Jack Bode, the ZIP and Giant Bluefin Tuna fishing

[stumpstalker]

I see that your club awards a Jack Bode trophy.

Is there a club Member who wishes to exchange info. and/or memorabilia about Jack Bode.

He made many friends in the 1950s in Massachusetts when he annually took his Jersey sea skiff the ZIP to Annisquam to fish for Giant Bluefin, at a time when other legendary tuna enthusiasts were operating out of that historical fishing village.

I have used or lost the terminal tackle for Mackerel and groundfish he gave me when I was a child, but I still have some correspondence from him to my father and two big-game fiberglass rods he sold to us that are still inscribed, “1950/ZIP/Jack Bode”.

[stumpstalker]

Is there anyone in the club today who knew Jack Bode?

If so, I would like to communicate with him.

[Cuttyhunker]

My father worked as a mate on Jack's Boat, my grandfather was Jack's friend and was also probably a charter member of the Freeport Tuna Club. The photo is Wedgeport 1938 I think, my grandfather is stepping out of the frame on the right with the club patch on his jacket. The slender man center frame is Doc Bayless. Are there any archives of the old days in the club?

[stumpstalker]

In the Winter of 1960-1961 my father was seeking a couple of 12/0 Fin Nor reels to replace the Penn Senators that we had been using for Giant Bluefin fishing in Massachusetts waters.

Jack Bode had great fishing contacts, coastwide, and was ever-helpful, and he put my father onto a dealer in Miami who had a couple of the 12/0 (“silver”) Fin Nors , which my father did buy and use for many years.

Following up, Jack wrote two multiple page letters detailing the care and operation of the new-to-my-father reels.

My brother retains one of the bronze Tuna door knockers that Jack gifted to a few families, including ours, that he had developed friendships with in the fishing village and Tuna fleet staging area of Annisquam, Massachusetts

[stumpstalker]

Cuttyhunker:

You have come up with some great photos.

I would really like to obtain a photo of Jack's Jersey sea skiff, the ZIP. He ranged the Northeast with that boat, tournament fishing.