Since joining My Fishing Cape Cod, I have learned a great deal about fishing in and around the Cape. What I did not anticipate about being a member was developing so many friendships along the way.
Finding Community in an Unexpected Place
As fellow member Carol Girard-Irwin (@trurofish) and I mentioned at the Women's Meet-Up, we initially connected online as two of the few women anglers on MFCC that were regularly posting in the surfcasting forum. When we randomly met in person, we realized we were the women who had been posting to the forum!
Carol introduced me to Jean Lapiene (@lapiene), who also spoke at the Women's Meet-Up. Our growing friendship led to a wonderful False Albacore MFCC group trip with Capt. Tyler Putney (@Flatliner) in September of 2023.
Ryan joined us on that trip, and you can watch the two MFCC TV episodes he created featuring our Albie fishing adventure at the links below:
A Special Fishing Tradition is Born
This past Memorial Day I had the pleasure of Black Sea Bass fishing with Capt. Cullen Lundholm (@capestar) on another My Fishing Cape Cod trip. I've always enjoyed fishing with Cullen and other MFCC members, and this trip was no exception.
We limited out on black sea bass, and I even caught a bonus over-slot 33" striper before returning to Falmouth Marina.
This trip was particularly special because it marked the fifth consecutive year that fellow MFCC member Rich Inman (@inmonjones) and I found ourselves on the same Memorial Day trip! The first four years were pure coincidence, though I'll admit we coordinated this year's trip before signing up.
Rich is a wonderful guy, and we share similar histories of spending time with our families on the Outer Cape. During that first trip in 2021 when we fished Buzzards Bay, we both wore Goose Hummock hats, which sparked conversations about buying gear and tackle there over the years—further cementing our connection.
Rich Inman shows off another beautiful Black Sea Bass from our Memorial Day trip with Capt. Cullen Lundholm. Five years of fishing together and Rich still brings the same enthusiasm to every trip!
Five Years of Memorial Day Adventures
Each Memorial Day trip has begun with chilly to downright cold early morning hours, though some years we've been fortunate to have the sun warm things up later. Here I am enjoying another successful trip in 2022, when we fished Nantucket Sound. Cullen strategically uses different marinas depending on the best fishing spots at any given time. I enjoyed talking with Rich on these early trips, but we didn't know each other well enough yet for photos.
Gretchen with a beautiful male Black Sea Bass from on of her annual Memorial Day trips with My Fishing Cape Cod! Here's a fascinating fact: Black Sea Bass are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they start life as females and can transform into males as they mature—typically when they reach 9-13 inches and are around 2-5 years old. This amazing adaptation helps ensure reproductive success in their populations!
In 2023, I invited my sister and her husband to join the Memorial Day trip. I've always felt comfortable as a woman on both Cullen's and Tyler's boats, and I wanted my sister to experience Cape fishing. She was ecstatic to catch her first black sea bass and striper. I was thrilled to see Rich onboard again, and while Cullen filleted our fish, we shared stories about our families and our love of Cape fishing.
Rich and I bonded even more during our 2024 trip! What were the odds we'd end up on the same Memorial Day BSB trip four years running? That remarkable coincidence finally deserved a photo of us together!
Ready for another adventure! Gretchen and Rich on their fourth coincidental annual Memorial Day fishing trip with My Fishing Cape Cod—proof that some of the best friendships are forged on the water.
When Ryan posted this year's BSB trip dates, Rich and I texted each other for the first time: "Are you going on the Memorial Day BSB trip out of Falmouth Marina?" The answer was a resounding yes!
We were thrilled to catch our four-fish BSB limit despite reeling in plenty of shorts along the way. While we don't talk much during active fishing, we caught up extensively whenever Cullen called "lines up" so we could reposition for another drift. We all agreed that a photo with Cullen was essential, marking our fifth annual Memorial Day trip together!
Five years strong! Gretchen, Capt. Cullen Lundholm, and Rich celebrate their fifth consecutive Memorial Day Black Sea Bass trip together. What started as a coincidence has become a cherished annual tradition—proof that the best fishing memories are made with great friends and a captain who knows where to find the fish!
The Future Looks Bright
No one knows what the future may bring, but I think it's a safe bet that Rich and I will be on many future MFCC trips together. Please feel free to share your MFCC stories about the friends you have met fishing inside our forum.
Tight Lines 🎣
Gretchen Stiers (MFCC member and Cape Cod Salties VP)
Hi Gretchen – I’m looking forward to joining you on the trip to Monomoy. So far, our encounters have been brief, there’s nothing like a shared experience, to grow a friendship.
Thank you Jane, I am looking forward to getting to know you better as well!