For the past 25 years, I’ve made my professional career as an outdoor writer, specifically as fishing writer. I would never have followed this course if it wasn’t for my father and mother introducing me to this culture; but I want to recognize a certain man, specifically a mentor, that helped push me to get where I am, even though he may not know it. That man is Al Ristori.
Al is 88 years old and still living life to the fullest, fishing every single day as if it were his first time. Ristori is a pure, wild soul, and I owe a big push of my professional career and driving passion to him. Back around 1984 when I was in 4th grade, I religiously ran to my parent’s mailbox every Friday to extract the Newark Star Ledger, feverishly flipping through the pages to read Ristori’s saltwater fishing column. He told tales of the salty seas – adventures of the Big Jamaica hauling in legendary catches of cod and ling, monster mako sharks that adorned the docks of Union Landing, and striper anglers feverishly into surfcasting blitzes along the Jersey Shore beaches.
I read and consumed his words, looking at the photos and his descriptions and text as if I was under a spell. They put me into another realm of life where adventure as my wanted employment as a pirate was satisfied, but more practically, a fisherman, reigned supreme, spinning tales of battling the salten seas to bring home a catch. His reports in the Star Ledger cultivated my mindset where the impossible adventure could happen, if you only put the effort in to try.
Esteemed saltwater fishing columnist Bob Duffy used to hold Ristori’s Star Ledger column before Bob passed away in 1984. When Al took over Duffy’s column, I was crestfallen and dumbfounded. I put all my childlike mental life savings into Bob Duffy, because he was a damn good saltwater fishing journalist and I connected with him. I felt I lost that connection when a guy named Al Ristori took over. One afternoon, on my first ever industry job at The Fisherman in 1998, I answered the main phone and none other than Ristori was on the other end of the line. He said in his ever-present gravelly voice “Hey there, it’s Al Ristori, can I speak with Pete Barrett?”
At 24 years old, my knees shook as my idol was on the line. I took advantage of the opportunity given to me that I had a legend on the phone. “Hey Al I love your column,” I said, adding “I read it every day since I was a kid and it inspires me to do what I am doing right now!” He remarked in his unassuming, generous way, “Well thank you for that!”
“But listen, I loved Bob Duffy,” I proceeded to tell Ristori over the phone, “Duffy always made me feel welcome and never alone in my pursuit to catch fish. I miss that. But you’re doing a pretty good job of filling that void.” Al simply said, “Bob was a good man and I am thankful to have this opportunity. I’ll promise you, I’ll try my best to fill his shoes and inspire you to get out fishing.”
In the 25 plus years I have known Al and can call him more than a friend, but family; we’ve shared thousands of fish together on deck (Al’s always the last one to reel up after the horn blows), tossed plugs in the surf side by side, helped him landscape his house, ate dinners with him, laughed, joked, talked about conservation issues and how to protect, conserve, inspire and make the fishing industry worthy for future generations to enjoy through any and all obstacles that come down the pipe. I even got the early “secret” call ahead of time to attend his legendary “basement cleaning flea markets” to get first shots at the good stuff.
Al, these simple words are for you, and I know I speak from every angler whom you have ever touched with your effervescent spirit, astounding wisdom and wonderfully infectious laugh and charm – thank you my friend. I always, and will always, hold you dear to my heart and soul. You have made a difference in not only to myself and the fishing world, but the world in its entirety, selflessly bestowing your knowledge, your genuine attitude and fun-loving spirit, and education a thousand times over, more than you could ever imagine. I didn’t only find a connection and inspiration with you and from you as you promised oh so many years ago, but found a lifelong and eternal friend. I couldn’t have done it without your influence.
Thanks for keeping your promise to me 30 some years ago.
In addition to hosting a national television show Saltwater Underground With Nick Honachefsky and traveling the world in search of fish stories, the author remains a longtime Field Editor for the New Jersey edition of The Fisherman. As for Ristori, he still fishes every day in Florida and continues sharing news and tips at tightlineswithalristori.com.
