"History of the CCCF"

by Beachbum AKA Gary (founding member)

I'm sure many of you have not had time, or possibly the inclination, to read the history page on the CCCF website. I thought it would be a good idea to put a short history piece in the newsletter to help those newer folks to understand a bit about this group.

Our original meeting place was the fishing board on the original Surfside surfcam site (NetSurfing.com) put together by the late Gary Koerner, a Surfside resident, surfer, and fisherman. I guess there were in the neighborhood of 40 to 50 regular posters on the board at that time, of which several were somewhat in the novice category when it came to saltwater fishing. A discussion had been ongoing about long rod surf fishing, the rods/reels to use, and how to cast them. SurfRat volunteered to put on a bit of a seminar, and we made plans to meet on the beach at Access Road 5. This little get-together took place on December 12, 1999, and tallied a total of twelve people in attendance.

Once everyone had gathered, SurfRat pulled out a few of his rods for folks to inspect and proceeded on to his demonstration of casting technique. He quickly impressed us all with his ability to stretch a yarn, but just as quickly showed that he hadn't yet figured out just how to get that type of elasticity out of monofilament. His first cast proved to have a great impact on the understanding of longrod casting to everyone there. He reared back with a heavy weight (I think it was 6oz) on a casting rod, and treated us all to an admirable backlash which broke off the weight early in the cast, sending it flying out of sight down the beach toward Surfside. Being me, I had to step in with a smart###'ed remark at this point, along the lines of "Now you all know what NOT to do". I picked up a rod he had a spinning reel on, explaining how much less likely you are to cause a breakoff style backlash on them, and threw a cast or so while SurfRat prepped another casting outfit to continue his demo. I was quite grateful that I managed to do so without breaking off on my forward sweep, since it had been some time since I'd lived on the east coast and done much surf casting. Great progress was made by most of those wanting to try it, with SmallBites showing the greatest overall improvement. I think she started out casting about 30 feet, but was getting at least 35 yards before it was all said and done. I have to admit tho, that since that afternoon I still get a bit nervous about overhead objects when near her while she is casting.

Well, the afternoon went by with examination and explanation of the rods, reels, leaders, weights, and such that are used in surf fishing with longrods, accompanied of course, by ample refreshment (throwing those big rods is thirsty work!). Somewhere in the midst of the indulgence in refreshments and general bay fishing discussions going on after the demo, the name "Coalition of Confused Coastal Fishermen" was arrived at, and our now illustrious leader Sam said he was going to put pictures from the day on a website. The CCCF was born! Some folks had to leave, but some stayed on a bit, taking to the bay at the abandoned condos to do some wading and watch TStubb demo his kayak for us.

Well, we went to fishing for a bit, without a whole lot of luck if I remember correctly. I picked up one keeper trout (not by a lot!), and I believe SmallBites may have caught a croaker or 2 from her shorebound spot. Seems I also remember TStubb picking up a couple of small rat reds. I had waded north along the shoreline, and TStubb and his yak had gone even further north. As has gotten to be a part of CCCF outing tradition, the weather turned on us. A line blew in from the southwest, moving up and across the bay toward us. I saw it coming, and turned to head back in, realizing quickly that it would reach me long before I made it back to my jeep. I had to wonder how TStubb was faring in his effort to paddle back against a wind that now had to be well over 20mph with some very strong gusts mixed in (you know - those 100+ yard downwind casts with a lightweight lure kind of times). Once the actual squall line made it to us, the rain kicked in as well, so I began backing toward the truck to keep the cold rain (hey .. it WAS December, and being skinny I get cold EASILY!) from stinging my face. Somehow, in the process of trying to peer through my rain streaked glasses, I missed one of the more notable events in CCCF lore (something which was graciously reenacted with due reverence at the first anniversary gathering by Borg, and later still by Sam himself). TStubb's efforts to fight his way back to the vehicles met a slight setback, in the form of an overturned kayak. It had not been a terribly cold year up to that point, so the water was not down in the low 50's, but it was nonetheless cold, and a strong wind on top of that had him turning a bit blue before he made it back to his truck and some drying off. That squall pretty much put a damper on things. A few more laughs, and some goodbyes mixed with promises to get together again put the cap on a day of the things a fisherman lives for: some educational (and at times downright silly) discussions of tackle, fishing, and related things, meeting new fishing friends, fishing, fun, and of course ...refreshments.

Heck! I set out to try to give a bit of understanding of why helping others to learn about fishing is such an important part of CCCF, and I turned it into a longwinded story .. I guess I must be a fisherman. As with any story, I hope that if nothing else, you were at least a provided with a laugh or two, and bit of entertainment.

Editor's note - In attendance were:  Beachbum, Surfrat, Sam, Smallbites, That SOB, George, JFred, Jaws Bites, Tig, Dan, Dr.Rx, and TStubb (now TKFStubb).  These were the founding members.