There is no way that I can ever do justice to the legacy of one of Long Island’s truly great anglers and sportsman in a page or two, but I will try. Fred has been a member of The Fisherman Magazine staff since 1976, serving as associate editor, managing editor, associate publisher, publisher and senior editor. As the magazine morphs into yet another iteration of itself to continue to be relevant in the modern digital age, he currently holds the post of editorial director.
Along with his responsibilities at the magazine, Capt. Fred has managed lengthy stints as a light tackle charter boat captain and guide on the Great South Bay before the practice had gained popularity here in the Northeast. He was also one of the first in the modern era to guide anglers in the Long Island surf. Some of Fred’s protégés have since gone on to be high-profile seminar speakers, book authors and product spokesmen in the world of surf fishing, but I’m sure that Fred just sits back and chuckles at their escapades. He has nothing to prove to anyone, since his historical and current exploits speak volumes without a word being spoken. He was one of the original Long Island surf pioneers and quietly remains at the top of his game. From the west end bridges to Montauk, and Block Island to Cape Cod, he has built a lifetime of memories that few others have had the good fortune to experience.
But targeting gamefish from beach and boat not the limit of Capt. Fred’s involvement in the sport fishing world. He has been heavily involved in the fishing community for four decades, serving on numerous federal, state and county advisory boards overseeing fisheries management and fishing access issues. Fred was an original member of the South Shore Estuary Preserve Committee; he developed and managed The Fisherman Send A Kid Fishing (1983 to present) and Build A Reef funds; established youth fishing camps in conjunction with Sea Grant; was a governor’s nominee to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and was instrumental in development of the Robert Sweeney Sportfishing Center, Green Island Access Area and Jones Beach Construction Dock Fishing Site.
Fred has also served as director of numerous fishing tournaments throughout Long Island, conducted hundreds of seminars and lectures on all aspects of saltwater fishing, hosted the News 12 Fishing Long Island TV show and WBAB and WCBS radio fishing reports. He has served as outdoor columnist for the NY Daily News, in addition to being featured in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, along with authoring and co-authoring several books on sport fishing.
He has been a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, Metropolitan Outdoor Press Association, New York State Outdoor Writers Association and a charter member of the Long Island Outdoor Communicators Network. Fred has been honored by the Coastal Conservation Association with its Friend of Fisheries Conservation Award, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Casting For Recovery, honored by the Fisherman’s Conservation Association with its Lifetime Achievement Award, was made an Honorary Member of the Long Island Beach Buggy Association and was inducted into the New York State Outdoorsman Hall of Fame in 2011, the only Long Islander besides Teddy Roosevelt to receive that honor. He is also a member of the East Islip High School Hall of Fame, recognized for his prodigious pitching prowess and community service.
Along with his wife of 40 years, Donna (who is assured saint-hood), he has helped raise three wonderful sons (Paul, Kit and Michael), two nieces (Ashley and Taylor) and a nephew, Josh, along with coaching youngsters in basketball and baseball through the high school level. Fred is one of the finest persons I’ve met in my lifetime, and I consider him one the best and most well rounded anglers of his generation. I am proud to call him my friend, so please join me in saluting a great Long Island angler and sportsman.
