Fisherman Of The Northeast Bronx
Early summer, 5:30 a.m., the Bronx
I rig my eight-weight fly rod to the soft chirps of birds. The faint morning light slowly breaks through the trees surrounding the parking lot. I start walking towards the shore. The damp blacktop keeps the air cool, but not for long. As I approach the brush covered in morning dew, the sweet smell of the high tide wafts through the tall grass. Past the bushwhack I emerge to the picturesque rocky shores of the Northeast Bronx.
When imagining the borough, many people don’t realize—or overlook—that it includes a diverse coastline of inlets, marshes, flats, rocky shores and estuaries. These unique areas of water around the Bronx provide exhilarating angling opportunities for some of the best game fish the northeastern United States has to offer—notably striped bass.
To catch a fish is the ultimate thrill. The tug of the line, the fight, the reel screaming: It’s really great when it happens, but even when it doesn’t, we become closer to our fishing buddies, appreciate the fishery and become stewards to it.
The Island Current III, a group fishing boat that departs daily from City Island at 8 a.m. Dan, the Captain of The Island Current III can be seen in the wheelhouse.
Mates onboard The Island Current III, James “Tom” Snell seen waiting to depart for a day of fishing, he's hoping to catch a flounder but doesn't expect to catch much early in the fishing season. Tom, a Bronx resident, goes fishing two days a week.
Also, onboard is Francisco Duncan, a Wakefield resident who has been going out fishing on The Island Current III for 20 years.
Jose Carcamo, lives in the Soundview section of the Bronx, fishing in Pelham Bay Park. Jose fishes on weekends mostly, and his wife often comes with him. He likes to use sand worms and bunker as bate. This day he was fortunate enough to catch a striped bass.
Arthur and Ham Photographed in Pelham Bay Park, both for a small fishing accessory company called Gear Up Surfcasting, neither are current Bronx residents but said they like fishing in the Bronx during the springtime, once summer hits they head to Long Island.
Ricardo Soto, who lives off of Gunhill Road, takes two buses to get to his fishing spot in Pelham Bay Park where he has been fishing for the last three years, two to three days per week.
Carlos Reinoso lives off of Gunhill Road in the Bronx setups three poles at a time while fishing at Pelham Bay Park. Carlos hopes to catch some striped bass and bluefish.
Oscar Fernandez a South Bronx resident fishing for striped bass in Pelham Bay Park.
This photo essay by City Island-based photographer Ben Zucker explores the vibrant shores and the locals who cast their lines in the effort to fool a fish. A look into the fishermen of the Northeast Bronx.
