Justin reeled in triumph like it was an October striper.

Years ago, when my sister, Marilyn Kolk, accompanied her husband Joe to the Babylon dock, he asked her to buy some bait. Not an angler and uncomfortable with her task, she told the bait guy, “I need some bait, but I never bought bait before; how does it go?” He said, “It’s easy; I give you the bait, you give me the money.”

Marilyn regaled us for years with that telling. But that was a bait shop; what I will tell you about, dear readers, is far more than a bait shop.

Justin Kula, yet another Gregg LaPenna introduction, worked at Wall Street for seven years; he said he loved trading, but the stresses of “the up-and-down” called for something new. He switched to celebrity event planning, but that didn’t make him smile.

In the meantime, he loved to fish.

When Justin fished at the Magnolia Pier, he was shoulder-to-shoulder with many kids. He told me, “A lot of kids can’t go to camp, and they come down here. But there was no suntan lotion; bait would run out…” So when Justin kept getting into his car and buying gear for the kids, he saw a need.

That’s when he became bullish on bait and tackle—and bonding.

When Justin saw the southwest corner of the pier’s parking lot held only a garbage can, he saw value, he saw (ROI), return on investment—in many ways.

It took Justin three years of red tape to get the shop built. But in May 2022, he opened Magnolia Bait and Tackle on Reynold’s Channel. The shop, 10’x14′, is the size of a backyard shed. But his shop is so complete it has an address: 198 W. Bay Dr., Long Beach, NY. 11561. He even gets his mail there.

Justin, along with Matt Kohut, Acting Supt. of Long Beach Parks and Rec., started an after-school and summer program where students come for a day of fishing. Many come from the Five Towns Area—many also never fished.

Justin provides the poles, bait, and tackle. Volunteer helpers like twelve-year-olds Denzel and Vincenzo and even eight-year-old Geula are happy to show others how to fish as they fish alongside. Many of Justin’s helpers are the same kids for whom he had jumped in his car to buy bait, hooks and suntan lotion. They love to show their gratitude—and their aptitude.

Justin and his helpers teach the visiting students what bait to use for what fish, how to bait a hook, and how to cast. They also teach how the tides work; high tide is best for fishing.

Birthday parties are Justin’s event planning now; he did ten this year. I spoke with Jillian and Matt Palazzolo, who had a party at the pier for their two sons, Kruz and Kai.

Jillian said, “Justin had tablecloths on the tables, set up poles, and ordered pizza for thirty kids. They made sure every kid caught a fish.” Her husband Matt said, “They had helpers that really knew their stuff.” Jillian added, “This is a beautiful thing Justin is doing, beautiful for the community, beautiful for him.” She said, “This is his passion, and he loves to share it.”

Justin told me when Long Beach Assisted Living’s aides bring residents to the pier in wheelchairs, the residents are happy catching fish but are even more impressed with the helpers—who help them—and the students.

Four years ago, Justin’s sister needed a liver transplant. Her younger sister donated half her liver. Both are doing fine today, but Justin felt payback was in order.

For four years, Justin worked with Suffolk’s EOC, driving from West Islip to Long Beach to bring J T, an autistic young man, for a day of fishing. He says J T “is the happiest guy in the world.”

Seven days a week, all year—Herring in January is a favorite for anglers— Justin is at his shop, unless on our beach, surf casting, or on a charter-boat field trip with them.

Parks and Rec’s Matt Hokut said, “Justin’s bait and tackle is a “great thing, a one-stop shop; it’s an example of someone embracing the Long Beach community and the community embracing right back.”

To get the full feel of a fishing pier or any venue, seek out the old-timers.

On a quiet school day this week I spoke with Magnolia Pier veterans, Ramsey, Carmine, and Lenny. All three had decades of fishing here and at other spots and much to say about smaller amounts of fish, like flounder, and the late arrival of herring, overfishing, and climate change. So, sometimes, like today, they visit and chat to see what’s up. Soon, a man at the pier’s end caught a shad using no bait. Ramsey said, “If he catches one more, we’ll get our poles.”

Fifty-two-year pier vet Carmine fished Magnolia Pier long before it was extended in the nineties. He said he was a retired crane operator who rebuilt bulkheads, etc. He said a few months after he retired, a barge puled up to do the extension—it was the same crew he worked with. “That was really something,” he said.

Carmine said, “I’ve been coming here many years and, this is the first time I’ve seen so many young people coming here with their parents, and it’s a good thing; it keeps them off that damn…”

He said he comes here to fish with his grandson, nieces, nephews and, “I used to come here with my three children; we lined them up over there, two daughters and a son, and we went for blue fish before they went back to school. My wife used to make hot chocolate; we’d bring the lounge chairs, we’d stay till dark, they would fall asleep. That was it; we’d take them home. They had a great time.” He laughed at the memory.

I asked Carmine about the young helpers on the pier these days. He said, “There are two or three kids that come down here now that are fantastic: filet fish, tie knots, tie rigs up, teach other kids to cast. You name it, they do it. People come down with walkers or wheelchairs, and they line them up and help them without a doubt. And you carry this on, this is a great enjoyment.”

Billions of fishers have harvested protein from streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans over our planet’s history. The experienced helped the novices, dads and sons, elders and young, on and on. But more than protein was gained.

It’s about bonding. Fishing can go from meditative silence to the excitement of hauling in a good catch. In my twenty-six years as a cop, fellow officers and I spoke about the influence of kids fishing, whether with grandpas, dads, uncles, or good friends. They’re in nature, in salt air, under the sun and clouds. Between bites and no TV around, good exchanges can happen. We felt, as cops, we were not likely to encounter kids who love to fish tangling with the criminal justice system. I’m still convinced of that. Here’s an example of a fisherman who bonded with his dad.

Yes, as Carmine said, “And you carry this on.” He’s right; good bonding carries on long after you’re gone, and you gain immortality through good bonding.

Some people might see Karma in Justin’s story. Justin helped kids, and they, in turn, enabled him to help others. It enhanced their self-esteem. They can better embrace the world ahead with confidence—and kindness. They can bring that kindness to others and perhaps advance it exponentially. Our blue planet is tiny, but there might be enough room for more kindness.

Years into their life journeys, they may smile at their memories of the Magnolia Pier and Justin Kula.

Justin gets a lot of gratification out of smiles at his bait shop. He said, “Putting a smile on people’s faces is the greatest gratification I could get.”

Be well,

Leebythesea