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On the Run: An Angler's Journey Down the Striper Coast
Each autumn, one of nature's most magnificent dramas plays out when striped bass undertake a journey, from the northeastern United States to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, in search of food and warmer seas. Writer and angler David DiBenedetto followed this great migration -- the fall run -- for three months in the autumn of 2001.
On the Run offers vivid portrayals of the zany and obsessive characters DiBenedetto met on his travels -- including the country's most daring fisherman, an underwater videographer who chucked his corporate job in favor of filming striped bass, and the reclusive angler who claims that catching the world-record striper in 1982 sent his life into a tailspin. Along his route, DiBenedetto also delves into the natural history and biology of this great game fish, and depicts the colorful cultures of the seaside communities where the striped bass reigns supreme.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2003
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January 16, 2016Eric Gattoni
Mrs. Zucker
American Literature Period 5
January 15, 2016
A Great Read
The book On the Run by David DiBenedetto is a great book about the travels of a fisherman down the east coast. The author, who is also the narrator of the story, starts his journey at the beginning of the fall run in Maine and travels down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He spends three months of autumn in 2001 to explore and understand the movements of fall striped bass and all the fish that follow. Striped bass are the trophies for anglers who fish up and down the Northeastern coast. They are known for their ability to be caught from the beaches of the eastern coast. They can grow to around 70 inches and can weigh upwards of 125 pounds although they are very rarely caught over 70 pounds. The fall run drives anglers crazy up and down the coast. This book tells what an angler is thinking and doing during that time. I would strongly recommend that anybody into fishing should take a shot at reading this book.
This is a very good book, although it is very important that the reader knows about fishing: “I switched to a Hab’s Needlefish and the stripers walloped it” (DiBenedetto 143). At this point in the book, David is fishing in a pod of feeding stripers. He decides to switch lures. A Hab’s Needlefish is a lure that floats and is twitched across the top of the water. Some people who don’t have much knowledge of fishing may not understand that part of the story. There are many more parts just like that: “On his next attempt he nailed the approach, and on his first cast with a pencil popper he hooked a thirty-five-pound bass” (163). Most people who don’t fish would have no idea what a pencil popper is. For people who don’t know, a pencil popper is another topwater lure that entices fish. There are little details like that throughout the story that would confuse some readers. Other than those very small details, it is a very good book.
Don’t take these little problems as a reason not to read this book. There are a lot of great parts in this book: “A few casts later I felt a solid thump on my line and set the hook” (10). At this point in the story, David is skishing off the coast of Montauk. Skishing is when an angler swims while he fishes. This part gets better on the next line: “Immediately, the fish began to have its way with me; I plunged face first into the water” (10). This is a funny part in the book. I just imagined somebody swimming out in the ocean with a eight foot fishing rod flipping face first into the water. There are a bunch of funny pieces of this story.There is also a lot of excitement: “As I went to cast, Melnyk’s rod quivered, then bent deeply“ (5). I highly recommend this book. It was a very nice read.
Works Cited
DiBenedetto, David. On the Run: An Angler's Journey down the Striper Coast. New York, NY: William Morrow, 2003. Print.
Mrs. Zucker
American Literature Period 5
January 15, 2016
A Great Read
The book On the Run by David DiBenedetto is a great book about the travels of a fisherman down the east coast. The author, who is also the narrator of the story, starts his journey at the beginning of the fall run in Maine and travels down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He spends three months of autumn in 2001 to explore and understand the movements of fall striped bass and all the fish that follow. Striped bass are the trophies for anglers who fish up and down the Northeastern coast. They are known for their ability to be caught from the beaches of the eastern coast. They can grow to around 70 inches and can weigh upwards of 125 pounds although they are very rarely caught over 70 pounds. The fall run drives anglers crazy up and down the coast. This book tells what an angler is thinking and doing during that time. I would strongly recommend that anybody into fishing should take a shot at reading this book.
This is a very good book, although it is very important that the reader knows about fishing: “I switched to a Hab’s Needlefish and the stripers walloped it” (DiBenedetto 143). At this point in the book, David is fishing in a pod of feeding stripers. He decides to switch lures. A Hab’s Needlefish is a lure that floats and is twitched across the top of the water. Some people who don’t have much knowledge of fishing may not understand that part of the story. There are many more parts just like that: “On his next attempt he nailed the approach, and on his first cast with a pencil popper he hooked a thirty-five-pound bass” (163). Most people who don’t fish would have no idea what a pencil popper is. For people who don’t know, a pencil popper is another topwater lure that entices fish. There are little details like that throughout the story that would confuse some readers. Other than those very small details, it is a very good book.
Don’t take these little problems as a reason not to read this book. There are a lot of great parts in this book: “A few casts later I felt a solid thump on my line and set the hook” (10). At this point in the story, David is skishing off the coast of Montauk. Skishing is when an angler swims while he fishes. This part gets better on the next line: “Immediately, the fish began to have its way with me; I plunged face first into the water” (10). This is a funny part in the book. I just imagined somebody swimming out in the ocean with a eight foot fishing rod flipping face first into the water. There are a bunch of funny pieces of this story.There is also a lot of excitement: “As I went to cast, Melnyk’s rod quivered, then bent deeply“ (5). I highly recommend this book. It was a very nice read.
Works Cited
DiBenedetto, David. On the Run: An Angler's Journey down the Striper Coast. New York, NY: William Morrow, 2003. Print.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2014
A very good book that details the author's journey following the migrating Stripers. The trip begins in Maine in September and ends three months later at the Outerbanks in North Carolina. The book includes history of Striper fishing, the effort to bring the Striper back from the brink of extinction, and some great fish stories all of which were true and I am sure some of which really happened. A great read especially by those who love to fish for these elegant fish.
September 16, 2015
I'd like to go fishing right now, please.
December 9, 2021
One of, if not the best, fishing books I’ve ever read and this is coming from someone who isn’t a striper fisherman. I’m not shocked the author has gone in to be the editor of Garden & Gun. Even in this book written when he was young, you can tell what a gifted writer he is. To write about fishing without being arrogantly obnoxious (David Coggins) or a curmudgeon (John Gierach) takes a rare talent. Fishing isn’t life or death, it’s just fishing and that’s enough. This book delivers that perfectly.
June 9, 2025
DiBenedetto is a compelling, if simple, writer. Reading this book 24 years after its events, you really get a sense for fishing in 2001, where that sort of American masculinity was still mainstream and the internet hadn't totally destroyed everything yet. His account of 9/11 is touching as well. It all made me nostalgic for a time I wasn't even alive and a lifestyle I'd never lead- the hallmark of a good bok.
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November 7, 2020A girl asked me what I was reading at a urban coffee shop. I had this book at the time. We talked about it and she seemed interested- although I had literally no idea why she was interested in this fishing book.
Long story short, it was all a ruse and she just wanted to talk to me.
Dating one year now!
Long story short, it was all a ruse and she just wanted to talk to me.
Dating one year now!
September 6, 2017
After reading this book, I went out fishing right away. This gets me exited again for fishing in the oceans in Maine. Also the book gave me some good tips on how to fish and where they might be that I didn't know before. Definitely looking forward to reading this again.
September 29, 2021
Fishing trip of a lifetime...
A very easy and entertaining read. Glad to have followed the author on this epic 3 month journey of chasing stripers all along the East coast. Informative, interesting and well written.
A very easy and entertaining read. Glad to have followed the author on this epic 3 month journey of chasing stripers all along the East coast. Informative, interesting and well written.
January 7, 2025
A fanatic who meets even more fanatical fisherman, who tend to be the most fanatic kinds of people anyway. All this against a backdrop of 9/11. It’s delightful.
October 13, 2020
Great Read!
Enjoyed the journey. Learned a lot about a fish I thought I knew. Well written. Easy to follow. Would recommend to anyone interested in fishing.
Enjoyed the journey. Learned a lot about a fish I thought I knew. Well written. Easy to follow. Would recommend to anyone interested in fishing.
July 3, 2015
I'm not a huge fan of fishing save the few times I went as a child, so I don't know why I picked up this book. If you like fishing it's a great choice. Even though I don't, I was still able to find some redeeming qualities in the writing - descriptions of ocean scenes, interesting stories of the fisherman lifestyle, and the idea of someone so enthralled with an outdoor endeavor that he will run to meet a swell of fish. I don't even like fishing, but I'm still giving this book 3 stars.
February 6, 2023
Fish Tails
Full of action, humor, and most importantly, good fishing, David DeBenedetto's On the Run is a great example of its type (outdoors writing). A somewhat ironic dust jacket blurb from the Los Angeles Times declares it is "hard to put down," and they are exactly right. Whether schooled in the catching of striped bass or not, any fisherman will enjoy On the Run.
May 25, 2016
A fun read, perfect for an angler of any level on a beach vacation. It reads a bit short; possibly owing to the author's concise, journalistic style. There are some great characters here and I wish I got to spend some more time with them. If you've enjoyed McGuane's Longest Silence, any Gierach, or Hersey's Blues then this belongs on your list.
August 6, 2008
Borrowed this book from Bruce while on the sailboat. Although not for everyone, it is an interesting (and brief) history of the Striped Bass on the East Coast. New Englanders will enjoy the journey down the coast and anyone who has even once hooked a fish will enjoy it.
August 3, 2008
I liked the easy reading style of the book. I could easily put myself into the writer's place and imagine floting in the ocean fishing. I too would be looking for Jaws and be ready to get back to shore at first chance.
August 11, 2012
I have read this book many times over and I have bought many copies for friends.
David is hilarious, what great visuals. I read parts of it to an assembly of 200 8th graders and they were doubled over with laughter. It is a bit salty but worth every word.
David is hilarious, what great visuals. I read parts of it to an assembly of 200 8th graders and they were doubled over with laughter. It is a bit salty but worth every word.
December 22, 2007
excellent for fishing addicts
April 27, 2015
Good. wanted more. Perhaps a follow up, like what happened to the stocks? Did they go the way of Cod.
February 22, 2015
Excellent read, for any fisherman
Kept interested, by a steady pace, with unique changes and challenges, and incredible group of knowledgeable character,
Already got waders..
Kept interested, by a steady pace, with unique changes and challenges, and incredible group of knowledgeable character,
Already got waders..
April 3, 2020
This book had me itching to be fishing.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews