From Al Ristori

[AndyS]

I used to look forward to the Friday write ups in the Star Ledger, back in the day that is all we had before the internet came along.

[duranautic al]

only reason i got it delivered...subscription cancelled!

[dfish28]

Keeping this at a PG rating, damn... gonna miss you in the paper Al, at this point I’d love to give a shout out to you, and John Geiser, you guys are legends, I for one will remember you!

[Matt A.]

thanks AL for the memories, used to run out to get the paper to check for your column, 25 years ago!

[hammer4reel]

sad to see the end of an era.
only part of the paper I ever looked at.

[tjd24]

Al will be missed, but there's still hope.

I just contacted him with regards and he told me he's trying to start a Blog on his own.

[Jigman13]

Did you guys miss the part where Mr Ristori opted to take a buy out a number of years ago? The buy-outs offered prior to their merger and after were SIGNIFICANT. They were hard to pass up for anyone over 50 or nearing retirement age. He then took a gig freelancing. Its not like hes getting kicked to the curb or disrespected.

The Star Ledger circulation used to clear 700k on Sundays. It's now down to a tad less than 300k on Sundays. It also used to be biblical in thickness on Sundays. It's a third of that now. Sign of the times.

The internet now drives content and LOTS of it. Why read the paper AND pay for an internet service provider when the same exact content/articles and more can be read on NJ.com? If you don't like ads, install an ad blocker.

Regardless of your opinions on the paper's political agenda and where you may feel it falls, you have to understand that the masses are no longer waiting until Friday to get reports. We come to places like njfishing.com and get WAY more info.

I personally enjoyed reading his stuff the last 20 years. Yet, full disclosure, my interest has lessened as I rely on more digital resources. It'd be great if he started blogging! That'd would quickly enter my list of things to read!

[parrotinct]

Misconception's here. Site's like NJFishing take readers and advertisers away from print and online news. Fishing report's now are instantaneous. Enjoyed Al, when print was the medium of choice. He be missed, but sure welcome to post here.

[bassnblues]

Print media is having a rough time nowadays. I used to subscribe to two news papers, and several magazines. I can't remember the last time I bought a news paper and I don't subscribe to any magazines.

There's better and more timely content available online.

[Capt Sal]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

Did you guys miss the part where Mr Ristori opted to take a buy out a number of years ago? The buy-outs offered prior to their merger and after were SIGNIFICANT. They were hard to pass up for anyone over 50 or nearing retirement age. He then took a gig freelancing. Its not like hes getting kicked to the curb or disrespected.

The Star Ledger circulation used to clear 700k on Sundays. It's now down to a tad less than 300k on Sundays. It also used to be biblical in thickness on Sundays. It's a third of that now. Sign of the times.

The internet now drives content and LOTS of it. Why read the paper AND pay for an internet service provider when the same exact content/articles and more can be read on NJ.com? If you don't like ads, install an ad blocker.

Regardless of your opinions on the paper's political agenda and where you may feel it falls, you have to understand that the masses are no longer waiting until Friday to get reports. We come to places like njfishing.com and get WAY more info.

I personally enjoyed reading his stuff the last 20 years. Yet, full disclosure, my interest has lessened as I rely on more digital resources. It'd be great if he started blogging! That'd would quickly enter my list of things to read!

Wrong!Nothing better tan getting the paper delivered and he wrote three articles a week not just one.NJ Fishing is a good source of info but not the only source by any means.