largest halibut ever, it was a surprise that we even landed it. Adding to the wonder of landing this fish, was that Miki Alroy was there to get the fish over the rail, in the bow where the lowest rail height is forty-four inches. Mike Horwitz and I can say that we helped get it over the rail. But, really, it was Miki who got this fish in the boat. Miki can be seen in the picture, left, a major reason that we also got a good picture of this great fish!]

Exceptional Good Luck: Jay Rowe (NH) won the boat pool for the largest fish with the largest fish, a 95 pound Maine state trophy halibut, in late August. It was the last fish in the boat! I was in the cockpit working on a tangle when I heard Mike Horwitz (NH) tell some of the anglers in the forward part of the cockpit to reel up. Curious, I finished the tangle and went to the bow to find Jay fighting a big fish, with a jig stick, butt of the rod in his gut and rod bent almost double. We had had a couple of blue sharks on the lines this trip. So, initially, I thought it was another blue shark. But it really wasn't taking any line. And when it did take line it didn't take a lot. Of course, I wasn't up in the bow when Jay first hooked the fish. Knowing what it could be (as a fish), I had everyone on the boat reel up their lines. After twenty minutes of fighting this fish, we finally got to the leader where I could see the color - brown! A halibut? It fought like no other halibut I had ever seen. I should qualify that. There were two halibut that have been landed on the Bunny Clark that fought like no other halibut I had ever seen. Both were foul hooked. This halibut was the same. But this one was hooked right in the middle of the back about four inches behind the pectoral fin. No wonder it took so long to reel in. If it were a six foot piece of sheet metal hooked in the middle it would have been not too much different. And, on closer inspection, the hook was just about ready to fall out when Jay brought the fish to gaff!

Quotes of the 2017 Season: "I'm going to have to switch to a jig!"; a quote from Rory Casey (VT) after a full morning of catching haddock, one after the other, while only using a bare hook. I had never seen someone catch that many fish on a bare hook before. Captain Ian addressed Rory's remark and asked why. Rory's answer; "I'm catching too many fish!" Funny!

[The angler in the picture on the left is Rick Wixon, once a deck hand for Captain Bob Liston out of Wells, Maine on the F/V Lethal Weapon, who was an angler on a day trip with me late July. He caught this 21 pound Maine state trophy monkfish that day, our second largest of the season. He thought he had an old net, as the monkfish is not much of a fighting fish. At the time, I told him you never know; "It could be a halibut, barndoor skate or even a monkfish." The rest is history. ]

Most Unusual Catch: Richard Morrell was fishing on in early October on a Sunday extreme day trip. His fishing rig of choice was a sinker with two flies above it. One fly was green. During the early morning pollock blitz, where all hell seemed to be breaking loose with a great bite, Richard broke this rig off. Ian re-rigged him with another setup very much like the previous one with a green fly above the sinker. After the bite tapered off with the drift, Ian moved the boat about a thousand yards from the original spot where Richard lost his gear and set up another drift on a different school of pollock. A little while into the drift Richard caught a pollock with a green fly, his earlier green fly, hooked into the corner of it's mouth. The interesting part was that he caught the pollock with the new green fly caught in the same side of the mouth as the other green fly, maybe a millimeter away! Without Ian knowing, when Ian set up the new drift, the current had changed and brought the boat right back to where Richard had lost the fly in the first place! It was not Ian's intention to drift back to the first spot but it certainly made a better story because of it!

Unexplained Phenomena:

[Captain Ian Keniston took the digital image on the right during a full day trip he hosted at the end of July. The picture shows Joe Columbus holding the Bunny Clark's fourth largest double of the 2018 Bunny Clark fishing season. The two fish, both pollock, weighed 21 pounds and 18.5 pounds. With a little extra luck or two more good fishing trips, Joe might have been the FY '18!]

In Memoriam:

On April 17, 2018, Chris Costa called me from WCSH, Channel 6, in Portland, Maine to do an interview; "Remembering Barbara Bush". That interview took place after noon. It was meant to highlight all the good times during which the Bush Family ate at our restaurant, highlighting Barbara. In the morning, Chris told me the time. In the meantime, I called my brother (who had other plans) and my two sisters, Meg and Cathy. The interview went well except for my being aware of me stumbling over words in the conversation. But I never did like hearing myself speak anyway.

Later in the day we found out Barbara Bush had passed. The interview was timely and immediately put on the evening news. I didn't see it but I got calls from friends who said they did. At 8:30 PM, I got a call from reporter Eric Kane from WHDH, Channel 7 News, out of Boston to do a quick interview on Barbara Bush at the restaurant at 10:00 PM. I didn't really want to do it. But I saw it as an opportunity to tell the Bush Family how important and honored it was to know them. Eric had been referred to me by Boston TV reporter and substitute anchor, Dan Hausle, who eats at our restaurant frequently. He and his wife, Laura, have become friends of mine over the years. And it was the only link to Maine and Barbara that the station could come up with in such short notice. So I felt obligated to help. I was done by 10:30 PM, the piece airing later that night.

It looks like I'm am taking license to call the matriarch by her first name. But she did tell me, twice, that I should call her Barbara, "please!" It was sad knowing that such a wonderful person won't be around anymore. A huge loss to me, my family and the country.

I first met Vice President George Bush in 1980, at sea, around Boon Island, eight miles from Perkins Cove, Ogunquit, Maine. I was taking passengers bluefishing on my charter boat, the Mary E. We talked boat to boat about the fishing and where might the best place be where he could have fishing success. I saw him a few more times before he became President. The first time I shook his hand was in Barnacle Billy’s. I don’t remember the date. But I had a wonderful first impression. That impression never wavered through the years. Indeed, it flourished and I developed a stronger connection with the man. It was easy. He was so gracious, easy to talk to, humble to an extent and very direct. I also learned that he never said anything that he didn’t mean. And that was tested early on when he told me that he would like to invite our whole family over to their compound in Kennebunkport. I deal with so many people every year. Ninety-nine percent of people who say something like this never come through. So I thought to myself; “An invitation to his compound? That will be the day!” A week later, we received the invitation. My father, Billy, my mother, my sisters and brother, my wife, all went. It was a wonderful time.

I’ve only met two people in life who made me feel like I was the most important person in the room. One person was my father. The other was former President George H. W. Bush. That night, in his front yard, with probably 200 hundred other guests, he took me aside and made me feel like I was something special. I’ll never forget it. It was a very personal conversation. And it wasn’t the last time it happened. And I’m sure this was part of the definition of the man. I wasn’t the most important person on his property. But I thought that probably everybody else was having the same experience. They too were made to feel that they were the most important person or couple there. It was a quality that probably helped him become the successful man that he was.

He spent many times at Barnacle Billy’s after he stepped away from the presidency. And there are many many good memories that I have of situations with him, conversations I had and things he did that I hope I will never forget. I’ve always thought that good memories are truly the real spice of life. There has never been a bad one when it concerns any of the Bush Family, I’m happy to say.

The first day he ate at Barnacle Billy’s, my father offered to pay for his meal. The former President calmly stood up, walked away from the table, put his arm on my father’s shoulder and thanked him as he led my father away from the others. He stopped a distance away. “Billy,” he said “If you pay for our meal I won’t be able to come back here again.” I think this surprised my father until he had time to think about it. A moment later my father said; “Well, can we treat your Secret Service?” “Billy”, George said, “You can do anything you want with the Secret Service.” So that’s the way it went when the former President came to eat with us. The President would pay for his family and guests. We would treat the Secret Service. We weren’t even allowed to take money or a credit card from any of the former President’s guests. George insisted on always paying.

I was saddened when former First Lady Barbara Bush passed. We learned about it later in the day. Two years earlier I thought she would out-live her husband. But things went south with her faster than I thought possible. And I was concerned about her husband because he was having health issues of his own at the time of her passing. Doro told me last spring that they were going to try to get their father to the restaurant. I kept waiting but it never happened. The year before, the summer of 2017, was the last time I saw the former President.

In the end, I was asked if I mourned the President’s death. That’s not an easy question for me to answer. I feel very sorry for myself that I will never see the man again. I liked every aspect of the man as a person, as the leader of the free world, as a fisherman and as a friend. Every time I saw him he would ask me; “Hey, Tim. How’s the fishing?” I will miss that. I feel in my heart that his passing was all for the best. I don’t really believe that he would have wanted to live any longer. At 94 years of age, physically incapacitated, how much more can you ask? So I’m relieved of his having peace. Yet this feeling of loss persists. The man gave me much in the form of memories, as I mentioned. His political career should be lauded by those who understand that it’s not so much what you believe but the enlightenment of ideas that can be debated for a brighter future. That his hard work and the way he presented his beliefs should be a book that everyone can reference. I believe he was the most prepared individual to ever serve the presidency. It was made for him. As a family man, he was the same leader, a person you could look to as a good example. This is reflected in all his children and their children. So, yes, I miss him. But it was time. And he has left many wonderful people behind both genetically and influentially.

When he came to Barnacle Billy’s, he always sat at the flag pole table on the deck overlooking Perkins Cove. I will never in my life ever walk by that table without thinking of George Bush, the man, Barbara, and their family. I will remember all the wonderful experiences and business that he brought here. George H. W. Bush gave me (us) a lot. His way will never be forgotten. His place will never be taken. And his memory will certainly be one of the highlights that I will cherish all my life, forever.

A good friend of mine's son died of brain cancer early this morning. I didn't find out about it until I got back from a late morning bike ride (training for the PMC). Needless to say it's been a pretty sad day for his family and ours. It had been over two years since the initial diagnosis. One, of course, thinks of your own son at this time. And after all I have done to help in the [cancer] research, I would still find it difficult to know where to start if it were my son. And the whole thing brought me in close contact with my son this afternoon. A short conversation, a hug and truly being thankful that it isn't our turn - yet. Life is a very tenuous thing. Sometimes you just don't think close enough along those lines. It wasn't the best reminder for me today.

I mention Nick here for two reasons. One, he helped Deb and I on many things. He was an expert cabinet maker and he was constantly helping us with the house including building the workroom where I designed and built the rods and worked on reels for the Bunny Clark. He and his father built the bedroom we added on to the house. He gave me a lot of ideas on improving the Bunny Clark and our house. This was very helpful in moving forward with my business. And he was so good to Deb over the years. Second, it's the cancer thing which is so high on my priority list of things to work on, a cure. So many of my good friends have passed through no fault of their own. I would like to know why!

Of course, this was a big blow to Deb's parents, certainly a heart rending sorrow. Deb is still heart broken. I am sad as well. Good people should not die this young or so soon.

In 1980, the year Reagan was elected (I was at sea taking a sailboat delivery to the Caribbean when I heard that Reagan had won), I had told my sister, Cathy, to join me down in St. Thomas, as I was chartering a sailboat (taking people sailing on term charters around the Virgin Islands) and the sailing community might be something she would like. She got right into it, crewed on several boats and met Mike Koppstein in the process. The rest is history. She ended up crewing on the fifty-six foot ketch Mike was running, named Southerly, owned by racing skipper, Burt Keenan. I knew of Mike. But I never really knew Mike well until Cathy was with him. He grew to be a wonderful friend. He was, technically, the best sailor I have ever met. A ton of common sense, he had a brilliant mind for everything, including finance and economics. He and Cath went on to sailing larger sailing yachts for owners around the world. In four years they had sailed to every place most people just dream about. [Deb and I crewed on one trip with them from Singapore to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean] After he was done sailing yachts, Mike ended up working for one of the most prestigious yacht builders in the world, Royal Huisman Shipyard in Vollenhove, Holland. He commissioned new yachts for many famous people in the world and did very well for himself and Cathy. The last few years he was working as the United States' promoter for a German boat building company, Lürssen Maritime in Bremen-Vegesack, that employs a few thousand individuals, a builder of "superyachts", naval ships and specialty vessels. He was getting ready to retire when he passed away.

Mike was more than just a good friend. He was very helpful with financial advice and we helped solve many family issues together in a very objective fair minded way that kept us as a unit in more difficult times. He was very funny and quite an entertainer when he and Cathy ran sailing yachts in the Caribbean together. This held him in good stead over the years dealing with customers, friends and business associates. There was no one I knew who didn't like Mike. When he and Cathy were getting married, he chartered the Bunny Clark to take his friends in the wedding party on a bachelor party of sorts before the big event. The passengers were, collectively, some of the best sailors in the world, many of whom were racing ocean sailing yachts and whom I never would have met otherwise. I told them at the start of that trip that I had dreamed of sailing with any one of them and that "now I have the rare opportunity of sailing with all of you at the same time!". I will miss Mike with all of my heart. I loved the man and couldn't think of a better individual to stand alongside my sister.

As of now, Mike's body is in Romania, he is a citizen of Australia with an Australian passport (he was in the process of gaining American citizenship before he flew overseas) and he had a American wife. So it's a complicated situation. If he were an American citizen, by law, he would have to be autopsied. All this will be worked out.

Ian Keniston: Captain Ian Keniston started with me in August of 1998, when Satch McMahon was still working with me as deck hand. And that was Ian's first position, as deck hand. Ian has worked for me every year since. The first few years Ian worked exclusively as a deck hand. As the need grew, he became my best captain. He remains my best captain today. He still works as my deck hand on the offshore trips, all but one. Most of the time he captain's the extreme day trips, a trip I really designed for him. Over the years, Ian has also worked completing all the cosmetic work on the Bunny Clark, repairing all the rods & reels and repair work on the Bunny Clark as well. At this point, Ian is my number one person in my fishing business, Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing, on the boat side of things. He is my sounding board on many issues, he's the one responsible for most of the winter work, all the cosmetic work, all the rods & reels and many other things. If I am known as being associated with the Bunny Clark, it's because Ian has been one of the big reasons that the Bunny Clark, as a party/charter business still exists. I couldn't have this business without Ian. I do so appreciate him and his talents. Thank you so very much.

[Tom Daigle (NH), shown in the digital image, left, escaped from a shark attack with the part of the pollock he is holding in his hands in the picture. What was left was 13 pounds of a pollock that should have been over 20 pounds. We were surrounded by porbeagle sharks on this late October day. It took us twice as long to get home as well. With thirty knots of northwest wind and eight foot chops, Tom had a long time to lick his wounds before getting back to Perkins Cove!]

Anthony Palumbo: This is the second year for Anthony as a full time deck hand on the Bunny Clark. He has been invaluable. Anthony took the place of Captain Jared Keniston, when Jared left. Anthony has been doing a wonderful job ever since. The year before last, he had never been a deck hand before. Last season, you might have thought he had been a deck hand all his life. Thank you, Anthony, for all your help, your wonderful attitude and your patience with me.

Allyson Fuehrer: I had been looking for an extra deck hand all winter. During the early part, Ally had sent me an email expressing her desire to work as a deck hand during the seventy-five days she had off from being a third mate on a six hundred foot oil tanker in the Gulf of Mexico. I told her that I was looking for more permanent help but that, yes, I would love to have her as a deck hand if I couldn't find anyone. When she became available, I still hadn't found anyone despite auditioning seven individuals. The two biggest issues associated with hiring were sea sickness and passing a pre-employment drug test. Ally had neither of those problems. Plus, she had her captain's license for a vessel the size of the Bunny Clark (She is a licensed second mate), she was an excellent helmsman and she had been fishing with me on the Bunny Clark since the age of ten. She was really good and a quick study. Maybe not as quick as Anthony but her other qualifications made up for it. I loved having her aboard. And, in time, she became good in all aspects of her position. The only problem: She had to leave before August. While she was there, I was so glad to have her. Thank you, Ally. You were a good part of helping us complete a wonderful summer.

Miki Alroy: Miki was disembarking from the Bunny Clark off an afternoon half day trip in late July when he overheard Deb, Ian and I talking about losing our deck hand. Miki had been a fishing patron that evening. He had also won the boat pool. He knew how to fish. Miki piped up as he was walking by; "I have a month off before my next job. I can help if you would like." I couldn't believe my luck. And he passed the pre-employment drug test. Miki had never done this before, never filleted a fish and never cleaned a party boat. I loved him! He might not have been good at everything but he was so nice to the customers, polite, honest and hard working. If he told me he was going to do something, it was as good as done. Plus, he was physically strong and just a wonderful individual. I was really sorry to see him go at the end of August. But he had done as promised and got us through the season! Thanks, Miki. Thanks so much for your help.

Micah Tower: When we just needed an extra deck hand, after tuna season and in the spring, my son was there. I love having him on the boat. Plus, Micah worked with Ian on getting the Bunny Clark sanded, painted, repaired and launched. I probably would have had to cancel trips if it weren't for Micah. And it's been that way for a few years now. Thanks, Micah, for helping your "dear old dad", when he needed it most!

Jared Keniston: Captain Jared Keniston skippered the Bunny Clark once or twice last season. It wasn't much but it helped. And it was nice to see him there. He was going to be there more often but his new position wouldn't allow it. Thanks for what you did do, Jared. It meant a lot!

Mark Blaisdell: Mark made a cameo appearance as a deck hand in mid August. We had no one else for that day. Mark has worked for me before; eighteen years ago! I could have kissed him when he said he would help me out! Thanks, Mark. It was great to have you there!

David Pease deserves a huge thank you as well. Dave was the person responsible for building the Bunny Clark finishing off the Bunny Clark after Young Brothers built the hull. Every year since she was launched, I have brought the Bunny Clark back to the barn where she was built. Dave has always been there for me. Dave can fix anything or figure out how to get it done. Thank you so very much, Dave.

I wrote this about Debbie, my wife, in last year's Guestletter. I don't think I could do a better job today. So it appears in here again for this Guestletter:

Most importantly, I have to give a very special thanks to my wife, Deb, for all her dedicated years of service. She has been standing by me since the Bunny Clark was just an idea. She encouraged me when I went to the bank to float a loan to have the Bunny Clark designed, the hull laid up at Young Brothers and all through the building of the Bunny Clark during the winter of 1982/1983 at Dave's Boat Shop in York, Maine. She comforted me when the Mary E sailed out of the Cove with a new owner. She dove head first into managing the business of the Bunny Clark from the beginning. As the business grew she also took over the reservations, managing the reservationists and helping me make decisions in a changing volatile industry. She brought our two kids into the world and helped me make the transition into my father's restaurant business. She fought my battles ashore when I was taking customers to sea. And she did the things, too many to mention, that allowed me to enjoy the life I had chose for both of us without a single complaint.

Years ago when I was chartering my thirty-two foot six passenger fishing boat, the Mary E, the late Captain Lawrence Grant on the party boat, E-Z, used to ask me over the radio; "When are you going to get a bigger boat?" This conversation went on for three years. Often times it would be followed by a reference to Frank Blount (The Francis Fleet, Point Judith, Rhode Island), how his wife Christine was such a force in the business and how Frank was able to do wonderful things for us all by sacrificing his time in the fishery management scene. I didn't know Frank then. I assumed he was a seasoned fisherman thirty years my senior. Turns out I am eight years older than Frank. But the reason I mention this is that I was deeply interested in making fishing my life. I had not met Deb yet. And I could only imagine what life would be like with someone as dedicated as Christine by my side. Granted I don't have the large fishing business that Frank & Christine have. But Deb moved into the role like it was meant to be. She has put up with a lot, being with me. And not all of it was good. But through it all she is the engine of Bunny Clark Deep Sea Fishing and, certainly, the main reason that I can enjoy it like I do. Thank you, Deb, from the bottom of my heart!

Jane Staples is the number one reservationist ashore. She takes over when Deb can't, all year round. A Godsend, she rarely says no. She grew up in the same neighborhood that I did here in Ogunquit. So she knows all the local individuals I see every day. That makes for a great business relationship with the town and with our customers who might need information that others just can't give. If Deb and I leave for any period of time, she pays bills and runs the show here. She has been there for us for many years now. Thank you, Jane, again, for all the wonderful work you do and the part you play in our business. You are such a great help and I certainly appreciate it!

I ride in the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), an 192 mile, two day, cycling event that takes place the first Saturday of every August, to raise money for cancer research and care. Last year marked my twelfth season participating. For a detailed description of my treatment of the event, the money I have raised and the logistics, you can click this link.

For the 2019 Pan-Mass Challenge ride, I have joined a team called Precision for Kids, the name of the team derived from the type of new age cancer research called precision cancer medicine. This is the first year I have belonged to this team. In the twelve seasons before, my money went to the general fund. I decided to go with the Precision for Kids team because they fund research with Dr. Katherine Janeway, a cancer survivor herself, who divides her time between working at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital in genetic engineering. Her goal is to find the specific gene in the DNA sequence of the person with the cancer, use a localized drug that will switch off the gene (or replace the gene) causing the cancer and, thus, bypass the traditional use of chemotherapy and radiation, at the same time curing the patient. She has already had great success in real time with two children. This made me want to point my donor's money in her direction. Three years ago her research wasn't being funded at all! She has made these tremendous strides of success in just two years! And, of course, the same procedure will extend to adults once standardized. The team was created by Michael Parent, who, in his search for perfection, came upon Dr. Janeway and her work and found that she wasn't being funded for the innovative work that she was achieving. I hope to meet Dr. Janeway at the PMC event in August.

This is my thirty-sixth Guestletter, my thirty-sixth season on the Bunny Clark and my forty-second season taking patrons on the high seas. I have always loved it. And I have always felt that I provide the common man with a link to the ocean and the oceanic environment that you wouldn't experience otherwise unless you had your own boat. In fact, we've done more than that with seventy-three world and state records and thousands of trophy catches over the years. This Guestletter highlights and compares those accomplishments since the Bunny Clark was launched in 1983. I've loved every minute of it. Never have I felt the business of the Bunny Clark as a job. But I think it would be a job if I didn't include anglers. Many of these anglers have become good friends. Those who aren't friends have, I hope, enjoyed the best experience I (we) have tried hard to achieve. The Bunny Clark is not as profitable as it once was. But it's still a business. With tougher fishery regulations, the change in groundfish populations and the bad press associated, it has become a great challenge to continue. My involvement in the fishery management process has helped somewhat. But I don't take much money out of the business for myself as I prefer giving that money as a bonus to the people who mean the most to me, the ones that make this business as unique and as special as I feel it is. None of this would be possible without your support. Thank you for allowing me to continue to do the thing I enjoy the most in life, taking anglers out fishing! As my father would have said, winter well! I am very much looking forward to having you all aboard in the coming season!

A Day off to go Tunafishing/Harpooning with my Son

If you want to send me e-mail, the current address is ttower@bunnyclark.com. My email address is sowhake@gmail.com.

With this web site in general, I hope to keep you current on all of the fishing particulars on the Bunny Clark and include updated information on fishery management decisions that could potentially affect us. For a current report go to the Fishing Update section from the link located on the index page of this web site. Thanks!