“Freshwater belongs in an ice cube,” says Mike Epstein.
Between the months of April and November you should not think it unusual to see Epstein on the water at 3 a.m. in his boat, a 29-foot, 2003 Grady White 265 Express with the family nickname, “Eppe,” written along the side.
Epstein, president of Diversified Marketing and Media, is a third generation member at the South Norwalk Boat Club and passionate saltwater fisherman.
“It”™s great; I”™ll fish for a couple hours and then come to work,” says Epstein. “We”™ve got this natural beauty in our back yard. I think for me it”™s an escape to reality. Being on the water is just breathtaking. I just enjoy the time on the water. My family enjoys it and from a family standpoint it”™s a great activity. Some guys like to play golf or volleyball or softball; for me it”™s all about trying to be on the water as much as possible.”
Epstein grew up in Norwalk with parents who grew up together in Norwalk. His grandparents on both sides knew each other even before his parents became acquainted.
“It made for a very close family,” says Epstein. “Both of my grandfathers had boats and were fishermen, so all of my blood uncles and cousins, the men, they all fish. It”™s really the whole family.”
Epstein, 42, attended Norwalk High School and went on to Syracuse University where he met his wife of 17 years, Linda. The Epsteins have two children Jill, 14, and Danielle, 11.
Epstein often fishes with his father, Richard, and his uncle, Neil, though his obsession has taken him far from the Long Island Sound, even to Alaska to fish for halibut and salmon.
“I”™m on the water as much as possible, two to three times a week depending on the weather,” says Epstein. “I could be fishing on my boat with friends or my father or my uncle or my cousins, or even my kids. This time of year is when you start taking the covers off; it”™s like spring training, like when the pitchers and catchers show up and you can”™t get enough of it.”
Although it has been the off season, Epstein is involved in the boat culture year-round using the boat club”™s restaurant to entertain clients and go for lunch. Epstein also travels to boat shows and talks shop in winter with a crew of four other Fairfield fishermen. The “crew,” comprised of Brian Fosse, Paul Fosse, Michael Smolen and Stan Lee, enter a shark tournament in Montauk once a year.
“It”™s really amazing in the summer months in Montauk,” says Epstein. “You”™re not fishing the Gulf stream, but you can catch dolphin fish, like mahi-mahi, you can catch white marlin, it”™s almost like fishing the Caribbean, but you have to go quite a ways, it”™s a whole new fishing Nirvana.”
In the first entry into the shark tournament Epstein and his crew caught a 357-pound thresher shark.
“Talk about who wants some champagne,” says Epstein. “I was on the rod so it was really great. It”™s a disease ”“ if you”™re going to invest your time and your money in buying a boat, you have to use it. That”™s the number-one sin, people buy brand new boats and they never use them.”
After working as a media buyer in New York City, Epstein became a victim of post-9/11 layoffs; soon after, he chose to begin his own direct marketing business.
“I was going to start my own business,” says Epstein. “I knew it was going to be a struggle for a long time, but I said, ”˜I”™m going to go do what I know how to do.”™”
Epstein recently moved into new offices is in Bridgeport after running his business from home since its start six years ago.
Some of his biggest clients are National Arbor Day, Popcorn Factory, Thompson Cigar and Fragrance Net.
“We put people in advertising places that go to the masses,” he says. “I”™m a perfectionist. When it comes to details on the boat, whether it”™s getting it ready in the spring time or getting it ready for a trip, or making sure equipment is in the right shape. I try to apply that kind of perfection in what I do, whether it”™s following up with somebody when I”™m supposed to, or meeting a deadline.
“For me it”™s a lot of fun because I can take clients, who enjoy just getting on the water. My biggest client said, ”˜Can you take my son fishing next summer?”™ And I said, ”˜Of course.”™
When working out the where and when, I said I”™d pick him up but she said, ”˜Are you kidding ”“ I”™m coming too.”™”
Epstein grew up in a retail environment with a father who was a third-generation dry cleaner.
“You”™re only as good as yesterday; I really pride myself on how I treat people,” says Epstein. “It”™s important to treat people the way you want to get treated. I got a lot out of watching my mother and father work.”
