If you have ever taken a trip to Montauk Point, chances are you have seen fishermen casting into the surf along the shore. In the early 1900s, Montauk began to be recognized as the surfcasting capital of the world, reflecting the large quantities and record-breaking sizes of fish caught from the shoreline.
By the 1920s, Montauk reported record numbers of people fishing for striped bass, which prompted the Long Island Rail Road to add the Fishermen’s Special train service in the 1930s, to accommodate the increasing popularity of sportfishing in Montauk.
Early surfcasting did not incorporate rods, using only long lines of linen or silk with a tin hook and block attached to the end. Fishermen would tie bait around the tin block, typically bass belly skin or eel. Casting was done standing on the shoreline and spinning the line overhead to gain the force required to propel it far into the water. The fisherman would then pull the line back in quickly, hand over hand, hoping to bait fish.
In the second half of the 1800s, wooden poles and fishing reels began to be manufactured, and thus surfcasting came to look more like it does in this photograph, which is part of The East Hampton Star’s archive and shows people surfcasting near Montauk Point. An annotation on the back dates it to the late 1920s, a time when Montauk began to develop as a resort. The photo shows surfcasters in long pants, long-sleeve shirts, and hats typical of the era, unlike modern surfcasting gear. Today, surfcasters will often wear waders and waterproof jackets to protect themselves against harsh weather and surf.
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Kristen Ahearn is a former librarian and archivist with the Long Island Collection.
