[628852]

WOW - is all I could say when I finally found Nina Marconis phone number and called her just to see how she was doing. Only to find out the Pilot 11 is OUT OF BUSINESS. My jaw dropped and their was DEAD SILENCE on the phone as I could NOT believe my ears.

To give a little background. I am now 46 soon to be 47 and My father who passed away almost 20 years ago used to drive me to Sheepshead Bay on his way to work in the morning to fish on the Pilot 11 with my long time GREAT friend and mentor Captain Tom Marconi. At the time I started fishing on the Pilot Captain Harry Phillips was passing the reigns to Captain Tom. I had the opportunity to go Blackfishing with 2 of the GREATEST Black fish Captains of all time. Captain Harry Phillips and Captain Tom Marconi. I hope I am not rambling but as much as a shock it was for me when I spent some of Captain Toms last moments alive by his side hearing The Pilot is OUT OF BUSINESS is nothing short of Numbing.

I guess I should thank my Uncle Stanley ((LOL) where ever he is because he was friends with First Mate Old Man Jerry who also passed away only a few years ago. I was introduced to the Pilot at age 7. Won the pool that day with a Seabass that was about 4 lbs on the Robinson Wreck. I will NEVER forget that day on the Pilot. Since that day I fished on the pilot for close to 34 years till I moved to Massachussets.

THE PILOT IS GONE - WHAT A BUMMER - A TRUE END TO AN ERA

Thank you Captain Tom and God rest your soul. I know you cannot be smiling today with the News that the Pilot is OUT OF BUSINESS.

This post edited by Fishark531 08:01 PM 05/04/2008

 

[JC30967]

I personally never fished any of the Pilot boats, but have talked to many people who, like you, fished with them religiously over the years. The boat sure did have some following of loyal regulars! This is sad news indeed, just another sign of the most difficult times for NY's for-hire fleet.

 

[628852]

VERY TRUE but...................................................................

JC30967 wrote:

I personally never fished any of the Pilot boats, but have talked to many people who, like you, fished with them religiously over the years. The boat sure did have some following of loyal regulars! This is sad news indeed, just another sign of the most difficult times for NY's for-hire fleet.

You are right in one aspect saying not a good sign for the time being but that is no disrepect to Captain Tony who along with First Mate Tommy and the other mates who tried to carry on the Pilot tradition but like my girl Rosalie said to me when she saw how close I was with Tom when Captain Tom Marconi died the Pilot began a slow death as well.

Bottom line is Captain Tom was the Pilot !

1st Pic - Tom in front of red all the way on right

2nd Pic - Captain Toms LAST fish he caught on Eastmans just days before he left us

 

[Azaiter]

Pilot ll

Man I'm so sorry,Pilot ll was one of the best Black and Porgy's Boat. I started to fish there in the 70's,great Capt.Tom Marconi..he will be missed....Fredd

 

[JC30967]

Absolutely! No disrespect intended, and that is not a reflection on Capt. Tom's legacy at all.

I love that older photo of all the cow cod

! And, that photo of you and Capt Tom with his last fish is very special, indeed! I am sure you will treasure the memories of that trip always.

 

[DandJfish]

OMG

I can't believe what i am hearing. I grew up fishing with Tom. This is truely a sad day for the Party Boat Industry. I cannot believe what i am hearing. Words cannot possibly express my feelings right now.

 

[codmaster]

Hey Marc,

Nice pics - great memories for you no doubt!





On another note entirely, Is that your rod with bait on it in the corner holder?

 

[628852]

MY FAVORITE PILOT PICTURES

The following pictures were part of a gift of mine to the Marconi family. I brought my 7 favorite Pilot pictures which had special meaning to me. I brought them to a photographer and made them into all Black and Whites and put them on a board placed in a frame which hung proudly at Captain Toms Wake. I made 2 of them one was a Gift to Nina and the other picture frame sits in my residence.

I hope everyone enjoys them as I do

1st Pic - Captain Tom

2nd Pic - Joey and Steve I recognize

3rd Pic - Who is that good looking guy with Tom (((ME)))

4th Pic - Captain Tom fishing in the bow

5th Pic - Captain Tom again

 

[movetheboat]

**** shame...tough times to have a party boat...tight regs...high fuel costs and every other costs..paperwork....and no ability to raise prices. We will have more boats going out of business and then maybe the survivors will be able to raise prices to where they should be, since there will be less competition.

 

[628852]

Last few

OLDIES BUT GOODIES

1st pic - Captain Tom

2nd pic - Blackfish I caught on Pilot look who is in the background

((( LARRY NO BOAT )))

 

[ctwhitechin]

Sad day indeed...another sign of the times in this industry.

 

[bloodnguts]

wow....shb looses another one....whats going on with the boat? someone buy it?

 

[raregroove]

Real sad,

Tommy was great.

The Pilot II will be missed.

 

[morning dew]

Not good , not good at all.My last trip on the Pilot was around 1990 for nite whiting - remember that ? What a shame, but I'm sure we will see more of the same this year.

 

[rastamon]

I heard that myself yesterday in Freeport, two others in SHB supposedly have also been sold

 

[offracing]

mark

mark, im with you as tom was a great mentor of mine growing up, this man would get upset if i did not show up one weekend and ask me why i was not there, i would say my dad was a little short on money this week and he didnt have enough for the fare for me,tom told me dont ever let that happen again, if your father cant afford the fare you come onboard anyway, you can pass bait buckets out on the way to the grounds and you can earn your fair, thats what a true gentleman tom was, he will never be forgotten by me, nor the pilot 11.
carl
offracing

 

[628852]

UNFORTUNETLY

bloodnguts wrote:
wow....shb looses another one....whats going on with the boat? someone buy it?

The boat has little value. Remember - Tom was the boat and business

No one has bought the boat

When I think of my years on the Pilot other than Captain Tom and Captain Harry Phillips I think of Captain Harvey, The Greatest Galley guys Big Foot Sal and Jerry Roundtree, Sy, Lenny, Joeys father, all the different mates over the years - Jerry, Danny , Joey, Steven, there were sooooo many others. I think of Mikes tackle across the street, I think of Randazzos, Stella Marris and much much more

This post edited by Fishark531 11:39 PM 05/04/2008

 

[KennyP561]

Sad

Wow.
Such memories.
That is what we have to hold on to.

 

[638475]

RASTA

What other boats from the bay were sold? PM me so as to not go public if you want?

 

[DandJfish]

Damm

Marc you mentioned a lot of familiar names. My dad and i went Icefishing with Sal when he wasen't working on the Pilot. Thats before he bought the Fish store. Sy, taught me how to fish Clams for Blackfish, when everyone else was using Greenies. Tom was one of a kind, and as you already stated, he was the Pilot.