Cuttyhunk Pictures Cuttyhunk Open Cuttyhunk Club Clubhouse The Connecticut Surfcasters Association has its roots firmly planted in the soil of Cuttyhunk Island. The idea for starting the CSA came to club founders Frank Capone, Mitch Corah, and Steve Pynn while they sat below the mounted striped bass in the dining room of the old Allen House. The premier club event each year is the annual Spring trip to Cuttyhunk. The attendance has grown from a handful of club members to more than 20 members each year! Our Cuttyhunk trips are filled with fishing, comaraderie, and fun. Some members go to the island to fish like there's no tomorrow and some go just to relax, enjoy the scenic beauty of the island, and renew the friendships they have built. Most of us are somewhere in between those two ends of the spectrum. The highlight of our trip from 1995-1997 was the Saturday afternoon cookout hosted by Mr. John Moore. John was part owner of the original Cuttyhunk Club Clubhouse which he opened to our club for the afternoon. The Cuttyhunk Club was a club consisting of millionares and well to do who came to the island to fish, socialize, and get away from the rat race. The clubhouse is a place that is steeped in striped bass fishing history and tradition and is full of memorabilia from days gone by. The clubhouse has since been sold and converted to a bed and breakfast. Each year, the CSA and the Cuttyhunk Rod & Gun Club square off in the annual Cuttyhunk Open. This is a 24 hour fishing contest that is open to the public. There are four divisions, striped bass on fly, lure, and bait and an all encompasing bluefish division. The only limitation is that the fishing is limited to surf fishing only. It's a fun contest with trophies and most importantly, bragging rights! Surf fishing on this island is not for the faint of heart. The island is 2 miles long by 3/4 miles wide and the only method of transportation is your 2 feet! Most of the shoreline is boulder strewn which makes it a haven for striped bass but a curse for the fisherman. Korkers and a wading staff are a fisherman’s best friends. That is not to say that fish can not be taken by even the most casual surf fishermen in more easily fishable areas, but the odds of hooking a cow certainly increase when you fish the tough rocky surf. If you have any questions about fishing the island, you can e-mail the club’s trip coordinator, Rich Russo. If you would like information regarding transportation and lodging please visit the homepage of the ferry, ALERT II.