On the Run -- Welcome David DiBenedetto

[David Churbuck]

I'd like to extend a welcome to David DiBenedetto, author of On the Run, a marvelous book that made its appearance in the fall of 2003.

David, who is the articles editor at Field & Stream, spent the fall of 2001 chasing the striper migration from Bath, Maine to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Along the way he fished some of the legendary striper spots of the coast, and met some of the living legends who make the striped bass the most fanatically followed fish on the Atlantic Coast.

There's a review of the book posted here (http://www.reel-time.com/feature/churbuck/dibenedetto).

David has graciously agreed to be out latest Author to participate in the Ask the Author Program, taking time from a hectic schedule to answer questions and talk about his quest to stay with the stripers as they moved south during the annual migration.

David's book is not the typical "how-to-catch-a-striper" manual, but a wonderfully written tale of fish and men, tradition and science, dedication and fanaticism. So don't pepper him question about what rod and line he recommends -- I'm sure he has an opinion on the topic -- I think this is one case where reading the book will make a huge difference. Take the time to go buy a copy at the Reel-Time bookstore (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060087455/reeltimetheint00)

I thought the way to conduct this conversation would be start by asking him a series of questions about his quest -- beginning in Maine and ending in North Carolina -- but first, I'd like to tee up the question: if you had only one place along the coast to catch the fall run, where would it be?

Welcome to David DiBenedetto.
DC

[On The Run]

Thanks for the kind words, Dave.

One spot to fish during the fall run? That's a tough question. I'm going to cheat a bit. Hope you don't mind.

For sheer beauty I'd go to Higgins Beach, Maine.
For really big fish I'd go to Nausett.
For big fish and killer action I'd hit Montauk around mid-October.
For a fishery that blows your mind away I'd hit Oregon Inlet in January.

And if you made me choose between those spots I'd take Montauk.

[finman]

Dave, welcome to Reel-time. Looking forward to hearing your reports. I have your book and I am really enjoying it. Have you thought about the reverse trip at all?

[On The Run]

Thought about it plenty but I doubt I could get a publisher to pay for the reverse trip/book. Let me know if you have a taker...

I did meet a good number of anglers who favored spring over fall, but if I had my choice between the two I still like fall.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the book.

[StriperSniper]

Dave,
I enjoyed your book tremendously and often dreamt of doing the same trip myself...I'm in the NYC area and fished the waters off Sandy Hook and Staten Island my whole life . The parade of interesting folks you met during your trip puts a face on the many reasons of why we enjoy chasing Stripers.

Looking forward to your next book....any hints ? :-%

Thanks
StriperSniper

[On The Run]

Thanks. I often say that the you'd be hard pressed to find a fish with a more diverse/crazy/fanatical/interesting following than the striped bass. Made my job easier. Glad you liked the result.

Still casting about for the next book idea...often it's the one right in front of your nose that's best. But given that I live in NYC, that might mean following the migration of the dreaded Coney Island Whitefish.

[JSeamans]

aaaaaaaarrrrrrghhhhh.....you gave away my spot! :eek:

When did the book actually come out? I'm wondering if it might have any impact on my not-so-secret location this season......

Ah well, I have a few backups in the area to keep me busy.

Enjoying the book immensely otherwise, I like the way that there is solid info weaved into the recounting of your trek.

JS
Boston

[masssalt]

Hey Dave, congrats on the new gig at F & S, and on the book. I bought it as soon as it came out. My wife and I were fishing with you that October night at Nauset with Tony Stetzko. Remember those grilled littlenecks? That was an epic blitz, we had those fish for four straight nights.......

Been searching for your contact info for some time now, could you please drop me an e-mail?

Thanks.

Jay Horton
jhorton@haydenreels.com

[On The Run]

Jay,

sorry for the tardy response. i missed this post because i was in andros chasing bones at AIBC--rough life, i know.

how could i forget that night on nauset. fishing with stetzko under a full moon with an all out big fish blitz going on. that was pure cape. glad you liked the book. hope to see you on the beach again--can you make sure those cows show up, too.

i'll shoot an email with contact info.

[masssalt]

Hey Dave,

Could you re-send me that e-mail-I had to delete my e-mail address and then set it up again, hence lost all my e-mail from the server before it ever got to me. jhorton@haydenreels.com

I am just back from Andros a couple months ago. You just missed Lefty & a gang at AIBC by a couple of weeks.

Thanks Again.

[Trarajaks]

I had an idea that might make things less cluttered. You see, I saw it on another forum, and it worked quite well. What if an author has written loads of stories, that are completed and such, what if there was a thread that had all the links to stories written by a particular author. Like an anothology?