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Peter Cochis Remembered

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The majority here may never have heard his name before , but I served a two year apprenticeship under his tutelage learning how to fish the Cape Cod Canal, right after he served his country during world war 2. Peter was part of the USArmy that went into the forests and built landing fields where our planes could counter the Japanese invasions among the many islands being occupied by the Japanese at that time. My Mother allowed me to go with Peter to the Canal during that time as he did not use foul language and he did not drink.

 

My first experience was carrying all of his gear in and setting it up in his favorite places among the rocks , near Blacks Hole[ a story for another time] I can recall pulling into the parking space under the Bourne Bridge as we waited for the right time to set up[ He needed a parking permit from the corp at that time on his car] As I recall him being checked for one. I would do this many times with him after we had stopped at Red Top for three skin rigs and getting them attached to the skin rigs of the time. That would always be his first bait to use when ever we went down fishing. Once day break happened it was another whole story. The first Silvers would begin to break in the foggy morning under the Bourne bridge and it would be blind casting into the foggy mist, until the fog would rise above the water.

 

Peter was a physical specimen of a man who was well fitted for the times fishing among his peers. He always managed to pull one nice 30 pound plus fish about every time we went together and of course I had the job of dragging it back to the car along with all of the gear. It would be two years of serving my apprenticeship, before I actually got to fish, WE often would catch a few squid or silvers that during these time frames would be driven onto the rip rap for eating or bait.

 

Many of the better known canal rats at that time also fished along the same roadway , from, Rocky,Floyd Roman,Al Phillips, Bob Pond, The Black family, Stan Gibbs, Less Hebblewait, Edson Worceter , Bunny DiPetro, Charlie Murat to mention a few of the times better well known fishermen.

 

I can recall my first ever fish caught on a loaned plug from Peter with Peter and Bob going through the whole gamut of working the plug, having a fish slam it and waiting for the words to set the hook . I was instructed to listen to them for advise, which I was doing at that time. When the words [set the hook] came I put all my skinny body into lifting the rod , only to have the huge fish spit out the hook in the East bound Current as I lost my balance and went swimming in the canal. Peter with one arm grabbed the back of my shirt and lifted me back onto rip rap / That was a lesson I never forgot. You can never be safe when on any rock pile you plant your feet that is on the canal itself and one should always remain cautious.

 

Memories from the past , hopefully some here have a similar experience they would like to share

Life member M.B.B.A #509

Life member Izaak Walton Fishing Association

Life member Cape Cod Canal

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Back when I had hair with colour ,a 31Ford beach car and a cane beach rod I would drive past a half hidden army tent in the dunes with no one in site.

As soon as darkness fell guys would head out and sneak down the beach hoping others would be setup and fishing and not find them.

We where told it was the Charlie Murat crew.

 

Later on in my forties I had upgraded to a truck camper and listening to other camper wives heard ( wife or girlfriend) I'm not sure that Charlie had his rig emptied and the gal was washing (on the beach) curtains ,bedding and every thing that needed washing

It must have been the first time for a woman's touch. Never did shake his hand.

 

Almost lost the same car just past the lights on outside beach.

Big moon headlights and yaking with a buddy and left fork and over the crest we go.

So now I give er the gas to get up speed . No dice,,to steep. So with the tide coming and the beach getting stepper I back into the water on a sand bar with the tide coming and try heading up right angle up the beach. No luck,,not enough power.

Back into the water again and again trying to make track.

O the fourth or fifth try this guy steps out of the darkness and as my car reaches the crest the stranger and my buddy give the final push to get up top on high beach. The guy was Frank Woolner, pipe and all.

I felt bad moving all over the beach

lights flashing and the guy was trying to fish.

 

Oh well he helped save my forty five dollar beach car.

 

The old school on the beach is that you wave to everyone because sooner or later everyone needs a hand.

 

I've meet a lot of beach people over the years ,nice people

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Old # 2 and 13 worked the beaches together at times . One made rods, A Murat Rod was a prize at that time frame and one wrote articles about fishing. Both would visit the canal area at times to fish and promote what ever was the hot item of the day.. Many are not aware but Frank Woolner also made a few wood plugs , that if can be found have a considerable value in good conditions. You would also note if you are a present MBBA Member, to find the names of others who also were all part of the early beach and canal fishing history and have there names memorialized.

 

Hopefully others will make comments in helping to keep the history of fishing alive and well.

Life member M.B.B.A #509

Life member Izaak Walton Fishing Association

Life member Cape Cod Canal

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I think I've got a Woolner type hing lip swimmer plug made by capesams.

If I remember it was Murat that came up with the pointed wooden dowel in the but end of a rod so you could jam it in the sand when you're yaking with another dude.

Albert Gag grew up on the beach with some western mass guys.I thought their clan was mostly wormers ,but I could be wrong.

Frank Danghuo(spelling) spent half his time on north beach and half in Ptown.

I won't get into details with these guys since being a local yocal as were suppose to hate everyone as well as dig deep traps in the trail.

 

One gent would make it a point if you were at the water's edge ,he would open up your fish cooler to see what was being caught in that beach area.

Then know where to fish at night.

Some dudes would check dealers to see if fish had sand on them(beach fish) or boat fish(clean)

Some could at one dealer pull the slip out of your box and see how the fisher was, then be on your back, next night.

 

On big fish nights it was kinda dirty piling up on one spot.

Many a night lighting a smoke gave a spot away.

Sorry for the blabbing, I got carried away

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I had a few of Woolners hinged plugs[ Cape Sams wound up with them I believe a few years back :D

 

Every one was wormers in the beginning or sand eels on the beaches. Charlie Murat made a swimmer that had three sections on it, I swear was one of the longest plugs I ever cast and it cast like a dead rock, but it caught fish in close. Not sure when Al Gags began to make plugs for the beach. During the time frame you speak about many of the plug builders were working somewhat together to perfect what ever plug they were designing at that time. Spofford, Calzone Pond, Gibbs, Woolner and even Lane I believe.

 

Dragging the ropes behind the truck made it a little harder to follow the tracks , since a few had boats and would drop them of to the beach looking for sand on the fish was a big deal to perhaps finding some fish.

 

A number of years back I saw pictures taken by Charley Murat in a tin boat catching so many huge fish I wondered why it did not turn over, when they came back onto the beach and drove right up onto the sand :D

Life member M.B.B.A #509

Life member Izaak Walton Fishing Association

Life member Cape Cod Canal

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clambellies , I agree with your comments when it comes to the history of fishing . It is only by telling the story of the past can you understand how far we have come as sportsman in the world of fishing or any other activity . :hi5:

 

Just think of how many footsteps every one fishing today have traveled over by previous fishermen, going down the same pathway to find fish along the canal or some lonely beach front :D For every grain of sand you walk over is a reminder of hundreds if not thousands who have made the same walk being made today, by a new generation of young enthusiastic anglers. Keeping the traditions alive

and well is our only reward in passing on what has been learned to the next generation of learners that fishing is more then just catching fish:D

 

Some who look in here think that what is transpiring here as being pontificating, I would like to think of it honoring those who have traveled the road before us and one way is by telling accounting's of the lives they lived, enjoying fishing and its counterparts.

 

I once was friends of the Mashbe Chief, and i would listen to all of his past history passed down by only the word of mouth, through countless generations. Much gets lost along the way, but the history remains alive for all to observe and understand . History can only remain true to its roots if what is past down is correct. That has been a mission of mine and others that i take very personal to continue.

 

Just think if we could relate a story of every grain of sand we have traveled over or with and put a name to it

Life member M.B.B.A #509

Life member Izaak Walton Fishing Association

Life member Cape Cod Canal

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  • 2 weeks later...

Diane , understanding your father was my mentor and introduced me to the banks of the Cape Cod Canal , it is rewarding that you also can obtain some memories . Are your brothers doing ok? are they still doing the pro bass circuit ?

 

Give them my regards as I get along in years I have been attempting to help keep the memories alive of those who once walked the banks of the Cape Cod Canal and I send you my sincere thank you for sharing your father with me when were all growing up in Roxbury and later in Randolph

Life member M.B.B.A #509

Life member Izaak Walton Fishing Association

Life member Cape Cod Canal

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