tjmayjr

August 31, 2022 I was in the area today, and decided to stop by my old firehouse, Engine Company 326 & Ladder 160, located on Springfield Boulevard in the Oakland Gardens section of Queens. I’ve been retired for a little over twelve years, so it can be a crapshoot bumping into somebody I actually worked with, as the NY City Fire Department is constantly changing, with firefighters transferring, being promoted and of course retiring. I was pleasantly surprised to bump into Dominic Buglione and Kevin Kozub. Dominic now has 15 years on the department. While in quarters Dom told me the story, that he recently told one of the new probationary firefighters in the house. When Dom was first assigned to Engine Company 326, he was in quarters maybe a week, when he accompanied me down to the shops, “Red Square” to pick up our rig that was just repaired by the department mechanics. After interrogating Dom that first week, I found out a lot of pertinent information, namely that Dominic was a certified diesel mechanic, and also possessed a CDL drivers license. Before departing the shops we completed a few safety checks, and made sure the rig went into pumps. Dominic was a little surprised when I asked him if he would drive the rig back to quarter, to which he agreed. When we pulled up in front of Engine 326’s quarters, the boss was waiting for us outside, and he wasn’t too happy when he seen Dominic behind the wheel with a week in the house! When Dominic refreshed my memory with that story, I laughed! Just another one of the great firehouse stories. Interesting enough, Dominic is today, one of the four seated chauffeurs in the engine. The engine company chauffeur’s job to many looks easy, but make no mistake about it, there are times you’d rather be operating a handline on the fire floor than trying to figure out problems that arise while operating the pumps. Never a dull moment in the New York City Fire Department. Thanks for the laughs today, be safe and like Patty Brown of Ladder 3 said, look out for each other. Thanks Brendan for showing me around, Tommy May Retired Engine 326/M-9

August 31, 2022 I was in the area today, and decided to stop by my old firehouse, Engine Company 326 & Ladder 160, located on Springfield Boulevard in the Oakland Gardens section of Queens. I’ve been retired for close to twelve years, so it can be a crapshoot bumping into somebody I actually worked with, as the NY City Fire Department is constantly changing, with firefighters transferring, being promoted and of course retiring. I was pleasantly surprised to bump into Dominic Buglione and Kevin Kozub. Dominic now has 15 years on the department. While in quarters Dom told me the story, that he recently told one of the new probationary firefighters in the house. When Dom was first assigned to Engine Company 326, he was in quarters maybe a week, when he accompanied me down to the shops, “Red Square” to pick up our rig that was just repaired by the department mechanics. After interrogating Dom that first week, I found out a lot of pertinent information, namely that Dominic was a certified diesel mechanic, and also possessed a CDL drivers license. Before departing the shops we completed a few safety checks, and made sure the rig went into pumps. Dominic was a little surprised when I asked him if he would drive the rig back to quarter, to which he agreed. When we pulled up in front of Engine 326’s quarters, the boss was waiting for us outside, and he wasn’t too happy when he seen Dominic behind the wheel with a week in the house! When Dominic refreshed my memory with that story, I laughed! Just another one of the great firehouse stories. Interesting enough, Dominic is today, one of the four seated chauffeurs in the engine. The engine company chauffeur’s job to many looks easy, but make no mistake about it, there are times you’d rather be operating a handline on the fire floor than trying to figure out problems that arise while operating the pumps. Never a dull moment in the New York City Fire Department. Thanks for the laughs today, be safe and like Patty Brown of Ladder 3 said, look out for each other. Thanks Brendan for showing me around, Tommy May Retired Engine 326/M-9

August 27, 2022 Fishing Boat “Naida” leaving Montauk Harbor Enroute Cartwright for some “Lock and Load Fluke Fishing!”

Twin brothers, Ron, Don and their neighbor, leaving Montauk Harbor enroute Cartwright, South of Montauk Point for some fantastic fluke fishing. I had the pleasure of meeting the two of them while staying in Snug Harbor with my wife. Hope to see them next year.

We were schooled today by Phil Lopiccolo aboard the fishing boat “Naida”. Phil definitely gets the “High Hook Award” as he made it look too easy! While the rest of us struggled, Phil filled the cooler with six beautiful keepers!!

August 24, 2022 Montauk Fluke Fishing aboard the “Naida”. Starting with a shortened version of the Montauk Rig. 6’ Fluorocarbon Leader tied to 3 Way Swivel and 8” Dropdown Sinker. I usually tie a longer leader and slightly longer drop down sinker. Changing it up a little bit today

August 24, 2022 28’ Downeaster “Naida” pulling into Snug Harbor Mariner to pick up the rest of the fishing crew

August 24, 2022 Montauk Fluke Fishing aboard the 28’ Nauset Downeaster “Naida” with Captain Scott Novick, Diesel Mechanic Blair, his son Jeremy, Tommy Malone and Tommy May. Beautiful day, but a tough pick. Everybody went home with dinner

March 6, 2022 This video took place approximately 40 miles from Washington DC, the last leg before “The People’s Convoy” arrived at its destination, Washington DC. Americans lined every overpass, and waved American flags along the roadside. My brother Shawn and I witnessed people coming out of the woods with flags, people in wheelchairs, and young children of all ages. What a sight to see, and the media hardly covered it. Maybe that’s why their ratings are in the toilet? Hope you enjoy the video, Shawn & Tom May, Retired FDNY

March 4, 2022 Retired FDNY Brothers Shawn May Engine Co 4 & Thomas May Marine Co 9 attend “The People’s Convoy” Rally at Hagerstown Raceway. My brother Shawn, wanting to represent the forgotten 1500 Brothers and Sisters of the New York City Fire Department that were left behind, and facing termination because of tyrannical vaccine mandates, asked if I’d be willing to travel north with him to Washington DC. That was easy to answer. We left Cape Coral Florida on March 2nd and returned on March 7th. It truly was an incredible trip, and we got to meet so many great Americans. Not sure if we made a difference, but we sure as hell did give it our best try. God Bless America!

July 16, 2022 The Mary Alice returning home from the Outer Butter Fish Hole. Another great day on the water

March 3, 2022. Brother FDNY Firefighters Shawn and Thomas May leaving Huntersville North Carolina enroute Cambridge Ohio to meet up with “The People’s Convoy”. Thank you everybody for your prayers, you got us to Washington DC, and back safely to Cape Coral Florida.

At approximately 1am on July 15, 2022, the Mary Alice casted off all lines and was underway enroute the “Outer Butter Fish Hole”. Beautiful day, with slight overcast, temperature around 75°. Unfortunately, we were unable to locate the tunafish, but were escorted by a large school of dolphin. In addition to that, we were fortunate enough to see two large humpback whales totally breach, and put on a brilliant display. Capt. Pete Carey was accompanied by his crew, Kevin Profitlich, Dave Delarocca and Tommy May. That’s why they called fishing, and not catching!

The men of Division 9 Ancient Order of Hibernians Port Jefferson NY stepping out in celebration of America’s Independence

I stopped down to the White Cap Fish Market late in the morning of October 22, 2019. My cousin George King and I were partners on a 24’ Gravey Clamboat that we birthed at the beginning of the creek adjacent Montauk Highway. Each morning we passed the commercial Dragger on the way to the clamming grounds. George had passed away a couple days before, and I was grappling with some memories of the years we spent together through high school digging clams. As I drove down to White Cap Fish Market, I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Smith and his crew, who run the clam dredge boat Susan H. Bill was nice enough to let me video him while he shucked the many bushels of surf clams they harvested during the early morning hours. Thanks Bill, and crew members, it was a pleasure meeting you fellas

On Friday August 21, 2015 we fished the Star Island Shark Tournament with Captain Rick Vidal aboard his 25’ Walkaround Parker “Rough Around the Edges.” We caught 10 juvenile Makos, all of which jumped out of the water while fighting. Unfortunately for us, all the Makos were unsized and were returned safely. Rick certainly has his boat name correctly. We had a great time fishing with him!

I stopped by Saturday August 12, 2015 to purchase some tackle at “Terminal Tackle” which was located on Main Street in Kings Park, NY. While I was there, I asked Oldman John Richy, if he would show me how to “Snell a Hook” and tie a “Perfection Knot”. He took the time out of his busy day to teach me both and agreed to allow me to video record him. Whenever I was making rigs up at home, or 30 miles south of Montauk, I would often referred to the videos I recorded of him for a quick tutorial. Eventually I committed the Perfection Knot and Snelling a hook to memory. When he taught me to snell a hook, he said “I’m going to show you a way, that you are not going to see anywhere else!” To this day, I have never seen a hook snelled in this fashion. Oldman John is no longer with us, as he passed away a couple years back. He will be missed. Hopefully we can keep his memory alive with this video teaching youngsters and old men alike how to “Snell” and tie the “Perfection Knot” with ease. Thanks for viewing and God Bless Oldman John Richy

I stopped by Saturday August 12, 2015 to purchase some tackle at “Terminal Tackle” which was located on Main Street in Kings Park, NY. While I was there, I asked Oldman John Richy, if he would show me how to “Snell a Hook” and tie a “Perfection Knot”. He took the time out of his busy day to teach me both and agreed to allow me to video record him. Whenever I was making rigs up at home, or 30 miles south of Montauk, I would often referred to the videos I recorded of him for a quick tutorial. Eventually I committed the Perfection Knot and Snelling a hook to memory. When he taught me to snell a hook, he said “I’m going to show you a way, that you are not going to see anywhere else!” To this day, I have never seen a hook snelled in this fashion. Oldman John is no longer with us, as he passed away a couple years back. He will be missed. Hopefully we can keep his memory alive with this video teaching youngsters and old men alike how to “Snell” and tie the “Perfection Knot” with ease. Thanks for viewing and God Bless Oldman John Richy

My Personal Best Fluke to Date August 15, 2022 we departed Greenport at approximately 5:30 am aboard the Naida, enroute our fishing location south of Block Island. It was a beautiful day with a spectacular sunrise and light winds out of the east, which normally would not be best for fishing. The east wind turned out to be a non-factor, as we put together a nice catch, and I was fortunate to land my personal best fluke to date, 10 lbs. The video describes the fluke rig I used. 80lb test fluorocarbon leader, 7/0 hooks tipped with gulp, fluke ribbon and spearing. Hope you enjoy the video.

Fluke Fishing South of Block Island aboard the “Nadia” We cast off the lines a little past 5:30 am, and were officially underway enroute Block Island for what turned out to be a great day fishing. The lineup, was Captain Scott, George, Sam, Ronnie and myself. Took us about three hours to get to our fishing location just south of the windmills off Block Island. Beautiful morning, with a spectacular sunrise. I mistakenly referred to Gardner’s Island as Shelter Island in the video, disregard that mistake. Shelter Island was 5 miles in the opposite direction. Hope you enjoy the video

Fished today aboard the 28’ Nauset “Nadia”, captained by Scott Novick. I had the pleasure of fishing for the first time with Air Traffic Controller Ronnie Bylicki. Ronnie is definitely a squared away fisherman. I knew we were going to be getting fishing lessons today when he arrived. Ronnie was high hook on the boat today with five of the 14 keepers, and all quality fish. I know for certain that he had a pair of 24” twins. Thanks for sending us home with dinner Ronnie!

8/3/2022 Engine 89 / Ladder 50 “The Cuckoos Nest” Jimmy Zodowick and I were traveling to Pearl River for a brother firefighters funeral. Our first stop after entering the Bronx, was Zeppieri’s Italian Bakery located at 3004 Buhre Ave. After picking up six beautiful loafes of the best Italian bread, Jimmy informed me, that he needed to make a pitstop, so we traveled back to Bruckner Boulevard to let Jim use Engine 89’s bathroom. Jimmy doesn’t like to admit it, but his first stop on the New York City Fire Department was Engine Company 89/aka “The Cuckoo‘s Nest”. That explains a lot!

“What is it, a Big Stripper, Large Codfish or Door Matt Fluke? Nope, a Juvenile Mako!” Fished Saturday aboard the Nadia temporarily moored at Snug Harbor, Montauk. Beautiful day, with light northwest winds. We fished Cartwright, southwest of Montauk and put together a nice catch of 15 Fluke, 10 Seabass and 15 Ling. At the end of the day Captain Scott Novick got into something large. Coast Guard Mike presumed a large stripper. Scott suspected a large Codfish, while I surmised a door matt fluke. To our total surprise, it was a small juvenile Mako Shark. There is a moratorium on Mako Sharks, as their population is declining. It was brought aboard to remove hooks that would have inhibited its ability to properly feed and promptly released in excellent condition. Another great day fishing aboard the Nadia

“Coast Guard Mike” has to be one of the most accomplished Fluke Fisherman on the East Coast. Coast Guard Mike put on quite a display today, Southwest of Montauk. Thank God for fishermen like him, they send us home with dinner

7/30/2022 “Most Improved Fluke Fisherman Award” goes to Captain Scott Novick of the private fishing vessel Nadia. Captain’s Scott had a banner day and was high hook. He did not divulge his secret until we safely secured the Nadia in her slip at Snug Harbor in Montauk. What was the secret? A conscious effort to use gulp!