“Let's Fish,” exclaimed Legislator Jim Mazzarella at the Snapper Derby hosted Saturday by the Mastic Beach Property Owners and the Mastic Beach Yacht Club. “Kudos to these great organizations that continue to provide fun family activities. We appreciate you.”
The waters around the Mastic Peninsula have long provided a rich bounty of fish and shellfish, dating back to its days as a summer retreat starting in the 1920s.
Efforts are ongoing to protect the area’s natural resources, including the recently completed Forge River Watershed Sewer District and sewers planned as part of the Beechwood redevelopment of Neighborhood Road. Brookhaven Town and Suffolk County have also made a concerted effort to return the shorelines to their natural state by buying up substandard lots.
“Everyone who grew up here remembers their days of fishing, swimming, boating, and just enjoying the local waters,” said Kevin Collins, Property Owners Association president. “We’re happy to keep those traditions alive.”