“I have fished from early in the morning to 5 p.m. without food or water. I lose track of time. The experience is incredibly therapeutic,” Luciano Fiutak (Class IV) said. Fiutak, a lifelong fisherman, has spent nearly all of his free periods at Nobles on the banks of the Motley Pond, escaping from the rush of a schoolday to focus on his passion. As a leader of the Nobles Fishing Club, he believes in sharing his knowledge with others in the community.
The Fishing Club’s popularity rose from an aspiration to connect with fellow students through a shared enjoyment of fishing, a sport that helps these students collect their thoughts and find a place for peace, where time seems to fade away. Peter Sacerdote (N ’25) spent a considerable portion of his time at Nobles looking to land a fish, and this passion sparked the idea to create a club. “I remember when I was a freshman or sophomore, I just loved fishing, and I was like, ‘we don’t have a club for this right now, so I’m going to make a fishing club,’” Sacerdote said.
Since its creation, Fishing Club has grown into one of the most influential groups on campus. “We would have 20 people consistently showing up to the Fishing Club, and we didn’t have enough rods for everyone who wanted to come,” Sacerdote said. Adam Davidson (Class I) assumed leadership of the club three years ago and has had steady participation from the student body ever since. With the Motley Pond on campus, the club is a great place for both novices and experienced fishermen to further their enjoyment of fishing. The club focuses on sustainability and preserving the nature in which the club spends its time. Davidson believes fishing allows people to connect with one another over a rather niche hobby. “Whether you are older or younger, the fishing culture in general is pretty nice; to be able to talk to other people about the bite, and if you have friends who fish, you will get so much closer,” Davidson said.
Fishermen at Nobles cast beyond the waters of the Motley Pond. Nate Brooks (Class III) fishes in his town as well as on Martha’s Vineyard during the summer. “I caught a 300-pound Brown Shark on Martha’s Vineyard, and it was a pretty cool experience because we were fighting it for at least an hour,” he said. Fiutak fishes everywhere he travels, but locally he enjoys fishing at Jamaica Pond, as well as the Muddy and Charles River.
Motley Pond may be the only body of water on campus, but it is an exemplary spot for fishing. Sacerdote said, “Motley Pond is a much better fishing spot than you might think; it actually has a good variety of fish, including bass and pickerel.” Davidson and Sacerdote prefer fishing at the Motley Pond, even when they could go to many other places. “On the weekends in the fall sometimes, out of all the places we could go, we go to Motley Pond,” Sacerdote said. Motley Pond’s biodiversity draws the fishermen back to campus even when school is out. Fiutak fished at least four times a week at the pond during the summer. The beauty of the surroundings, along with the rush of dopamine when catching a fish, seems to make the experience incredibly addictive. “Every moment of my free time I spend fishing, researching fishing, buying fishing gear, talking and thinking about fishing,” Fiutak said.
The passing of the torch from Sacerdote to Davidson, and in the future to Fiutak, means that Fishing Club is in good hands. As the group continues to thrive, Fishing Club represents more than just a shared love for the sport: it allows students to find peace in nature, build friendships, and carry on the tradition of fishing at Nobles. What began as one student’s passion has grown into a lasting community that connects people from different backgrounds over a shared interest. The club illustrates how fulfilling experiences don’t need to be far away in order to happen. With leaders like Fiutak ready to take the reins, the Fishing Club’s future looks bright and full of potential, just like the Motley Pond on a clear day.
