Park Anglers

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Dean, age 34, has been fishing in the park since he was a boy, and thinks of it as his own little getaway.

I was born in Jamaica, and I came here when I was age six. Back in Jamaica, we fished in salt water, or if we went to the country area, where my grandparents' lived, we'd catch fish in the stream. But not with rods and poles; with just a regular fishing line. Sometimes we'd take a safety pin, and we'd catch fish. It didn't have a barb like a hook and sometimes the fish would slide off, but most of the time it would work! The only time we used the pole was out on the ocean.

I started fishing in the park when I was 12 or 13. My friend, I met him on the block, we'd talk about fish, 'cause I always kept fish in a fish tank, and he said, "Oh, they have a place in Prospect Park to fish!" And when I came here, it looked so big to me! They would stock the lake, and have fishing contests every summer...it was beautiful.

And now that I'm older, I drive and I go to the different lakes—in Queens, everywhere! But here in Prospect, you have more of a variety of fish, and the water is clean. They dredged the whole lake and cleaned the reeds and stuff from the side; it is beautiful out here. It's my getaway!

You know what it is I like about fishing? It's peaceful. I could be out here all day and not catch one fish, but it's just peaceful and relaxing. Out there, you have the hustle and bustle, and the horns blowin'—I drive and I know road rage and all that stuff. But out here? That doesn't exist. This is perfect for me, and I could sit out here all day. When it was much safer, I used to come out here and stay overnight, fishing all night for catfish and stuff.

I drive around with my rod and reel in the car, so whenever I get a break and stuff, I come right out here. I work with Catholic Charities, so I bring the individuals out here, and try to teach them how to fish, but you know, some of them are severely retarded... but it's cool. This, it's like a little vacation spot!