By Freddie Reed

I started reeling in the line that my father cast out, but something stopped me. Instead of the reel on the fishing rod creating a slight hum, the reel was now screaming at me as line was being stripped from my reel. I was seven years old at the time, but I still knew what this meant. I had a fish on. It was a chaotic day out on the water, and the fish were biting. It was only my father Scott Reed (‘92) and I on our 22-foot Parker boat. The weather was sunny, with clouds occasionally blocking the sun. We weren’t far off land, and we could clearly make out the lighthouse behind us. My dad had been behind the wheel the whole time but decided to cast in the line to test his luck. He hooked into a fish right after I did, leaving me with no help. 

The author as a child, with a massive bluefish. Photo credit: Scott Reed.

Once the fish began to get tired, I started the fight. I would pump the rod up and reel on the way down. This method has been taught to fishermen for generations and is the most consistent way to reel in a large fish. As I tried to pump up, reality set in. This was a massive fish, considerably larger than anything I had ever tried to deal with before. I yelled for my dad, asking for some help, saying, “I can’t reel, it’s too hard.” He was still tied up with his own problems and told me I would be fine and to do what he had taught me.

After what felt like an hour, he finally came to my aid. He, too, realized that this was a substantially large fish and helped get it in the boat. We could clearly make out that it was a bluefish, a common catch at Fishers Island. While Bluefish aren’t regarded as the best meat, fishermen love them because they give a great fight. We estimated the fish was around 14 pounds, worthy of a citation, an award recognizing an angler for a trophy-sized fish. Once we got back to the house, we cooked it and served it for dinner. 

This is one of the many memories I have of Fishers Island, which is officially a part of New York state but is located about two miles off the coast of Connecticut. Fishers Island is known for its fishing, golf, and exclusivity.

Settled by the Dutch in the 1640’s, it was originally a farming community. Eventually, it transitioned to a hotel destination. During World War II, it was used as a military base to watch for enemy submarines trying to get to New York. After the war, it was shaped into the summer destination it is today. Its year-round permanent population is around 300, but during the summer season, up to 2,500 people reside on the island. 

Bluefish caught in the Race. Photo credit: Freddie Reed.

Fishers is located at the end of Long Island Sound, making it great for fishing. During the summer season, when my family and I are on the island, you can frequently catch large bluefish and rockfish. There are two main places where this can happen. Off the west coast of the island lies a lighthouse; the surrounding waters are littered with rocks and steep ocean floors that can jump from forty feet deep to four hundred. This lighthouse is called Race Rock. This makes for amazing fishing when the tides are changing. Another great fishing spot on the island is Wicopesset Island, located on the opposite side of the Fishers. Similar to Race Rock, the best time to fish is during the changing tides. These tides often bring enormous swells that scare off inexperienced boaters.

While the fishing attracts tremendous amounts of attention, the lack of crowds people makes Fishers feel special. There are no hotels or resorts on the island, limiting the number of tourists. The only way to stay on the island is if you rent a house or stay with somebody you know. This adds to a sense of comfort and stability. Many people dislike seeing tourists on vacation, even if they are one, but that is not a problem in Fishers Island. 

Fishers Island golf course. Photo credit: Freddie Reed.

The one activity that Fishers is most known for is golf. The Fishers Island Club golf course has frequently made lists of the top 10 golf courses in the US and the top 25 in the world. The most recent ranking put them 10th in the US and 20th in the world. The only way to play on this course is with a club membership, which has a long waiting list. Even if you don’t play golf regularly, nobody passes up the opportunity to play on this course if they are given the opportunity.

Every year during the summer, as a family we drive ten hours to New London, Connecticut, and then take the ferry, usually staying on Fishers for two weeks. This car trip has never been easy, but it is a small price to pay. 

We always stay at our family house, which has been passed down through multiple generations. Taking a quick trip down a walkway leads to a private beach. From this beach, you can see our other cousin’s house, which has one of the only docks on the whole island. After their dock was built, the state of  New York made it very hard to build one because of the wait to obtain all of the permits needed. This beach also touches the golf course. 

The 18th hole of the golf course requires a shot over a stretch of water. This results in many golf balls landing in the water and on the beach that borders the water. This beach is part of our family’s property, and we frequently find golf balls scattered around. Growing up, my younger brother Harry (‘29) and I would always collect these balls and sell them back to golfers at the annual fair in town. This fair is commonly held at the beginning of August and is intended for children to try to sell homemade goods. Harry loves it there, saying, “In terms of vacation spots, it doesn’t get much better than Fishers.”

Fishers will always hold a special place in my heart, as it does with everybody else who makes their journey to the island.