Re: End of a era. Farewell Newark Star Ledger!
 

I liked reading Howard Brant, he focused on freshwater.
35 cents, 50 on Sundays. RIP
Glad I was old enough to retire from the printing industry before it was swallowed up by screens.

Re: End of a era. Farewell Newark Star Ledger!
 

Capt. Al, Howard Brant and Matt Grobert were all "must reads" and I can say had an influence on me becoming an outdoor writer was well. Time moves on. Sad

Re: End of a era. Farewell Newark Star Ledger!
 

I actually met Howard Brandt and Al Ristori at the banquet the State threw for the Skillful Angler Awards. Back in the day it was the only fishing info we got. I did make Howard's "bragging board" a few times. Then came the New Jersey Fish Finder magazine followed by the Fishermen magazine.

Re: End of a era. Farewell Newark Star Ledger!
 

I think my parents subscribed to the Star Ledger just to see me read something! Salt got in by blood early and I eagerly consumed every column Al Ristori wrote (I still read his blog!). I especially enjoyed when they published the party and charter boat advertisements. Simple things like this fueled my curiosity and allowed me to dream about what it would be like to get out on all of them. When I got old enough to drive I started going out on party boats by myself. I don’t know if kids can do that anymore with the price of fares, but at that time pizza delivery or fast food earnings went farther and I could get on the boat, buy lunch, tolls and gas with some money left over. One day we were striper fishing and Al Ristori maneuvered his boat a few yards from us. This caused considerable excitement and even some cheers. He smiled and waived. That’s about as close to a papal visit or seeing the Beatles as I’ll get…..is it spring yet??

Re: End of a era. Farewell Newark Star Ledger!
 

I remember Fishstory Ristori nickname too,. And the block Part Boat ads.

Re: End of a era. Farewell Newark Star Ledger!
 

Truly an end of an era. I remember as a kid waiting for my father to get home from work on a Friday with the SL. I would read thru the fishing columns but especially pour thru the party boat advertisements. Looking what all the boats from LI, SHB, Hoboken, JC, and etc down the line to Point were fishing for, the sailing times and prices posted. Such cool stuff!!!

Internet put an end to all that. IMO the internet reporting will be the next thing ending. Reports have slowed over the years compared to what it was in the early to mid 2,000’s. Guessing most reports are passed around thru texts to friends more now than ever.

Re: End of a era. Farewell Newark Star Ledger!
 

Yep true that. Seems like if you want to get a response from someone 40 or under, even your own kids, send them a text. I hear Instagram and Tick Tock are popular as well but this Dinosaur has enough screen time distractions already. That reminds me, I'm going to call my daughter right now just to torture her :D

Re: End of a era. Farewell Newark Star Ledger!
 

So so true!!! My son and his buddy, who I have posted about here a ton in old reports are now both 23. I basically raised them on this site. Now they are avid fisherman of their own, but they did forget about it for 2-3 years when girls took priority. Both are killer beach shark kids. They crush monster fish in the summer but only share with friends. It’s a new era. And WE are old ass MFers!

Re: End of a era. Farewell Newark Star Ledger!
 

I go back far enough with 'the Ledger' to remember the name Nelson Benedict who wrote an outdoor column. The sports section also gave good coverage to the Seton Hall basketball team from the 1940s on.

Re: End of a era. Farewell Newark Star Ledger!
 

great paper back in the day i lived in kearney nj i had a paper route for this paper for 6 years as a teenager love to read al ristori reports every week