-MR
In a few hours, two
fishing tournaments begin on islands off the coast of Massachusetts. The 72nd
Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby will run from September 10th
to October 14th. Across the Sound, the 12th Nantucket Inshore Classic will occur during the same time. Both tournaments pit anglers on
land and sea against four species of fish; striped bass, bluefish, false
albacore and bonito. Each tournament provides entrants several opportunities to
win awards and prizes in different categories outside the traditional leader
board but the real winners in each are the islanders. Both tournaments are set
up to generate funds to provide scholarships to students on the respective
islands.
I became involved
with the Derby as a sponsor several years ago because of the scholarship
program and the spirit of the people I met who are involved in running the
Derby and those who fish it. This year I’ve become involved with the Classic
for the same reasons.
To be truthful, I’ve
become weary of the tournament scene. Some tournaments seem to have devolved
into something between a NASCAR race and WWE event. I mean no offense to fans
of either; I’ve been known to listen to NASCAR on the radio and at one time I
was a faithful follower of The Undertaker. I just don’t want to fish in the middle
of all that.
What draws me to the
Derby, the Classic and in the spring, the Cheeky Schoolie Tournament, are not the
prizes or visions of greatness in catching a winning fish but the act of the
pursuit of the fish. The physicality of it. The hours spent and the effort put
in. Enduring the weather, adjusting to wind and tide, pushing through the
exhaustion in the hopes of feeling the line go tight. It’s the grind and the
story that goes with it.
It’s the individual
stories, fish or no fish, that in the end interest me the most. I have heard stories
from people who have fished for days or weeks with nothing to show for it and
then when all hope seems lost, have hooked up to enter one fish. I have heard
the stories from a couple of friends who have completed “The Slam” and entered
a fish in each species category. The story from an acquaintance on the boat
back home who fished right up to our ferry departure time and caught a striper
as he was reeling in his last cast. He just let it go and quietly boarded the
ferry content in his own mind with his accomplishment. The stories define the
spirit of the individual and merge to collectively define the spirit of these
events.
I’ve used the term “spirit”
a few times already. I’m at a loss for a different noun. Over the years I’ve
come to know Derby President Ed Jerome and Chairman John Custer. I have had
several conversations with both at Derby events and the recurring theme in
these conversations is what I’ve described above. The word has also come up in talks with Chris Lydon of the Inshore Classic.
Spirit.
That of past
anglers and those departed, some of who were given tribute in the 2016 Derby Guide Book and part
of many conversations at the final weigh-in and awards weekend like Luke
Gurney, Estey Teller, Robert “Hawkeye” Jacobs and Olga Hirshhorn.
That of Committee
members like Amy Coffey who put in endless hours to make the Derby run
smoothly. Amy is a fixture at Headquarters for daily weigh-ins. She knows
everyone and is known by everyone. If something has to be done or someone needs
something, Amy is usually the one doing it.
That of current
anglers like Terry Horrocks and his son Zac. I’ve known them for several years
via social media and email and finally got a chance to meet both at last year’s
Derby. Terry was nice enough to take The Beast and I out in his boat
prospecting for albies one afternoon. The fish didn’t cooperate but I got to
hear some of his stories and learn about the relationship between the
father/son team. More on that in the future.
 |
| Terry, Beast, Zac, Dog |
That of the most
solid guy I know and island guide, Capt. Jamie Boyle, his wife Heather and
their son Tyler. When it comes to fishing knowledge and the art of smoking
bonito, no one compares. I can’t wait to see Jamie watching Tyler weighing in a
fish.
That of everyone who
has fished in past Derby’s and those who will fish in the future.
And this year, I
look forward to hearing the stories from the Nantucket Inshore Classic. There
is no less spirit there than on “that other island.”
It’s the people who
make the events what they are. The anglers, the organizers and the islanders. And
(hopefully) the fish!
My next couple of
months will be filled with college visits and applications. I may or may not
make it to the islands. But I will be following the daily reports and the daily
grind of both the Derby and the Classic.
In spirit.
 |
| The Port Hunter, Edgartown, MA |
To all involved in
each event, Slainte!
South River, MA
9 September 2017
