A View from the Ground.
I live in Margate NJ, a small town of about 7000 households, with one-third actually residing here full time. It is a wonderful community, and depending on who’s post-mortem storm track you believe, the city took the eye of Hurricane Sandy right between the eyes.
Now if you follow storms like this monster you know that means that we were spared to a very small degree. While not totally devastated like some of our sister communities that took the hit from the merciless Northeast quadrant of the storm as it made landfall, like those poor souls in Staten Island and the Rockaways, many of our homes and almost all of our businesses were trashed but still stand.
On the news, the anchors try and quantify the cost of the damage. They refer to FEMA’s resources in dollars, and compare its estimated billions against what happened to New Orleans with Katrina. On the ground, there is a whole different spin.
A week later, I walk or drive our streets and people’s lives are on the curb. It haunts me. The piles in front of the flood ravaged homes grow by the hour. Beds, that just a week ago held husbands and wives together warm and safe in the night. Cribs that families stood around, looking down at the true ultimate miracle of life. Carpeting that pets and children rolled around on, giggling and laughing, filling homes with joy. The piles on the curbs grow taller, and my heart aches.
Over the last few days, there have been a number of parades through my fair City. There was the parade of heavy equipment, rumbling down the streets clearing sand, so you didn’t need your 4 wheel drive on Atlantic Ave. The parade of vans and tractors from national disaster companies swooping in like crows picking at wounded prey. Parades of local contractors, running back and forth between their own personal disasters and some welcome work to help pay for their own swamped first floors.
Then there is the other parade. The ones full of out of state tags that “ooh-ed and ahh-ed” at the fly-by chopper shots from their big city TV stations and just had to see for themselves. Shiny cars with shaven drivers and passengers pointing at our homes and snapping pictures with their smart phones out the window. Having the nerve to stop at Junior’s Donut’s, a shop that managed to open for a few hours to give away donuts and hot coffee for city workers, first responders, and traumatized homeowners. They grabbed a free snack to compliment their driving tour, like popcorn at a movie.
Mike Shipton has the Northern section of the state to cover this week, and I am saying a little prayer for all of our tackle shop and charter boat owners up there that when he calls, there is someone to answer the phone… or maybe just a phone. Let’s take a shot and see what is going on with our guys in the Central and South.
Our friends at Reel Life Bait and Tackle got hit pretty hard by Sandy, but after a few moments comparing horror stories, Mike says that they are open. They expect the weekend hours to be 8am to 5pm, they do have eels and expect a delivery of green crabs by Friday. Promising news on the angling front as both stripers and blackfish are being caught in the canal.
A few minutes on the phone with Tom from Jersey Coast Bait and Tackle reminded me of what the word “community” part of “fishing community” means. Chuck from Off the Hook in Cape May along with the owners of the Lobster House down there are sending truckloads of relief supplies up to Jersey Coast for distribution to the locals in need in Brick. Tom and his crew are making sure they get into the right hands out of the shop. He is open for business, and the store itself did not sustain major damage, but a majority of his customers and neighbors are all hurting. If you are in the area and are in need, or can be of help, the shop is located at 561 Mantoloking Rd. in Brick. 732-451-1077.
Managed to get through to Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin and the message was short. “We are closed. We are busted up pretty good.” Our thoughts and hopes are with Andy, Matt and their families.
As we move a little further to the south, the news takes a turn for the better with our shops… well, better is a relative term.
Dave at Absecon Bay Sportsmans Center had damage from the storm that cost him a couple thousand spot and some superficial damage to the docks, but the shop is open and operating 7 days a week. The Absecon Boat ramp is also ready for you if you are looking for a place to put in. Dave ran a charter this week, in between disasters, and his guys did well on stripers in the inlet. There were not many boats, but most connected.
Tackle Direct is situated inland on Tilton Rd in Egg Harbor Township and although there were power outages which required some spotty closures of the retail store, the phone and web system backups did their job. They are open and ready for you.
Better news also from Ed over at Fin-Atics in Ocean City. The shop sits way up high on West Avenue. Even though the waters were higher than anyone has seen before, it did not get in. Fin-Atics is open for business AND has had some good reports of bass not only in the inlet but on the beach (which looks completely different) and in the back too.
The crew at Two Chums in Sea Isle City got a lesson in bailing as they had about 4 feet of water in the store. They are right on the water, so, they were right in the water. Lost some inventory, but they are open with shortened hours midweek, but back to 6 am to 7 pm for this upcoming weekend.
Same scoop up the street at Mike Cunningham’s Sea Isle Bait and Tackle. The shop re-opened on November 3rd and even had a special full day visit from Mike’s newest little angler, baby Finn. Great pic of the little guy on Mike’s Facebook page. Take a look at a baby’s smile, it will remind you of what is truly important.
Down in Cape May, you have to forgive me if I am repeating myself, but a standing ovation to Capt. Chuck and his lovely wife Mary for the efforts they are making out of Off the Hook Bait and Tackle to help those in need up in Central and Northern NJ. Off the Hook dodged the bullet damage-wise with the storm and these two people are just not the kind that can sit idly by when others are in need. They even closed the shop for a few hours today, Wednesday, to run more provisions up to Brick. Off the Hook is totally operational and ready not only for your business, but for your contributions to the cause as well. Stop by, call, email, Facebook, or just shout out the window… you guys are the best!
Best Bet for this weekend, is to be a little bit of a citizen to our world. Take a moment or two and try and think what you can do to help relieve some of the pain our fellow Jersey families are feeling. Give a buck, bend your back, help out in some way. Then, reward yourself with a few hours of peace with a rod in your hand. There are fish to be caught up and down the coast from the beach and the boats, but before you do your own thing, please try and do the right thing.
Stay Tuna-ed!
Well put Ed!