CUTTYHUNK OPEN
Slater Anderson of the CRGC and Rich Russo of the CSA worked together over the next year through constant e-mails trying to organize what would become the Cuttyhunk Open. This surf fishing only tournament is open to anyone on the island and had two divisions which was expanded to four divisions as of 1999; striped bass caught with fly rod, lure and bait divisions and an overall bluefish division with trophies and prize money awarded to the winners of each division. It is a 24 hour event that spans from Friday to Saturday evening. The first year saw the closing ceremonies held on the lawn of the old Cuttyhunk Clubhouse. Since 1998, the closing ceremonies have been held on the lawn of the Avalon which includes a cookout featuring the chefs from both the CRGC and CSA working the grill and fresh cherrystones provided by the CRGC's Slater Anderson. A great time is had by all who attend. It's way to get the two clubs together and talk about fishing and the rich history of the island.
1999 saw Cuttyhunkers and company take 3 out of the 4 trophies. Dave Andrews of the CRGC took a nice 38" bass on a Polaris popper at night from Church's beach. Mike Harrington took his second straight fly rod trophy with a 30.5" bass taken from Copicut Neck. John Bermingham, guest of the CRGC, took the bait division with a 28.5" bass taken on a live eel from Bass Bend. Rounding out the winners was CRGC's own Asa Lombard who took a 23.5" bluefish on a Kastmaster from the far West end of the island.
2000 was the year of the CSA with 3 out of 4 trophies taken by the club from Connecticut. However, the largest fish in the history of the tournament was taken by CRGC's John Paul Hunter. His behemoth bass measured 47" and tipped the scales at 37lbs. He took the bait division winning cow during a lightning storm on a squid fished at Church's beach. Rick Jenkins proved good deeds get rewarded as he had accompanied a club member off island due to a medical emergency and assisted him in getting to a New Bedford hospital. He returned to the island and caught the lure division winner, a 32" bass, on a Cordell pencil popper off the South shore at Cannapitsit Channel. CSA co-founder Steve Pynn took the fly rod trophy with a 22.5" bass taken in his favorite hole along the same stretch of rocks where Rick caught his fish. Mike Amodeo took the bluefish trophy with a nice 33" blue taken on a chunk fished at the island's West end.
Asa Lombard (L) from the CRGC and Ray Sasso from the CSA present the awards
2001 proved to be a repeat of 2000 with CSA members taking home 3 out of the 4 trophies. George Baldwin of the CSA took the bluefish division with a bluefish that stretched the tape at 8". No big blues were taken during the contest and George had the foresight to have his fly rod caught snapper measured. CSA's Jerry Van Duinen took the fly rod division with a 24" striper. The bait division once again went to a member of the CRGC proving that these island fishermen really are savy when it comes to tossing a chunk! Brian "Body" King landed a nice 39" bass on a chunk of mackeral in the daylight hours. Word has it that Body, who is a Connecticut resident, is being courted by the CSA so they can learn the tricks of fishing bait on Cuttyhunk. Lastly, Rich Russo of the CSA landed a nice 44" striper on a small Beachmaster Danny in an eel pattern. The eel pattern proved popular with the large bass as Rich landed a 41" striper with a Beachmaster Atom Jr. in that same pattern. Honorable mention goes to John Stopka of the CSA who landed a 41" bass on a large wooden swimmer.
