Charles H. "Tiggie" Peluso Jr.

CHATHAM — Tiggie Peluso, a World War II veteran, commercial fisherman, author, storyteller, naturalist, and beloved father, died at 84 on Feb. 17, 2008.

Tiggie Peluso, Charles H. Peluso Jr., fished the waters off Cape Cod for 40 plus years. A "wash-ashore" in his 20s, he fished offshore before the advent of electronic instruments. He became an expert in finding fish using traditional navigational skills and by taking soundings with a lead weight that provided impressions of the sea bottom. He commercially fished for groundfish and swordfish, but also was recognized as an inshore fishing expert who pioneered the tube and worm fishing style that many bass fishermen swear by today. When not fishing offshore, Tiggie spent his time in the estuaries and inlets quahogging and bay scalloping.

A true fishing fanatic, he spent his free time freshwater fishing for trout, pickerel and smallmouth bass in the numerous lakes of Cape Cod. So confident of his fishing abilities, he advertised as a freshwater guide, "Get your Limit of Trout or It Costs You Nothing."

Through that advertising and the subsequent fishing ventures with clients, numerous periodicals like "Outdoor Life" and "Field and Stream" published articles on him that celebrated his mastery of freshwater fishing. More recently, Tiggie completed a lifelong goal of publishing a book that chronicled his life of fishing. The book, "Tiggie: The Lure and Lore of Commercial Fishing in New England," was based on an original manuscript that he wrote in the 1970s. Tiggie was one of the founding members, and later a director and president, of the Chatham Seafood Co-op, the second largest seafood cooperative in New England . As an advocate for sustainable fishery methods and because of his expertise as a tub trawler, he was recently given a lifetime achievement award by The Cape Cod Hook Fisherman's Association for his contributions. His sense of humor, off-color gruff remarks and soft heart all contribute to the legend that he has become.

Born on June 20, 1923, in Chelsea, Tiggie was the son of the late Charles H. Peluso Sr. and Mary Bonacorso. He was the husband of the late Louise Eklof.

He is survived by his sisters, MaryAnn, Nancy, Nina, Sandy and Isabel, and their husbands. He leaves behind two daughters, Louise Kane and her husband, Tom Kane of Eastham, and Elaine Peluso-Farris and her husband, Bill Farris of Chatham; and a nephew, Charles Rexford Anastasia, whom he considered a son.

His grandchildren are Brock Tig Bobisink, Patrick Ellis Bowen, Timothy Arthur Bowen and Hannah Louise and William Howes Farris III. There are numerous nieces and nephews, including Joe, Peter, Nancy Jo, Marion, and Vivian Anastasia, Peggy and Richard Currie and other members on the West Coast, as well as many close friends, including Fred Bennet, Bob Luce, Joe Manson, Gerry Quigley, Bill Munro, John Christiansen, Kate Donovan and others who consider him family. Tiggie lived with his daughter and her husband for the last years of his life and was well loved and adored.

Tiggie took great pride in his cooking, his Italian ancestry and was well-known for his love of dogs and animals. A true naturalist before it became fashionable, he often wandered the Cape ponds after storms searching for birds that were trapped and could be released. As Tiggie aged, he was a catch-and-release advocate and abhorred killing anything. He was a fanatic bird watcher.

Tiggie was well known for his colorful language, huge heart and fishing acumen. It was less well-known that he was a single father who raised two children, largely alone and under difficult circumstances, and assisted his children in raising his grandchildren with much love, a great deal of humor and wit, and a boat-load of patience. He always had time for anyone and many considered him to be their mentor. In his later years, he was a frequent visitor to the senior center, the Homeport Restaurant and the Hole in One where he had many friends and will be sorely missed.

One of his many favorite sayings was, "you don't have to leave but you can't stay here."

His visitation will take place on Friday, Feb. 22, at the Nickerson Funeral Home in Chatham, 87 Crowell Road, with hours between 4 to 8 p.m.

A church service honoring his life will be held at 1 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 23, at the First Congregational Church of Chatham, 650 Main St., (at the rotary and on the hill), with a memorial celebration to follow.

Burial will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25, at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Orleans Council on Aging - Day Center, 150 Rock Harbor Road, Orleans, MA 02653, or the Cape Cod Hook Fisherman's Association, 210 East Orleans Road, North Chatham, MA 02650, or to the Humane Society of the United States or PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals).

Nickerson Funeral Home

508-945-1166
This obituary was originally published in the Cape Cod Times.