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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
July, 2003 Newsletter) MITCHELL RIFFKIN |
"Why am I a fisherman? I’m a fisherman because of the
years my grandfather and my father spent on the water as father and son."
That’s the opening statement from RISAA member Mitchell "Mitch" Riffkin. The
comment is his first in the interview, and if it sounds like the
opening statement from an attorney, it’s for a good reason.
Riffkin is a trial attorney and acts as legal counsel for RISAA.
He is also a man with a passion for fishing, and looks on the sport the
way many of us do: as a fundamental part of the past, present, and
future."The earliest memories I have are of fishing with my dad," Riffkin says. "I can remember being four years old fishing with him on Salt Pond in a small boat we had rented. Later we progressed to owning our own boats." His father remained his closest fishing buddy, keeping regular dates for excursions until his recent passing. "We fished together even after I got married," he recalls. "Every Saturday and Sunday." LAW
AND ORDER AND RISAA
Riffkin was named legal counsel for us several months ago. The
decision to retain an attorney came as a natural part of RISAA’s
growth. "It’s one of those things where, before you hire an
attorney you wonder why you need one. Then, once you have one you
wonder how you ever got along without him," Riffkin says. Recent
services have included development of such things as contract
terminology for the vendors participating in the upcoming RISAA fishing
expo and drafting releases for Take-A- City-Kid Fishing Day.It was member Paul Kennedy who first brought up the idea of becoming a part of RISAA. "We’re neighbors, our kids play together, and we’re fishing partners," Riffkin says. "Plus, (RISAA President) Steve Medeiros moors his boat on the same dock as I do, so we struck up a relationship." Still, once personal friendships piqued his interest, it was the seminars that maintained it. "I like the seminars. They focus on technique, new methods, new locations. Every meeting brings in more information. It really enhances the sport, and makes you a better fisherman. You get better at it, so you enjoy it more." A
FISHIN’ FAMILY
If Mitch’s earliest memory of the water is at age four, his son will
have him beat. It’s a reflection of a love for fishing which the entire
family shares – well, almost the entire family. "The first warm day after his birth, I took my son out on the water," Riffkin recalls. "He was too small to fish, but I got a picture of him posed with a pole!" he laughs. Today at age 13, son Jason "Jake" Riffkin has taken well to that early exposure to the water. Jake is an avid fisherman and a Junior member of RISAA. He spends most of his time on the salt water with his dad aboard the  family’s 35’ boat, Jay-Mar, but the
two still keep another tradition common to fishermen everywhere. "We
hit opening day (of trout season) every year," Mitch reports.
"Other than that, we’ll usually hit the freshwater only when it’s too
rainy or windy for salt. We’ll go just to wet a line together."With a father-son team as close as that, one might wonder whether Mom is left out of the salt-water equation. Nothing could be further from the truth. "During the summer, my wife Maria will go out about twice a week with her 70-year-old aunt on Maria’s 17’ Whaler to one of the islands and come back with fifty pounds of quahogs they’ve dug!" In addition to her skills as a quahogger, Maria is an exquisite chef, according to her husband. "My wife taught Emeril Lagasse to cook!" Riffkin jokes. Maria is a Portuguese immigrant who arrived in America at seventeen. She brought with her her country’s love for all things seafood, as well as a wealth of Portuguese recipes. Classes at respected institutions like RISD and Haruke added to her expertise, and Mitch can’t say enough about her kitchen finesse. "She makes fish taste like filet mignon – she really does outstanding things!" (continued on page 13) There is one exception to the Riffkin family’s passion for the water. It’s the family dog. "We have the only water-reluctant cocker spaniel I know of. Of course, she does have her own life preserver!" SAILING
INTO THE FUTURE
In the years ahead, Mitch seems certain that fishing and boating will
continue to play a big part in his life. A large portion of that
will be devoted to expanding his knowledge of the sport. This season,
for example, Riffkin hopes to venture to fishing spots around and
beyond Block Island in pursuit of what is to him new quarry: bonito and
tuna. And then there are the more elaborate plans. "I’d like to learn to fish for fish I haven’t been catching. Like in the Gulf Stream, for example. I think the best way is to take a local charter. You can learn so much from that. These guys have it down to a science, and you can just watch what they do, how they rig their lines." Wherever he finds himself, one thing is certain: Mitch Riffkin will not be far from the shore. "Fishing and the water have really been the center of our activities." |
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