Sad news about our dear friend

[joshr]

All--

It is with great sadness and a very heavy heart that I post to let all NY/NJ Reel-Timers know that our dear friend Peter Rothwell (AKA Tuna) passed away this weekend.

As many of you know, Peter had some GI difficulties this summer and then eventually in the fall discovered he had cancer--lymphoma that had spread to parts of his GI tract. I spoke with Peter after his first surgery a couple months ago, and he sounded all fired up for recovery; it was the Peter we all loved -- as energized as he always was when throwing anchovy patterns to busting albies ... as exhilarated as the voice in his weekly reports on this board. At the time, he was expecting to go home in a few days and then start chemo. Unfortunately, he required some additional surgery due to some complications, and that surgery rendered him too weak for chemotherapy. I visited Peter in the ICU with David Blinken at Mt. Sinai just after that 2nd surgery, and Peter was very very weak, but alert and fighting. He was on a respirator and feeding tube at the time and so could not speak, but he could write a bit with a pen and we had a real conversation that way. He was the Peter I so enjoyed in spirit even when his body was failing him--no complaining, hopeful in the face of real uncertainty, and eager to hear fishing stories! At the time, there was some hope that if he could be strengthened enough to get off the respirator and tolerate chemo, the cancer could be responsive. Alas, that was not to be.

As anyone who has been monitoring this board for any length of time knows, Peter was its lifeblood. His weekly reports gave us all so much joy, reminded us why we love to flyfish in saltwater, and took us out onto the flats and into the rips with him when we were tied to our offices and unable to fish ourselves. Even in just that small way, Peter was himself--a guy who always gave more than he took, delighted in others' delight, and did it all with complete humility. Peter was the very best false albacore flyfisherman, by far, among us. Ted Shaine dubbed him "Babe Ruth" a few seasons ago, and I always thought that was very apt. But Peter never got caught up in the competitive or confrontational nonsense that infects fishing out east in the fall from time to time; he just loved to be on the water, loved those little tunoids, and loved to share his experiences.

I'm sure it's hard for many of us to imagine a fall out east without seeing Peter out there slugging it out with one albie after another, doing the hysterical "albie dance" as line flies off the deck after a hookup, and--most characteristically Peter--audibly yelling at himself in the heat of the action. We owe it to Peter to keep this board alive, so that when we don't see him out there in September on that first day that the tunoids break wide open, we can still remember him through the lasting community he created here.

I encourage others to continue this thread by posting some of their best Peter stories and remembrances of fishing with him.

I will post information about memorial service as soon as I hear it.

--Josh

[Mark Cahill]

Peter was the man. I was just watching last years "Feeds" video which he sent me with my 5 year old the other day.

I can't express what his posts here meant to me when they'd come in while I was chained to my desk. A true gentlemen who will be missed. There was a reason we made him one of our first Mentors, and looking through his posts, you'll see why.

Here is a list of Tuna's posts. http://reel-time.com/forum/search.php?searchid=115437

Here is his final post, appropriately entitled "Closing the Circle" http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?p=103496#post103496

Peter's post from our 2000 introduce yourself thread. http://www.reel-time.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12497&postcount=1

Godspeed and tightlines Peter...

[fmw]

This is sad, sad news indeed. Peter was a great guy, who was very classy and very generous. Fishing on the east end will not be the same without him.

After reading his posts for years and exchanging emails, I got to know Peter during the past two years when I kept my boat just a few slips down from his at the same marina and enjoyed the five minute conversations with him every week through the season.

Josh has perfectly captured the way Peter carried himself. While I'm sure we all learned about flyfishing from Peter, we should also have picked up a thing or two about how to be gentleman.

Among the things I'll miss are the videotapes that Peter so generously sent at the end of the season containing the highlights of the "greatest blitzes", albie fights and Peter's recording of his famous albie song. Those tapes are now a nice memory for family and friends.

What else to add??? For starters, how about Peter talking to himself (or was he talking to the albies?), his mahi on the south side, the Monday morning posts that made you feel like you were there . . . .

I look forward to going back over the next couple days, reading his old posts and sharing some more recollections.

Peter, we'll miss you.

[venture]

I am so so sad to hear about the passing of Peter Rothwell. He was a great person and a great thinker. I had the pleasure of meeting through Josh and fishing with both of them during a time when my health was questionable. Peter just cheered me up all day. His positive attitude towards everything plus his passion for fishing kept me from thinking about my all the problems that were plaguing me at that time in my life.

In fact it was Peter's ( AKA Tuna ) post from several years ago named "Early Albie Nuts" that prompted me to join this board. I had to respond to his post, and to do that I had to join. Since then, he had corresponded to me many times. He sent me several edited videos of season's fishing. I could alrways expect a "rise" out of him through the board. As Josh said, he was the backbone of our board.

His weekly reports read like small stories. They were so filled with his enthusiasm that inspired all others to respond.....creating the longest threads on the board. It was a weekly event for sure. He was a helpful, self-less individual who will be missed dearly. This board was very much his home. You could count on him responding to any contravercial topic. You could count on him to answer any question you might have.


He was able to become hystercal about himself. He never got mad at himself......but rather laughed at himself. In fact he broke a rod on a fish when I fished with him, and he could not stop laughing at his mistake all day. Never did he get angry. If you met Peter, you would love Peter. He was the greatest guy of all. He will be missed very much by me and everyone who knew him.

Hey Peter.....if you are reading this, and I am sure you are, the invitation is forever open to join me fishing any time you want. I look forward to your company very much.......God Speed my friend. You will be missed very very much. You have made many friends here and no one will forget you nor the examples you set. Thanks so much for being there for me........


Howie

[AndyF]

I called it "vicarious fishing"--reading Peter's reports when job or family responsibilities kept me off the water. It made for quite a few unproductive Mondays (and Tuesdays and Wednesdays), but Peter's Monday morning reports made coming back to work bearable; you felt like you were there with him. Peter has explained here before that he was inspired to do his reports by his late father and he knew he had a fan club of sorts.

On the water, I just picture Peter with sunblock on his nose and fighting fish--they guy always seemed to be hooked up and if he wasn't you knew you weren't doing anything wrong.

In my book, Peter was a legend. He had the damn good sense to just do what he loved most. Though he became very skilled at it, he was neither a snob nor a grumpy salt; he was a gentleman. I don't know much about Peter's personal life, but I suspect that if he could post a report on this board today, (a) he would do so, and (b) he would say he very much enjoyed his life. I have the videos to prove it.

Fishing won't quite be the same without starting off the year hearing about the annual snake sighting. And reading, in detail, about the first poor schoolie who had the misfortune of swimming within casting distance. There are lots of graduates swimming out there. And fall madness, which Peter loved more than anyone. I speculated that the the albie season comes and goes so quickly because by now the fish all knew Peter was out there.

Thank you Peter. You will be missed.

[David Churbuck]

Over the years some names on Reel-Time have come and gone. Most go quietly, without any farewell, they just fade away and don't return. Most are just handles, nicknames, that over time take on their own personality, and I am never amazed at how different the people behind the handles are once I meet them in person.

I never met Tuna. I loved his posts, swapped emails, volleyed around a few PMs.

Peter was a stalwart member of RT, a foundation of its thriving New York forum, a guy who loved to fish and write about it. Suddenly, he's gone.

Fewer things are more poignant that reading his last post and its final line, "That's it for me for the season."

(photo courtesy of Jaiem Fleischmann at ArtsNflies) (http://www.artsnflies.com)

http://artsnflies.com/images2/articles/peter_albie1.jpg

[fmw]

Here is a look at some of Peter's more memorable and representative posts:

typical Tuna fall run albie reports: http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28825 ; http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28414

hooking up with all kinds of tunas: http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28084

the Snake: http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26654

why he loved albies: http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25463

the mahi: http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21259

fishing with his Pop in the early 90s: http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21028

the fall: http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11765

flats fishing for bass: http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=31514

[Flyfoto]

It broke my heart when I got an e-mail from josh about Peter this morning. As a guide at Montauk on the water most of Set, Oct and Nov I ave to admidt I can get pretty cranky when I see the flotilla of boats out there day after day. I never felt that way when I saw Peter. He was a great source of information, always had a smile (except when talking to himself) and was the MOST polite boater of us all. I wish I was always as considerate as Peter on the water. He was a role model for us with his civility. For those of you who don't know he fished with Sci Angeler System 2 reels. I almost crapped myself when I saw him one day at our marina. I could not believe he caught that many albies on those reels. For my money he was the best albie fisherman bar none at Montauk, pro and amateur alike. I wish I had gotten some good photos of him with that zinc oxide on his nose and a butt hanging out of his mouth. He was a man of contradiction at times. I am going to miss next season.

[peter mac]

Fair winds and tight lines Peter, you were a great fisherman, but most importantly a great man rest in peace........

[mctrout]

I am very sad to here of Peter's passing. I will forever remember him as the photo that I took of him this OCt in Montauk; hooked into another Albie (never saw him cast at a bass in the fall, which truly fascinated me) he was sitting down and landing it! ever present cigarette and zinc nose cover. This shot represented to me what an incredible angler he was. never saw another person even close, and most importantly, never went run and gun, or cut anyone off. (as we all are guilty of at some point) I learned allot from him from his posts and watching him out there everyday. Was inspired by his desire for release and freedom. One of his runs this fall was 10 days straight. a sad day for all, as he was one of only a few faces out there in the fall that always had a smile and a wave, and never forgot that it was just fishing, and nothing too serious.
Take Care, Man
I will bet the Albies in the sky won't have so many amateurs like me gettin in your way-catch em up...

[b.clancy]

The passing of Peter marks a very sad moment for me as well as all of the members of this board. His contributions to the board were immense. I felt I knew him through his posts, even before I actually met him. I first met him during the fall run 2 years ago. I was invited to join him for an annual long weekend at Montauk, and I didn't have to be asked twice. For those of you who have seen his videos, I was part of the "Fishing w/ Bob and Dave" chapter in his last production. (Since the name Bob was already taken on his boat, I was referred to as Clancy.) What a true privilege it was to fish w/ Peter. I learned more about albie fishing in 2 long weekends w/ him than I had learned in my whole life prior to that. In terms of finding fish and hooking up, he was phenomenal. As an added bonus, he was a pleasure to be around (as long as you weren't standing on his fly line lying on the deck). And his boat handling skills in tight quarters, as mentioned perviously by professional guides, was also very educational to me.
I last saw him on what I believe was his last weekend of albie fishing. Tim and I ran over to Montauk from RI for a day of albie fishing. Tim and I had an exciting but tough day that day. We had a lot of refusals and a few hookups, but dropped flies and breakoffs had resulted in no boated fish. When we talked to Peter that afternoon, he commented on how fussy the fish were that day, and that he had only managed 10 or so. I remember how annoyed and frustrated I was at his success and our lack of success. In retrospect, I think it was a very fitting result for our last encounter.
I'll miss you, Peter.
Bob

[dlc]

Peter was outstanding at catching albies on a flyrod. He had countless consecutive years of catching more than 100 albies on a flyrod but probably would be embarrassed that I mention that here. He never seemed to cast farther than 20 or 30 feet……as I have heard some of you tease him about from time to time. “Hey Peter, imagine how many you could catch if you could cast farther than 30 feet!” Of course he could, but it seemed he never had to. He had an uncanny knack for powering up to a massive bluefish boil, cut the engine, drift just close enough, false cast two maybe three times, and miraculously pluck an albie out from the boiling water while the rest of us hooked up with yet another bluefish.

Peter had passion. Passion is an over used word but I can’t think of a better use for it than to describe his feeling about chasing those little tunas. He talked to the albies constantly. He composed, sang, played the instruments for, and recorded a song to them. He would stop fishing and just video their, as he would call it, “feeds”. He thought about them in February, in June and in December. He planned his year around them. Best of all, Peter would lend you some of his passion for them when you were with him.

Peter was generous. He happily took us fishing. It didn’t matter if we knew what we were doing or not. He showed us how to find and catch albies. He let us take the front of the boat. He graciously put up with our fumbling and always managed to point out and praise us for the one thing we did right during the fight. He landed our fish and got back
on the throttle and got us into another pod. He convinced us that he was having as much fun watching us get the fish as if catching them himself

Peter was a delight to fish with. While I never happened upon him on the water fishing alone, I can attest to those describing his habit of talking to himself. On his boat he never shut up. It didn’t matter if anyone was listening. He spewed a steady stream-of-consciousness monolog. I used to tease him that not only was he his own play by play man but he was also his own color man as well.

Peter was kind. Many of you have described him as a gentleman which is certainly appropriate. What I can add is that he was kind hearted. Ever meet one of those people who, without necessarily being a saint, just never said anything unkind about anyone? That was Peter.
.
His oldest friends, those who knew him back in high school and before, called him “Rock”. Yes, he played the guitar and was in several bands in his youth but as I write this I think that that name is befitting for additional reasons. Peter was a steadfast friend, with an unchanging passion and a solid confidence that allowed him to see the good in things.

He’s with his beloved “Pop” now swapping stories face to face. We will miss you Peter, a lot.

[Northfork]

Very sad to hear about Tuna. Reading his reports every week was a treat. It was because of those reports that I started flyfishing for albies. After reading his epic accounts I started making the run from Greenport out to Montauk to see for myself what he described in his great posts. Haven't been on a blitz of "biblical" proportions yet but when I do I'm sure I will give a thanks to Peter. From all the previous comments I know he will be missed by his friends and family. He will be missed here, also. Godspeed, Tuna.

[PhilDKreal]

I only met him once, but could always spot him out on the water in the fall when I've been out there. Hook an albie, jump over the line, work the throttle, puff the butt, steer, and not lose the cigarette or the fish. He was amazing.

Of course his posts were the best. He obviously loved sight-fishing for stripers. It's a damn shame he's gone. His presence here will be sorely missed.

[Blink]

Peter Rothwell:Memories and thoughts from a lifelong season.
As an angler few compared to Peter and as an albie angler no one compared.

Peter not only liked fishing, he loved the process, The very act of fishing was often enough for Peter. I remember the fall of 2003 when the albies did not show up until the end of September. Peter and I were eating lunch together musing about the strange series of events that might have lead to the albieless fall. Our boats gently drifting along on the out going tide, I looked up from my sandwhich I noticed peter with his ball player like taped fingers and wind blown hair just gazing off into the waters of Block Island Sound he then lit up and looked over to me cigerate dangeling from his mouth, smiled and said " What a beautiful day" all I did was nod in agreement no more needed to be said.

Grace is another thing that comes to mind when I think of Peter. Sure we all know the Peter that talked to himself, (or was it the albies) breaking the occational rod and line tangles that only a skilled spider could undo, But the thing that strikes me the most was watching him fish. His style was fluid and from a distance watching peter was like being at the ballet. Peter was small in size but when he picked up his rod he became ten feet tall. With smooth powerful strokes of his rod one was often watching efficiency and perfection in motion.

Early season fishing was mearly training camp for Peter it was a way to get into shape for the albies, Peter cherished his short time with them every fall. I will always cherish my short time spent with Peter in a season that was cut way too short.

David Blinken

[teds]

The photograph of Peter Rothwell with the tape on his fingers is great a metaphor for the intensity that he brought to his sport.It wasn't a real good day of albie fishing unless you broke things.Broken leaders, broken fly lines, broken rods,broken reel handles,knots, boat engines, epoxy flies.And now, judging by the long list of tributes to him by those he touched, we can add broken hearts.
If I'm lucky enough to boat one this fall I'll be thinking about the guy with the zinc oxide on his nose and the tape on his fingers.

teds

[johngmcmurray]

I am shocked and saddened by Peter’s departure. He would have wanted this to serve as a reminder that life is short and that something can happen at any time. Fish more… Tell your family you love them and don’t waist a minute of your life… Peter will always be remembered for propensity to do just that…

[Luyen]

I didn't even know he was sick. Sorry I never got a chance to fish with him. He was an angler who always seemed to have an ounce more passion for the sport than even the fanatics who frequent this board (myself included). Very sad news.

[brushfly]

Just heard yesterday of the sad news of Tuna's passing. Although I don't know him or most of the guys on this sight, you come to develop a sense of who they are and their character.

For over ten years I had my small center console out at GFM in Montauk. After bringing it down the block to Huntington Harbor in '96, I still keep my head in the game as to what's going on out east, usually seething with envy. People like "Tuna, Fhm, Peter Mac, Mctrout, and Howie" update me every Monday with their tales of black holes and busting albies. It's just something we go to when were back in the office after fishing the weekend.

Tuna's reports and details will certainly be missed. I guess what you get from things like this it that life is priceless. Live it to it's fullest, be kind to those you meet, help others as Peter did, and treasure each day as a precious gift. Especially those simple ones that we could easily take for granted like Blinken mentioned when Peter just stood there taking in a mornings sunrise. Remind yourself of this when were all back out on the water in a few weeks.

Peace to all and condolences to the Rothwell family.

[Sedotti]

It's very sad to hear about Peter's passing. I got so used to seeing him casting to breaking albies out at Montauk in the Fall year after year. His image got to be as annual, perpetual and usual as the Light itself. Now, I'm shocked to realize, it will be no more. God rest you Peter.

A Fellow Fisherman,
Mark

[ikarus47]

This is sad indeed. I have never met Peter, but have enjoyed his posts, and exchanges on the forum.

Indeed his passing reminds me to go fishing more. We all have to go one day, and our most valuable commodity while here is time; we ought to spend it wisely......

Andreas.

[dlc]

Rest in peace.

[Lov2Fish]

May GOD bless him, his family and his friends!

[mctrout]

Was just talking with Ted Shane the other day about how it wasn't the same out there this year without Peter. What a shame...

[b.clancy]

Thanks for the reminder. True, it wasn't the same out there this year without him, and I only fished around Montauk a few days this season. What surprised me was how much I thought of him this year while I was out fishing in my home waters (which he didn't frequent) for species other than albies (which he was so passionate aabout chasing).
Bob

[Petrel]

Yup. Here at work 1 year later we still miss him dearly. Just last week we finally allowed someone to move into his old office as it sat empty for a year as tribute to Peter. When I was up in Cape Cod this past summer on vacation with my family, I recall how Peter really enjoyed his last fishing adventure up to Monomoy. Even while out deer hunting this fall I reflected about Peter and the time he invited me to fish along with him one late September weekend. That fishing trip is etched into my mind because we were two maniac fishermen having fun and fishing hard.

I miss Peter being here at work but I also miss his reports as I am sure you all do!

[fmw]

I thought about Peter this year when the BFTs were inshore around Montauk and RI.

He would have been the first to discover them. He would have been out there casting his sink line for bass on the south side on a saturday morning in july and found them the weekend before Brendan posted those pics here.

It would have totally messed up his usual plan to save vacation till September, when the albies were in. It probably would have pushed him over the edge to quit his job!!

On one hand, its a shame that he wasn't around for them as there was no one more deserving, or who would have enjoyed getting into them more. On the other hand, the appearance of the bluefins seemed almost like a sign from Peter.

[dlc]

Rest in Peace Peter

[b.clancy]

Amen. Think it's a coincidence that my best day on the water last season was the day last Fall I fished Montauk for albies w/ another old friend of Peter's? We had planned a memorial fishing weekend for Peter, but Mother Nature only gave us a 1 day window. Hopefully, this will be an annual event in the future.
Bob

[Petrel]

dlc,
You are a good man in keeping Peter in your heart and in your thoughts. I worked with Peter and fished with him once, but it feels like he was a lifelong friend to me. I too was thinking about him today.