Meet Your Angling Neighbor Brooklyn-Born Fisherman at Home in Waters Around Nassau
By Capt. Jim Johnson
DICK BUTLER
WHERE IS YOUR HOMETOWN? “I was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. I moved at a very early age to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. I now reside most of the time on Amelia Island and go back to Saratoga Springs in the summer.”
WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATION? “I am a retired carpenter and I still guide during the summer on Lake Chateaugay in New York aboard the Goofy Newfy. The Goofy Newfy is a 22-foot Starcraft hard-top cabin cruiser. I will also trailer the Goofy Newfy to Lake George, Lake Champlain and Lake Ontario when needed.”
WHO WAS THE ONE PERSON INSTRUMENTAL IN YOUR INTRODUCTION TO FISHING? “I started out fishing with my dad as a young boy. At about the age of 9, I started [working as a mate] on headboats on Sheepshead Bay at Garrison Beach and I was hooked from then on.”
WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? “I enjoy tinkering and repairing rods and reels, fishing and I also enjoy tying streamers.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF FISHING TO DO LOCALLY? “I enjoy light tackle trout and redfishing, but I really love all the aspects of our local fishing.”
ARE YOU A LURE OR LIVE BAIT ANGLER? “I am a lure angler when light-tackle backwater fishing. My favorite lure right now is the Contender grub in the X-mas pattern. When I’m offshore fishing, I prefer to use bait.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LIGHT-TACKLE OUTFIT? “My favorite reel is an Ambassader 5000 with a light tackle graphite rod.”
WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE FISHING BUDDIES WHEN FISHING LOCALLY? “I enjoy the company of Jim Jordan, Capt. Ronnie Foster and Gus Martin. If you see me fishing I am usually with one or sometimes all.”
DO YOU HAVE A MEMORABLE FISHING STORY? “Yes in 1999 I placed fourth in the Lake Ontario Salmon Open Invitational with a 41 1/2- pound Chinook salmon. This was a great time.”
WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN NASSAU COUNTY FOR THE LOCAL ANGLERS? “I would not like to see the proposal of Mike Boyle for the closure of our [county-controlled] beaches and public boat ramps after dusk to come about. This is not needed. If you are having problems with certain individuals, enforce the laws you have.Capt. Jim Johnson is owner of Amelia Island Bait and Tackle, Nassau Sound Bait & Tackle and Rappi Charters, on which he spends many days fishing around Amelia Island and offshore. To submit information about, or photos of, recent catches, stop by his shop at 1925 14th St., call 277-0775, or e-mail captjim@gct21.net.
(c) 2007 Florida Times Union. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.