Derby Fishermen Head Down to the Sea
Casting a fly from Lighthouse Beach.
Casting a fly from Lighthouse Beach.
In search for that elusive shore-caught albie.
In search for that elusive shore-caught albie.
Fishermen line up along State Beach.
Fishermen line up along State Beach.
Andy Vanrooyen drops a line into Edgartown harbor.
Andy Vanrooyen drops a line into Edgartown harbor.
Sam Bell on the Edgartown gas dock.
Sam Bell on the Edgartown gas dock.
Macallan Moran has derby fever.
Macallan Moran has derby fever.
Sunset over Sengie.
Sunset over Sengie.
Menemsha jetty is perrenial derby hot spot.
Menemsha jetty is perrenial derby hot spot.
Trying the waters at the opening of the Big Bridge channel.
Trying the waters at the opening of the Big Bridge channel.
On Chappy point.
On Chappy point.
Heading out.
Heading out.
Moving the bait hold.
Moving the bait hold.
School of bunker.
School of bunker.
Not a derby fish, but scup make for fine eating.
Not a derby fish, but scup make for fine eating.
“I must go down to the sea again,” wrote the poet John Masefield, “to the lonely sea and the sky.” The title of that poem is Sea-Fever, and we remember it at this season each year, when a similar affliction strikes Island residents and visitors. Forget Lyme: Derby fever is the disease in which the bite of a fish is not the cause, but the cure. Its characteristic mark is a derby button with the entrant’s number, and another indicator of a bad case is a vehicle festooned with rod holders.