A Series of book reviews by John Pollock
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“The Hunt for Big Stripers” by Zeno Hromin, 2009
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As I was finishing the final pages of this second book from Zeno Hromin I had an image of the opening
scene from the PBS TV series Masterpiece Theater. You know the scene, where the camera pans
around a spacious wood-paneled library, pausing on a leather bound chair and a huge roaring fireplace.
This is a classic book that should be purchased as a Christmas gift to yourself and then held to be read
on a frigid winter night.
Zeno Hromin has two parts to the book. The first written by himself and the second by seven other
equally experienced big striper surfrats, including Rhode Islander Steve McKenna, “Doc” Muller and
“Crazy” Alberto Knie. Whether Zeno is dealing with the details of tackle or relating a tale of his youth he
has a writing style that is a joy to read. The sub-title for this book is “Surfcasting Strategies of the Experts”
and Zeno sets out his strategy simply as be willing to lose. Be willing to lose the opportunity to catch
smaller fish so that you can concentrate on that one over-whelming, all consuming, once-in-a-lifetime strike
from a 50lb striper. In other words go out prepared to capture that Mama Bass and do not--repeat do
not--be distracted from that goal even if you are the only one not taking any fish.
I interpret tactics as the means to execute a strategy and Zeno’s tactic is to use live eels. Early in the
book he asked Manny Moreno when is the best time to use live eels? Manny’s answer is “whenever you
can.” Live eels are Zeno’s tactic and the bigger the eel the more small bass will avoid it. The seven other
experts are writing about their own tactics because they have also chosen a similar strategy of “willingness
to lose” And hence, Zeno chose four of the seven chapters to deal with eels: John Skinner and Manny
Moreno on live eel and rigged eel fishing, followed by Steve McKenna on rigged sluggos (eel imitation)
and then Zeno’s own on eel skin-rigged plugs.
Then comes a chapter by “Crazy” Alberto Knie on chunk fishing that really lets you know fishing for big
stripers is a heavy, full-time game (don’t bring a knife to a gun fight). From the opening chapters by Jimmy
D’Amico on equipment to that by “Doc” Muller on proper de-hooking and releasing, to the closing chapters
on bucktailing and one by Bill Wetzel on artificials, you, dear reader, are in the water, on the rocks and hooked
up to big fish.
This book should be read on a frigid winter night so that next season’s strategy can be decided and tactics
fully developed. If you decide on a “willingness to lose” strategy for big stripers then read slowly, one chapter
a night, with each tactic carefully considered and suited to you. What better reason to put this book under
your tree this Christmas?
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