Recreational saltwater fishermen in Massachusetts likely will be required to have a fishing license beginning next year.

That word came from Paul Diodati, the director of the state Division of Marine Fisheries, who came to the Island last week and spoke at the Chilmark Public Library.

Mr. Diodati was joined by John Pappalardo, chairman of the New England Fishery Management Council. The council oversees many fish stocks that swim in federal waters south and east of the Vineyard.

April and May so far have brought the Island a mixed weather bag that has included blustery ocean storms, drizzly weekends and that relatively unusual Vineyard occurrence, springlike weather in the spring.

Winter on the Island generally tends to go right into summer. But this spring has pleasantly surprised Vineyarders with spates of mild, sunny days.

A former commissioner of marine resources in the state of Maine recently told a gathering of Island fishermen that there is plenty they can do to regain control of the troubled fisheries in Massachusetts.

Robin Alden spoke at the Chilmark Public Library earlier this month about how fishermen need to come together on the local level and step forward as a concerned group.

“Even in a small community like this, I think it can work,” she said, though she added: “You are not going to win overnight.”

MYSTIC SEAPORT, Conn. — A 60-foot Eastern dragger named Roann, a living example of Vineyard maritime history, was relaunched under sunny skies here last Saturday.

The Roann is the last of an era. No one makes fishing boats like this anymore.

The restoration of the Roann cost $1.2 million, lasted three and a half years, and involved a team of 50 boat builders, aided by another 50 volunteers. Mystic Seaport Museum, the owner of the Roann, organized the restoration of the vessel at its on-site shipyard.

By MARK ALAN LOVEWELL

Memorial Day weekend on the waterfront comes early this year and the fish seem to know it. Bluefish, striped bass and all the right fish already are here and even more fish are arriving.

The prevailing word on the waterfront is that the best is yet to come. The seasonal migration below the surface that began well over a month ago is still underway.

Overcast, rainy skies last Saturday morning did little to discourage the Vineyard’s youngest fishing enthusiasts from attending the early morning start of the 34th annual Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club trout tournament.

Scores of young children lined the shoreline of Duarte’s Pond in West Tisbury at first light to catch a fish and win a prize.