Nature & Science
The best fishing of October may have happened after the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby ended on Oct. 18. Steve Purcell, of Larry’s Tackle Shop, said that the 70 anglers participating in his month-long fishing contest called Octoberfish did well, though some found the fishing better after the derby was over. The awards ceremony for the contest was held at the tackle shop on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 1.
As a part of the Vineyard Conservation Society’s Clean Water Initiative in partnership with the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, this season’s program will focus on the health of Vineyard waters. On Sunday Nov. 9, Islanders of all ages are invited to the come to Crow Hollow Farm (located off of New Lane in West Tisbury). This family-friendly walk will proceed around the farm and out to the pretty Pear Tree Point on the Tisbury Great Pond. Participants and kids will have the chance to meet and learn about the ponies, land and water.
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
Oct. 31 47 29 .00
Nov. 1 58 43 .00
Nov. 2 61 35 .00
Nov. 3 50 35 .00
Nov. 4 55 42 .00
Nov. 5 63 46 .00
Nov. 6 63 54 .34
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 59º F.
The next full moon is Thursday, it is called the Beaver Moon. In the week ahead, the gibbous moon dominates the night sky, moving through the zodiacal constellation Pisces, one of the largest, and ending up full in Aries, one of the smallest.
Striped bass, the Vineyard’s most valued fish, is struggling.
A new report shows the number of striped bass spawned in the Chesapeake Bay this year was the lowest seen in well over a decade — and fishermen along the Eastern seaboard, alarmed that striped bass may be overfished, are raising concerns about the future of the fishery.
Can you believe it is November already? And it is dark at 5 p.m.? The latter certainly does not affect birds as it is unlikely that they know what Daylight Saving Time is. But they certainly know it is November, and their southward migration is still in full swing. Sparrows and other finches are moving through, and our winter resident waterfowl are showing up. Their numbers will continue to swell as the season progresses. A lot of the ducks only come south when the more northern waters freeze over, which may not happen until December or even January.
Almanac
A comprehensive guide to weather and tides on the Island.
Vineyard Gardener
I guess this past week weather-wise is called a January thaw. We did not really experience it the last several years as December was unseasonably warm.
Farm & Field
Beige and brown and tan and black, with horns spiraled or semicircular or in undulating waves, a legion of goats marched up the hill toward us, bleating in anticipation of fresh grass and leaves.