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Angler's
Profiles
by Hugh Markey
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| A series of articles introducing RISAA members to the rest of the club. |
| (From the October, 2003 Newsletter) Ed Kearney |
 Although
the first taste of fall has crept around our win-dows in the morning
and at dusk, it wasn’t at all long ago that we enjoyed a truly
golden period. Not simply summer, with all the crowds and
the noise. Rather, it’s that special length of time which falls after
Labor Day, when all the tourists have forgotten about the water, and
before the frost, when many decide it’s time to put up the Halloween
decorations. The daytime temps are often in the seventies, and
the fish seem to be everywhere. “It was gorgeous today. We were after bass, but it was hard to get the bait past the blues. Plus, the bonito and albacore were all over the place. I wasn’t rigged for them, but now that fluke season is over, I’ll make sure I’m ready for the next trip out.” It’s Monday, a work day for most of us, but RISAA committee member Ed Kearney is talking about how he has been enjoying the golden period. Aboard Just Bassin’ Time, his 20’ Wellcraft, life seems like it doesn’t get much better. "BASSIN' TIME" WITH RISAA
“I’ve been a RISAA member for probably about four years now,” Ed
recalls in a phone conversation. “I just thought it looked like
an organization that was moving in the right direction. I’m
only sorry I didn’t join sooner!” Kearney is an
active member, who spends some of his time putting this publication
together as a part of the Newsletter Committee. He’s also
chairman of the Library Loan Committee, which gives youngsters from
several areas the opportunity to check out a rod, reel, and all the
gear just like they would a book.  Ed’s
job is to keep up with the replacement needs of the equipment, and to
maintain it for the next kid. He also credits Chris Dudley, a
wildlife biologist with DEM, for her work. “She’s
been a tremendous help. She’s provided us with a lot of good
material on fishing, including coloring books for the kids.”He seems most excited about his work with Chairman John Brierly on the recently formed Membership Committee. “One of the most rewarding things is calling the member,” Ed says. The main mission of the committee is to make new members feel welcome, and that begins with a personal call to each newcomer. That’s followed by an invite to say hello at the next seminar. “We (at RISAA) are growing so big that it would be easy for a new member to get lost in the cracks. Now I stand at the table just inside the door, looking for the new members. I show them around the place, to the different tables, and introduce them to various other members. It’s a more personalized meeting.” BIG GAME, BIG FUN
With over fifty years of fishing under his belt, you could say Ed
Kearney knows his way around the water. Growing up on Great
Island, Ed spent years working on the charter and party boats during
the glory days of big game fishing. His favorite memories are of
the big game tournaments in the late 50’s and early 60’s.“Those were great days. Off the Nebraska shoals for tuna, white marlin, sword fish with a rod and reel. I was fortunate to be alive back then,” but he adds, “It’s not likely we’ll ever see those days again.” What does he think contributed to the disappearance of big game fish in local waters? (to page 20) “Well, at that time there was absolutely zero market for giant tuna. Nobody was interested. The marketing came later, and people got used to the idea. Then came the purse seining method of scooping up tuna. That’s a lot of what happened.” Working the big boats was only the earliest part of a long love affair with the water, which included a long span as a competitor on the freshwater bass circuit. After years of trailering his boat up and down the East Coast on what is now the FLW Tour, Ed reluctantly called it quits about six or seven years ago. “You might not think so, but that’s a pretty hard life after a while. It takes a toll on you. Besides,” he laughs, “I never really made enough money to support my habit!”  ME CAPTAIN, YOU JANE“One thing I enjoy is seeing how my wife has really taken to catching fish. When I go out, 85% of the time it’s with her. I really love that.” Kearney speaks of the pleasure he takes in his wife’s company with candidness one doesn’t often hear from a man. “I have a lot of good memories of the “days of old”, but what’s important to me, well…Right now, we pack a lunch, throw in a couple of cans of soda, and we’re off,” he says, leaving the comment about the joys of simple pleasures unfinished. Our conversation comes full circle to the day’s fishing results. In fact, my call finds Ed Kearney just polishing off a dinner of striped bass. And the cook? “My bride, of course!” he laughs. Kearney has reached the end of a day filled with blue skies, calm seas, plenty of fish, and the company of the woman he loves. “Today,” he says, “was a ‘thank you God’ kind of day.” |
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