Share Your Memories with Us

Ed and Frank Murray spent their lives on the water, and along the way they made friends in every harbor from Gloucester to Palm Beach. Since we brought the Murray Brothers name back, those friends have been reaching out with stories we'd never heard. This page is for them, and for you.

Did you fish with Ed and Frank, shop at the store on Blue Heron Blvd, or watch the Cookie Too come in with a giant? We'd love to hear it.

Got a historic catch of your own? Share that too. Your story doesn't have to involve the Murrays. If you have an old photo of a giant bluefin, a big marlin, a record fish or a day on the water you'll never forget, we want to see it and hear the story behind it.

Share Your Legend: 3 Easy Ways

Got an old fishing photo and a story to go with it? It can be about Ed, Frank and the Cookie Too, or about your own historic catch. Pick whichever way is easiest for you. A phone photo of an old print works fine.

Upload it here

Fill in the short form on this page and attach your photos.

Go to the Form

Email it to us

Attach your photos to an email and tell us the story in a few lines.

Email Us

support@murraybrosretro.com

Send a Facebook message

Message the Murray Brothers page on Facebook, the same way you message family.

Message Us on Facebook

Need a hand? Ask a son, daughter or grandchild to send it for you. Any of these 3 ways works, and we'll write back to say thank you.

Not sure where to start? Tell us:
Where and when the photo was taken • The boat you were on • The catch you'll never forget, and how big it was • Who was with you that day • Any time you crossed paths with Ed or Frank

Memories From Old Friends

"Legendary family! In the '80s, Ed and Fran educated me on billfishing. Fran came along with us one day to teach me kite fishing aboard the Johnny J. Everyone that knew anything about fishing shopped at the Murray Bros store on Blue Heron Blvd. When my drags were freezing up on our new Fin-Nor 130 reels, they flew an employee to Treasure Cay to fix them. I could go on forever about Ed & Frank."

Tom H.

"Frank was one of a kind, one of the most benevolent human beings that I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. When I was in my late teens in the 1980s he showed me proper lure rigging and so much more. Being from N.J., he gave me lures to try out for the giant bluefin tuna run we had. We remained friends, keeping in touch until he passed. He had the greatest sense of humor. I am thankful that my path crossed with his over 40 years ago."

Jerry Colagiovanni

"Our families have a bit of history together. My father was friends with your dad when they were making furniture on the island. Your dad made me a custom harness when I was 10 years old, that my son is using today."

Mark Assogna

"My primary business activity was 'Woodfins Trophies.' Hand carved wooden trophies known the world over. My son Chris continues the business under a new well known name, Fishing Tournament Trophies. Some old timers may remember my wood burned artwork on Murray Bros fighting chairs, step boxes, rocket launchers, tables. One day, I approached Frank with the idea that the aluminum tuna emblem on the fighting chair footrest had seen better days and needed a Costello redesign. Thus the new model was carved, Frank approved and that model was shipped to the foundry to be investment cast in stainless steel."

Peter Costello

"I remember the Cookie Too at Montauk Marine Basin back in 1978. I used to hang around the docks with Paul and a kid named Spider (Jimmy Bournaman). Great times."

Nick Traina

"I used to fish on the Low Bid in Gloucester and Cape Cod back in the early 2000s alongside Cookie Murray on the Cookie Too. Many breakfasts with him in Harwichport too. It was their videos that made me want to be a tuna fisherman. Amazing family."

Mike Burns

"Montauk, 1999, on the Grander. Mel Immergut caught this 883 lb bluefin on IGFA 130 tackle. It ate a flounder fished near some draggers south of Montauk Point. Capt. Rich Barrett was at the wheel. Great memory!"

Michael Murray

"I grew up working for Cookie. I remember being a little kid while the Revenge was being built, and I worked for Cookie all the way through my college career. Fished on the boat in Cat and wherever they would let me ride. I remember the shop on Blue Heron and Thanksgivings at Frank's house across from Cookie's. I love what you're doing."

Jefrey Benkelman Jr.

"The Murray Brothers are legends. I had a Murray Bros fighting chair on my Post and we landed a lot of giant bluefin with it. I sold the boat, but kept the chair and won't ever sell that!"

Alan B.

"Fished on the Cookie Too in Gloucester. It was an experience I will never forget. They could catch bluefin tuna in a puddle of water if they wanted to. Yes, they were that good! Wonderful family."

Bill C.

"Remember the Cookie Too coming into Point Judith back in the '70s, fishing the waters off Rhode Island. Rhode Island was considered the tuna capital of the world back then."

Robert R.

"I remember fishing next to them on Stellwagen. They caught a lot of tuna back in the day."

Ernie G.

"We loved Ed and Frank. Just wonderful men who loved to help."

Randy P.

"The Murray brothers were well recognized in Gloucester while they were there, and still are by a few of us."

Randolph C.

"I purchased one of these jackets back in the early '90s. Now I own two more. Good to fish in on those early chilly mornings."

Donald A.

"Got mine today, my favorite shirt. My first one disintegrated and I thought I'd never see another."

Earl R.

"Thank you for all your help and support over the 42 years."

Everett Sawyer

Customer Photo Wall

Old photos and historic catches sent in by friends, customers and anglers everywhere, shared with their permission.

Recognize someone? Help us put names to the faces. Tap any photo to see it up close and join the conversation in the comments.

Murray Brothers Legends Collaborators

Everyone who shares their old photos with us earns the title of Legends Collaborator, with their name on this wall. Our Legends Collaborators so far: Peter Costello, Nick Traina, Larry Rubino, Jefrey Benkelman Jr., Everett Sawyer, Danny Shea, Jerry Colagiovanni, Bert Harris, Michael Murray, Mark Assogna and Mike Burns.

Stainless steel tuna from the Murray fighting chair footrest, mounted on an oval wood plaque, shared by Peter Costello — **Peter Costello**The stainless tuna from the Murray fighting chair footrest. Peter carved the new model, Frank approved it, and it was cast in stainless steel. This one hangs above his Lazy Boy.

The day's catch on the dock at the Walker's Cay weigh station beside the 50-ft Rybovich Sylvia II, captained by Bubba Carter — **Danny Shea**Bubba Carter, captain of the 50-ft Rybovich *Sylvia II*, at the weigh station, Walkers Cay Tournament, in the '80s as Danny recalls. Whitfield Albury is in the white captain's hat, and Casey Shea is on the far left.

Sportfishing boats and a speedboat anchored off a sandbar past Grand Cay near Walker's Cay, with people swimming and standing on the sand — **Danny Shea**Walkers Cay days: boats anchored off a sandbar past Grand Cay for a cookout and a swim. Jeffrey Wiggs remembers that day as the summer of 1982, with Timmy Davis there in his red bathing suit.

Swordfish caught on the Cookie Too hanging at the Montauk Deep Sea Club dock, July 1978, with the crew and friends gathered below — **Nick Traina**Swordfish caught on the *Cookie Too*, hung at the Deep Sea Club in Montauk, July 1978. Nick remembers hanging around the docks at Montauk Marine Basin that year with Paul and a kid named Spider (Jimmy Bournaman).

The Cookie Too fighting a giant bluefin tuna off Gloucester, Massachusetts, with Cookie Murray, Paul and Don Stott aboard — **Larry Rubino**The *Cookie Too* fighting a giant off Gloucester, Mass., with Cookie Murray, Paul and Don Stott aboard, as Larry remembers it

Cookie Murray's sportfishing boat off North Palm Beach Marina, waiting on the Parker Bridge, with Cookie, Jefrey Benkelman Jr. and Johnny Bush aboard — **Jefrey Benkelman Jr.**Just off North Palm Beach Marina, waiting on the Parker Bridge to open, with Cookie, Jefrey and Johnny Bush aboard

Cookie Murray's boat at sunset behind the Benkelman family home — **Jefrey Benkelman Jr.**Sunset behind his parents' house, where the boat lived

Cookie Murray's sportfishing boat underway — **Jefrey Benkelman Jr.**Cookie and Jefrey running the boat offshore

Cookie Murray's sportfishing boat on the water — **Jefrey Benkelman Jr.**He worked for Cookie on this boat all the way through college

The 38-ft Young Brothers Tally 7 at Harwichport, Massachusetts, 1993 — **Everett Sawyer**Aboard the 38-ft Young Brothers *Tally 7*, unloading at Harwichport, Mass., 1993

Mark Assogna's son fighting a giant bluefin in the harness Frank Murray made for Mark — **Mark Assogna**His son fighting a giant in the harness Frank Murray made for Mark when he was 10

Mike Burns' Murray Bros hoodie on the fighting chair at a tournament in Cape May — **Mike Burns**His Murray Bros hoodie on the fighting chair at a big tournament in Cape May

Jerry Colagiovanni with his friend Frank Murray — **Jerry Colagiovanni**With his friend Frank Murray

Frank Murray and Peter Colagiovanni aboard the Screaming Eagle at the Bertram-Hatteras Shootout, late 1980s — **Jerry Colagiovanni**Frank aboard the *Screaming Eagle* at the Bertram-Hatteras Shootout, late 1980s, with Jerry's brother Peter Colagiovanni beside him at the tackle station. Roger Greene was likely running the boat.

Mel Immergut's 883 lb bluefin tuna at Montauk, 1999, caught aboard the Grander with Capt. Rich Barrett — **Michael Murray**Mel Immergut's 883-lb bluefin on 130-lb tackle, Montauk 1999, aboard the *Grander* with Capt. Rich Barrett at the wheel

Scale model of a Murray Brothers fighting chair — **Bert Harris**A Murray fighting chair in miniature

Scale models of Murray Brothers fighting chairs and rods — **Bert Harris**Murray chair scale models, rods and all

Danny Shea working the reel offshore — **Danny Shea**Working the reel offshore

Danny Shea holding a catch of snapper — **Danny Shea**A good day on the snapper

Become a Legends Collaborator. Send us an old photo of your own historic catch, or one from the dock, the boat, the store or a fighting chair. We'll put it up here with your name and your Legends Collaborator title.

Add Your Photo

Wear the Legend

The same Murray Brothers name that rode on the Cookie Too, now on retro tees, hoodies and hats made for early mornings on the water. New here? Take 10% off your first order with code WELCOME10.

Classic Color Logo TeeFrom $25

Long Sleeve Classic LogoFrom $30

Color Logo Pullover HoodieFrom $38

'3-Fish' Design TeeFrom $28

Classic Logo UPF50+ TeeFrom $33

Embroidered Trucker Cap$33

Shop All Murray Brothers Gear

Memory of the Month

Each month we'll feature one memory or historic catch at the top of this page, and the person who shared it gets a free Murray Brothers tee of their choice. Share yours for a chance to be next.

Share Your Photo & Story

From the Family Album

Frank and Ed Murray in front of the Murray Bros store — Frank and Ed at the Murray Bros store

Two giant bluefin tuna, 1,256 and 1,120 lbs, at Aulds Cove, Nova Scotia, from the Murray family album — Two giants, 1,256 and 1,120 lbs, Aulds Cove, Nova Scotia. Old friend Everett Sawyer sent this one in too; he's had a copy since 1983.

Uncle Tony with a 1,290-lb giant bluefin tuna — Uncle Tony and his 1,290-lb giant

Giant bluefin tuna, Nova Scotia, 1990 — Nova Scotia, 1990

Cookie Murray in the fighting chair at Hatteras — Cookie in the fighting chair, Hatteras

Frank Murray and Vin at Hatteras — Frank and Vin at Hatteras

Giant bluefin tuna jumping off Canso, Nova Scotia — A giant leaps off Canso, Nova Scotia

Uncle Tony in the fighting chair, Newfoundland — Uncle Tony in the chair, Newfoundland

Giant bluefin on the tail rope at Aulds Cove, Nova Scotia — On the tail rope, Aulds Cove

The Murray Brothers Story

Early 1970s, Long Island, NYBrothers Ed and Frank Murray turn their love of sportfishing into Murray Brothers.

1972, Palm Beach, FLThe brothers move their families and business south to the heart of sportfishing country.

Blue Heron BlvdThe Murray Brothers store becomes the place anglers go to gear up and to learn, from lures to fighting chairs.

The Cookie Too yearsNamed for Ed's oldest son, the boat works the bluefin grounds from Gloucester and Point Judith to Canada.

March 20, 2023On what would have been Frank's 83rd birthday, his grandchildren bring the Murray Brothers name back.

Share Your Photo & Story Wear the Legend

With gratitude, Allie & Vinny Jr.