This year was beautiful, with a bit of chilly weather, for the opening day of trout season March 1. Montauk State Park saw 1,793 trout tags sold for opening day, which Montauk State Park Superintendent Doug Rusk called about average for an opener. “We usually range somewhere between 1,600 and 2,400,” said Rusk.
Tag numbers one and two were given to Wanda Major, the honored guest who fired the ceremonial pistol shot. Major accepted a tag to honor her and her late husband, Ed, who have been longtime patrons of the park. Major still lives in a cabin not far from the park.
“I still love hunting and fishing,” said Major who is now in her eighties. “I’ve always loved the outdoors and I guess I always will.”
Minutes after Major fired the first shot and the park siren signaled to begin fishing, anglers were already reeling and netting trout.
On opening day, 34 lunkers were caught and registered at the lodge weighing station, five of which were caught by locals:
Nathan Wolfe - Salem 3 lb.
Tad Headrick - Salem 3 lb. 7 oz. and a 3 lb. 2 oz.
Jerry Parrish - Montauk 4 lb 14 oz and a 4 lb 12 oz
Drew Reomnich - Montauk 4 lb 12 oz
Doyle Hood - Licking 3 lb 7 oz
Approximately 6,500 trout were released for opening day of which around 50-60 are considered lunkers.
“It was a good opening, we had a beautiful day, I saw a lot of people catching fish,” Rusk said. “I think it went well.”
Trout season continues until Oct. 31.
