Fishing
As the harvesting season for bay scallops gets underway, Island fishermen and shellfish wholesalers are readying themselves for their annual gamble in a fishery with a reputation for uncertainty.
Island recreational fishermen gathered to celebrate the end of the 78th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. Over the course of the five week-long competition, 2,999 contestants submitted more than 17,000 pounds of bluefish, bonito and false albacore to derby headquarters.
An area south of the Island near where several offshore wind energy companies have secured leases could soon be studied due to the potential adverse effects on cod spawning grounds.
The Kids Derby had been scheduled for two weeks ago but had to be postponed due to bad weather. Then the rescheduled date had to be rescheduled due to bad weather again. Finally, despite cold winds and overcast skies, the event went forward this Sunday morning, and the kids’ enthusiasm ran high.
Bill Potter’s false albacore fell a fraction short of breaking the 19.39-pound state record set by Island angler Donald MacGillivray during the 1990 derby.
Gray-orange light struggled to glow through a thick overcast evening skies in Edgartown as fishermen lined up on a dour night to weigh in their derby catches for the day.