Massachusetts Striped Bass Association
The Massachusetts Recreational Anglers Voice Since 1950
Celebrating 75-years
MSBA HISTORY
Since being organized and established as an official fishing club in 1950, the MSBA has been an amazing place for fishermen and women of all ages and abilities to gather for friendship, to learn about fishing and the ability of being a part of the fishing community as a whole.
We are much more than just a fishing club, we're a giant family with members from every walk of life and from every different background. Since 1950, we have been the recreational anglers voice in the state of Massachusetts, taking the forefront in fisheries related issues on behalf of the recreational anglers.
Feel free to read the articles below about the club from former club Presidents and fishing writers
written for the MSBA's 60th Anniversary in 2010.
Below is a brief summary of the history of our club, written by MSBA Historian and Past President John Cherico
and edited by Past President Patrick Paquette
MSBA HISTORY
A collaboration of notes written by former MSBA Historian John Cherico & edited by Patrick Paquette
Back in the early days of striped bass fishing, a group of fishermen from Wollaston (Quincy, MA) got together in August of 1950 and formed a club. They held their first meeting in an empty store, calling themselves the Massachusetts Striped Bass Association.
Soon after that (1951), they were holding their meetings at the VFW Hall at 22 Beale Street in Wollaston MA. Meetings were held twice a month, the first Mondays and the third Tuesdays. The club started an in house derby.
By 1955 the club had grown to over 480 fishermen and women. Among the highlights of that years derby were 15 stripers over the 50lb mark: the largest being a 56-pound, 2-ounce bull. Bluefish were also large back then; 14 to 15 pound fish were common.
In 1956 – 1957, Mass Bass won the Schaeffer Derby. In 1957, Mass Bass was in the forefront in making striped bass hook & line only (commercial). It was also in 1957 that Mass Bass donated $5,000 to the Museum of Science Hall of Fame for an aquarium.
The Annual Awards Banquet over the years has been a great night for our members.
During the late 1950’s, we held a mini sportsman show in the basement on Beale street. There was about 10 fishing tackle reps, a how to table plus coffee and donuts.
By 1958 membership topped 800. We stayed at Beale street for about 15 years. We moved to the Italian American Club of Quincy for a few more years, and then in 1968, we landed at the Morrisette Post, (also in Quincy) for a few more years. Then we settled down at the Viking Club in Braintree where we resided until the building was sold and demolished. We relocated to the Weymouth Sons of Italy, where we currently are now.
In all that time our membership was as high as a thousand members and as low as three hundred. Then came Stripers Unlimited, formed and organized by Bob Pond back in 1965 to study the striped bass. In the 1980’s the Striper Swipers were formed.
MSBA has a very long and proud tradition of having the finest fishermen around.
Since 1950, there have been 34 club Presidents and without the loyalty of our members that worked so hard over the years, Mass Bass (MSBA) would not be the largest saltwater fishing club in the state.