An open house at the Ocean City Fishing Club’s Pier means contributing to the local food cupboard and learning about the organization, as well as helping catch some fish – in any language.
So, when club member Bob Dever handed his rod to Diane Charette, after he felt a fish strike, she immediately broke into French, shouting, “Viens, mon cherie! Mon cherie!” (Come on, my dear! My dear!) as she steadily cranked the reel handle and brought the fish over the railing.
Charette and her husband have traveled from Montreal, Canada, to vacation in Ocean City each summer for the past 10 years, but visited the pier for the first time Thursday for an open house.
During the two-hour event, 687 visitors strolled the length of 635-foot-long pier. They also donated 103 pounds of food and $140 in cash to help the Ocean City Food Cupboard feed families in need.
Combined with amounts raised from the club’s first open house in July, the club collected a total of 185 pounds of food and $340 in cash for the food cupboard this year.
“We do this twice a year,” said Frank Pizzutilla, club president, “and we thank the public for supporting a good cause while touring our pier at the same time. We’re happy that the good weather helped attendance, too.”
Some storm clouds dispersed quickly as sun drenched the pier in early evening light, giving visitors perfect weather to enjoy their tour. A number of OCFC members were on hand to display baits that are used for different types of fish, as well as to answer questions and demonstrate casting and even some catching.
At the bait refrigerators, club member Dan Moore, gave youngsters the opportunity to hold a bloodworm, and showed the crowds whole frozen mullet and bunker, commonly used to catch fish.
While explaining how the various baits are used, he was stumped when one young boy asked, “What does his face look like?” when Moore showed the group a headless bunker.
“Kids, you never know what they’ll come up with,” Moore chuckled, obviously enjoying his interactions with the children. “But it’s great to see their interest. They’re so curious.”
Both Dever and Tom Yucis, another club member fishing at the tip of the pier, brought cheers and excitement whenever they landed their catch, sometimes giving youngsters brave enough a chance to hold a live fish, then release it to the ocean.
Jack Thibeault, 11, of Doylestown, Pa., has some experience surf fishing already. He’s caught two kingfish from the jetties north of the Music Pier, while vacationing with his family this year, but still enjoyed showing off one that Dever just caught.
Brothers Bode and R.D. Weber, 3 and 4 years old, respectively, visit their grandmother Sue Lawver here each summer, and have the fishing bug already.
“They just love being on the bay fishing,” Lawver said. “R.D. already knows the types of fishing reels used here.”
The two brothers came running whenever Yucis landed a fish, giving them and other youngsters a chance to touch or hold his catch
“They get so excited to see the fish up close,” Yucis said, smiling broadly. “Their eyes light up and they’re just thrilled. Can’t wait to do this again next year.”
And that includes the Charettes. Although this was their first time on the pier, they plan to include it in their visits from Montreal to Ocean City from now on.
“And we will contribute to the food cupboard, too,” Denise Charette said.
The open house is held twice yearly to coincide with Ocean City’s Family Night on the Boardwalk. Next year’s dates will be announced early next year.
Founded in 1913, the OCFC has a strong commitment to community involvement besides helping the food cupboard.
Next up, the club’s Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament will held Aug. 10, rain or shine, at the north end beach near the Ocean City-Longport Bridge. Registration begins at 9 a.m. for youngsters 8-16 years old. Fishing starts at 10 a.m. and ends at noon, followed by an awards presentation.
