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Martha's Vineyard Surfcasters
Martha's Vineyard
Surfcasters Association
P.O. Box 3053
Edgartown, MA 02539
Author: Created: 7/6/2011 8:01 PM RssIcon
all the blogs that belong on the home page too
By dbalon on 8/10/2017 7:49 PM

Check out the latest standings of the MVSA  for Angler of the Year. These are the standings as of the end of July 2017.

1. Cosmo Creanga                    (May-5, June-5, July-5)     Total- 15 

 

2. Jason Patterson                    (May-6, June-3)                 Total -  9

 

3. Ron Domurat                         (July-6)                              Total -  6

 

4. Ed Amaral                              (May- 5)                            Total - 5

 

5. Ralph Peckham                     (June-5)                            Total - 5

 

6. Jonathan Cornwell                (May- 1, June-3)               Total - 4

7. Don Scarpone                       (July- 3)                            Total - 3

 

8. Peter Johnson                       (June- 1)                           Total - 1

By dbalon on 5/11/2017 8:32 AM
Stripers Forever
May 10, 2017
Brad Burns, President


Yesterday the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission debated on whether or not an increase in striped bass harvest of about 10% should be allowed for next year. The motion to take the increase out to public hearings failed 10 votes to 5. Hooray! NJ, DE, MD, VA, and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission – a shill organization that simply provides the Chesapeake Bay states an extra vote – all voted in favor, and all other states voted against. What changed from the first vote was that CT, NY, NC all changed their votes from yes to no, and that did it for us.
 
Why the change of heart from last winter when this idea was dreamed up? I think in the final analysis there were three reasons. The first was that the actual catch is hard to predict. The catch was thought to have decreased considerably on the coast but had actually increased in the Chesapeake Bay area, and these were the same people who wanted still more. It didn’t sell well. The scientists predicted that there was a very good chance that the catch in 2018 would actually increase by more than 10% even with no change in regulations. This was because of an increased number of fish in certain year classes that both the Bay and the coast are expected to fish on, and lastly because a stock assessment with a lot of new science is being proposed for 2018. Many thought it was likely that even if a change was made this year it would probably be changed again – perhaps reversed – next year.
 
In any case we dodged a bullet, and I hope our advocacy was helpful. This reprieve will give us a chance to see another year class born in the Chesapeake Bay before the issue is tackled again. Some of the recent YOY have been poor, but the trend isn’t really conclusive because there are also occasionally really good ones. The science is also evolving. During yesterday's meeting there was a discussion about the new science methods, and they are talking about some of the complicated aspects of the old models that we have long had issues with. I’m sure that all of the problems won’t be fixed, but perhaps the population estimates will get better and more reflective of what we actually see on the water. Along with the new science was a discussion about perhaps designing various stock reference points and management triggers to reflect a different set of values for the fishery, and how this will be an opportunity to take a new look at just how and for what values the striped bass fishery should be managed. Hopefully we will be able to influence this process to achieve more recognition of the socio-economic value of high quality angling.

Science and advocacy matters. Thanks to everyone who wrote and lobbied for no increase in the regulated harvest. Alone a single voice is nearly silent but together we have raised an awareness of the need to protect and conserve. I believe we have pricked and awakened the latent conscience of many regulators that are beginning to realize that no longer will the recreational fishermen and women silently allow commercially vested interests to destroy what is our fishery too.

Brad Burns, President
Stripers Forever​​​​​​​

By dbalon on 3/14/2017 9:49 AM

Fly Rod Striped Bass Catch & Release Tournament set for June 3

Despite recent snow Cooper “Coop” Gilkes of Edgartown said fly fishermen are already looking forward to the 26th annual Martha’s Vineyard Rod& Gun Club Fly Rod Catch & Release Tournament. “I started getting calls in December from guys who wanted to know the date of the tournament so they could make ferry reservations,” Coop, longtime tournament chairman, said.“We’ve got fishermen who wouldn’t miss it. It’s a great time.”

Fishermen who participate year after year agree that the one-night Island team fly fishing contest fosters the best qualities of the sport of fly-fishing. One unique aspect is that irrespective of fishing success tournament registrants present at the fun-filled Sunday morning awards ceremony have a chance to win one of many great prizes awarded based on a random drawing of entry blanks. Winning fishermen receive plaques in one of three categories:The total number of fish of any size length caught and released by a team(Roberto Germani Trophy); the largest fish (length and girth) released by a fisherman (Sonny and Joey Beaulieu Trophy); and the most fish caught and released by a team in which members are not allowed to change flies (Arnold Spofford Trophy).

Fishing begins at 7 pm, Saturday, June 3 and ends at 2 am, Sunday.The awards ceremony begins at 9:30 am, Sunday, June 4. This year, in a change of venue the tournament headquarters and breakfast will be located at the Edgartown School off Edgartown-West Tisbury Road.

The entry fee is $35. The money the tournament raises helps to provide trout for the club’s spring Kid's Trout Derby, send two youngsters to Conservation Camp and supports a day of fishing for Camp Jabberwocky campers.

For more information call Cooper Gilkes at 508-627-3909 or go to www.mvrodandgunclub.com.

For more background read: "Catch and Release  tournament was humbling all the way around”"Catch and Release  Tournament celebrates 20 years”).

By dbalon on 1/16/2017 10:04 AM

The annual MVSA banquet and awards ceremony will be held on Saturday Jan 28th, 2017 at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown.  Doors open at noon.  Food will be served at 1:00 PM, to be followed by a brief annual meeting, awards presentations, and of course the annual awesome raffle and silent auction. Kathi Pagoda and a team of volunteers have been working hard to put together a great selection of raffle and silent auction items.  If you have something you would like to donate please contact her before the event.  As in past years Paula Sullivan is planning an outstanding raw bar and buffet.  Feel free to bring along a dessert or side dish to share with your fellow club members.  Set-up and shucking help is always appreciated so come early to lend a hand.

2017club dues ($30/household) will be collected.  As part of the meeting we’ll be voting on the slate of club officers.  Nominations for club officers are welcome.  Please reach out to President Don Scarpone before the event if you’d like to place your name in nomination.  The current proposed list of officers follows:

President:              Don Scarpone

Vice President:       Jason Patterson

Secretary:              Dave Kolb

Treasurer:              Phil Horton

Hope to see you all there.

By dbalon on 8/9/2016 8:42 AM
Trustees of Reservations
August 8, 2016

There is a newly installed set of stairs at Wasque Point! The Trustees had a new staircase installed to replace the previous wooden staircase that had been damaged and destroyed by storms and erosion years back. You can now park at the Wasque Fisherman lot, follow the trail for 50 yards and then go down the staircase right to Wasque Point/beach!

Click here for full details from the Trustees at the following link:

By dbalon on 5/12/2016 2:16 PM

Services Thursday for Bob “Hawkeye” Jacobs

Robert Scott “Hawkeye” Jacobs, who spurned the trappings of corporate success and followed his love of fishing to the beaches of Martha’s Vineyard, where he found friends and a way of life that suited his personality — gregarious when it came to poker, and solitary when he thought the stripers might be biting during the Derby — died Sunday at his home in Oak Bluffs with friends and his brother by his side, following a long illness. He was 68.

Click here to be linked to the full article.
By dbalon on 5/9/2016 12:51 PM

It is with very hearts that we must pass along some sad news. Hawkeye (Bob Jacobs) passed away on Sunday, May 8th after a battle with cancer. Hawkeye was a surfcaster legend and more importantly a great friend to all that knew him. The island will not be the same without him.

There will be a graveyard service for Hawkeye at 11 a.m. on Thursday May12th (this week) at the Oak Bluff cemetery. Afterwards there will be a pot luck gathering at Janet Messineo’s house, 77 Snake Hollow, to share stories and be together in this sad time, to celebrate the life of Robert Jacobs.

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13164357_10209854643792288_7100134509761455684_n.jpg?oh=1ea5f6ec6f9e99f0722b21c0f10e5ee0&oe=57A8CC03

By dbalon on 4/18/2016 7:37 PM

The 2016 Striper Season is off to an early start on the Vineyard. Early reports say the first fresh striper was caught on Martha's Vineyard on April 14th! There are multiple reports of Stripers being caught as this nice Spring weather has kicked things into gear. Where they are being caught, when and on what are of course always secretive so just get out there and wet a line!

Fish On!

By dbalon on 4/14/2016 9:22 AM

MVSA collected a large amount of provisions that were to be sent to SSG Joseph Larson and his unit, somewhere in Iraq. The unit benefitted from the MVSA donations a few months back. He again sent his sincere thanks and said that because they will soon be back stateside he said not to send anymore packages.



If we are going to collect and send packages in the future we will have to keep our ears open for military members who are serving overseas.

By dbalon on 9/30/2015 9:15 PM
The derby Gods have spoken and the Norton Pont Breach is now wide open again. It opened sometime on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 30th. The breach is now about 50 feet wide and a large amount of current passing through it. If you are fishing there during the derby please be extremely careful as the sand is very soft and somewhat like quicksand within 10 feet of the water's edge. No fish is worth risking your life.

Check out the photo link below to see what  it looked like today, 9/30.

Mother nature has spoken and the derby now has a new twist!

Fish on and be safe!

Breach 093015.docx