Gone Fishin'

A young Julian Pepper of Edgartown releases his first fly rod keeper bass under the watchful eye of well-known tackle shop owner Cooper Gilkes. Julian is now 25. Photos by Sam Talarico

A fisherman with a keen eye catches the shot

By Nelson Sigelman - June 8, 2006

Sam Talarico and his fishing companion for a one-week trip to the Vineyard, Barry Kanavy, popped into The Times office a few weeks ago. It was an unexpected but welcome visit.

I hadn't seen Sam in many years, unless one counts a brief wave of recognition as I was entering and he was exiting Menemsha Harbor - sort of like two ships passing in the night only it was the daytime during the Derby and everyone had fishing, not socializing, on their minds.

The guy standing in The Times office with the curly graying hair, beard, and smiling face was unmistakable. I went to shake hands with Sam, who laughed and said, "C'mere," and he gave me a big hug. No self-respecting Italian shakes hands when a big hug is in order.

Photograper Sam Talarico.

Sam is one of those guys who demonstrate that personality and talent can be a winning combination. Sam has used both attributes to travel and meet people around the world.

The name Sam Talarico may not be familiar to readers, but I guarantee you are already familiar with his work. Sam is a noted outdoor photographer whose work has appeared with some regularity in major national fishing and outdoor publications, advertisements, and articles. Six of his Vineyard photos appear on this page.

I'd met Barry more than a decade ago while participating in a fishing tournament the Orvis Company was holding on the Vineyard for fishing guides along the East Coast. Barry, who operates out of Massapequa, Long Island but guides along the entire East Coast, is considered one of the best.

Barry has an impressive resume. In addition to fishing, he is a boatbuilder and waterfowl hunting guide (www.naturalaglers.com) along the Long Island shore.

The week Sam and Barry visited was the week it rained and rained. Undeterred, they fished and fished, doing quite well using popping plugs in Menemsha Pond.

Barry said that what brings him back to the Island year after year is its greatest resource, the local Islanders. "Like Sam says, it's not always about the fishing," said Barry in an e-mail from his home.

Fly fishermen tread carefully at low tide on Dogfish Bar.

Barry has watched the water-dependent community he grew up in change greatly over the years as more and more people moved to the Long Island shore. He said, "My lifestyle is now the exception to the rule rather than part of something bigger. I miss their humor, camaraderie, spirit of independence, and the communication of a shared experience. The Vineyard to me is a time machine transporting me back to a simpler time."

He added, "As for fishing the Island, I describe it as fishing in an aquarium. The deep ocean currents cradle your shoreline and estuaries making fishing Martha's Vineyard an experience in perfection."

Last week, I called Sam at his home in Mohnton, Pennsylvania, to speak with him about the Vineyard and photography. When Sam is not fishing, taking photos, or singing in an oldies DoWop group (honest), he operates Talarico Hardwoods, his specialty hardwood lumber business.

Sam first visited the Vineyard in 1993 on an assignment for the original publisher of Fly Fishing in Saltwater magazine.

Tricia Peters of West Tisbury with a big Derby bass at Squibnocket Beach.

Outgoing and gregarious, Sam had no trouble meeting people who invited him to go fishing. That was the beginning of his affection for the Vineyard.

"I was blown away by the fishing and the people," said Sam. "I met Coop [tackle shop owner and guide Cooper Gilkes], and when you start with Coop you are on a roll."

Sam was pulled into a fishing orbit that included joining up with a group of fishermen from Orvis.

Sam met Barry, who was participating in the earlier referenced one-night Orvis guide tournament, and they became fast friends in the way fishermen often find they share more than an interest in fishing with the people they meet on a beach.

"We were sitting in your car at 3 am in the morning, asses dragging on the ground, and the radio was on and Ruth Brown came on there singing one of her great songs and Barry and I looked at each other and we were so into the music and we both realized what a great evening we were having."

As it has over so many people, the annual fall striped bass and bluefish derby also cast a spell. "I got started fishing the Derby in September and October and that is such a trip," said Sam, "The weather and the camaraderie, I mean I just got hooked on the place. That is why I keep coming back."

Sam has fished and visited exotic locations all over the world. He has done what many of us only think about doing: When in doubt, throw that trip to Australia on the charge card.

Long Island fishing guide Barry Kanavy enjoyed a recent busman's holiday on Martha's Vineyard.

So why visit the Vineyard as opposed to say Tobago? Sam gave a very practical answer. "Well, first of all I can drive there," he said. "I was traveling all over the world and that gets expensive and I was broke."

Sam came to the realization that he had to start fishing closer to home. And he discovered what he already knew, that the grass is just as green and it costs less green to get there.

As for the Vineyard, he said the variety of fish and fishing locations is the special attraction. Sand beaches, rocky shorelines, stripers, bluefish, bonito, and false albacore only add to the package.

"It is such a beautiful fishery. As you know, it has nooks and crannies, little secret places to go where the fish just love being there," said Sam. "It's pretty exciting fishing, when things happen, they happen good."

One of Sam's favorite Vineyard memories is of an incident that occurred one evening at Squibnocket Beach. He and his wife, Lyra, were sitting on the beach watching the sunset when they watched a couple launch an inflatable and go fishing.

Fishermen run to blitzing fish in Lobsterville bowl.

Sam returned to the beach alone after dinner. Coming up the beach out of the darkness was the same husband and wife he had seen earlier dragging their inflatable.

"And she dragged a fifty-pound striper out of the boat in the middle of the night and I couldn't believe it," said Sam.

It was Tricia Peters of West Tisbury, fishing with her husband Kevin, who had caught a 48.9-pound bass, to be exact, in the 1996 Derby.

Sam was anxious to get a photo and the Peters were anxious to get to the weigh-in. Sam said it took some time to get his gear arranged and he was doubtful that Tricia, who had been holding the fish for some time, would have any strength left by the time he was ready to take the shot.

"I put the flashlight on her and she was over there, proud as a peacock, holding this 50-pound striper up, just smiling like hell, and I got a great photograph of her."

He said to have seen them head out and then return out of the darkness much to his surprise is one of his favorite Vineyard memories.

Captain Barry Kanavy and well-know Aquinnah charter captain William "Buddy" Vanderhoop with a good catch.

Sam's photographic talents and extensive web of fishing friends have led to some great fishing and unique opportunities. Among the many beautiful and exciting photos displayed on Sam's web site (www.talaricophotography.com) is a photo of Sam and former president George H. Bush fishing for false albacore off Harkers Island, North Carolina. The assignment came about when a guide he had done a favor for was hired to take Mr. Bush fishing and he repaid the past favor by getting Sam the photo assignment.

"It doesn't matter whether you like his politics or not, it doesn't matter, it's the president," said Sam. "To be with the president, how did I do that?

"The only thing I could think of all day long was if my grandfather, when he came from Italy in 1922, if he could have known that his grandson would be with a president someday, that would have blown his mind."

Sam said he went fishing with the president two years in a row. There is some satisfaction in knowing that even former presidents have little sway over the fishing. "I did it two years in a row," said Sam. "The second year he didn't catch any fish."

Tips for taking better fishing photos

For all of you fishermen who have ever cut off the head of a subject, placed a thumb over the camera lens or generally taken a lousy photograph, I asked Sam to provide some basic tips for taking better shots.

Think photography

"If you want to get a good photograph of someone fishing - your buddy, wife, or kids - don't get the camera out of the box when the fish is in the boat. Anticipate what is going to happen when the fish comes in the boat. Tell people what you want them to do, how you want then to hold the fish. Get all that stuff out of the way."

Capture the moment

"When they get the fish out of the water you've got to shoot quick while the fish looks good and the energy is high. When people are naturally excited, right when they pull a fish out of the water, that is the time to get the shot."

Always use a flash

"When the sun is out, always, and I mean always, use your flash. How many times have you looked at a picture of an angler's face and his face is black because he had a hat on?" Even on the little disposable cameras use a flash."

Get close

"Get close. And when you think you are close enough, get closer. Fill the frame with your subject. All that wasted space around the angler and all that junk around him you don't want to see that. That is the main thing people do all the time. It ruins a great photo. Fill the frame, get in there."