Last year, for the first time in memory the Mass Bass crew failed to get enough people to commit to rent a house on the Vineyard for the Derby.

I freely admit that I missed hanging out with the usual suspects and wanted to plant some seeds now that we are only 8 months away from the start of the 2012 Derby so people can try to stash some cash away.

Our host is none other than the infamous Basic Patrick and the price is usually $350.00 (american) for the week and that includes room and board, cookies and assorted goodies.

We have people who fish from the shore and boat, singles or in groups, and welcome all skill levels from beginners to experts plus we have local dignitaries who pop in from time to time.

*The fishing is not what it was 20 years ago and the weather is never guaranteed, but with that being said, there are fish to catch if you put in your time and / or get lucky.

The Derby is usually the high point of my fishing year, so start stashing $50.00 a month and join in!

Danno :wavey:

A week on the derby should not be missed. I would if I could though I may try to get a half week this year!!!

Danno, missed you and the boys last year , FYI you guys did not miss the fishing . :(
Skunk on Cutty
Just a few On The Vineyard
I hope with the non-winter this year things will be better come the fall run
toss in a seal flu and just maybe

When?
We have a trip in the planning to go to England, Scotland and Ireland in September for 10 days. I need to plan around that but The Derby is on my bucket list so I'd be in.

I had a ball at the BasicShack! Miss catching albies with you, Danno.

I look at it this way---the bass fishing has become so bad, that you can go back to 80s-style fishing the Derby, which is, sleep normal hours, get up with the sun, find a coffee joint that's open when you head for the beach, chase albies and blues all day, head for the barn at dusk, eat a nice dinner, and enjoy an adult beverage or two before bed.

The fishing ws horrible last 2 Derbys but the company was great as usual.Had some great cook outs an fun times. Home made liquids tasted good and even made a few new friends.Wouldn't miss it for the world.Might even sit on a bucket from time to time again.Lot easier than those 7 mile walks on the cobble at Squibby LOL.

Any more details?

What week is the house for or does Patrick get the house for the month and you choose what week you go?

The vineyard is on my list and I'm interested
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as I said earlier, the fishing was not what it used to be, but then again there were fish to catch

here are last years totals.


Fish Count Weight
Bluefish 1163 9799.18 lbs.
Bonito 248 1609.99 lbs.
False Albacore 331 2825.83 lbs.
Striped Bass 461 8310.35 lbs.


the dates will be determined by Patrick, if we can get enough for a week great, for two even better.

LOL the thing that doesn.t show is how small they were. A large group of us is trying to get them to raise the striper size back up to 38 in. and one fish a day not the 32 in 2 fish a day like it was last few yrs.One of the reasons many of us didn't weigh in those small fish as WHY weigh them in when your looking for a winning fish. Not just a daily either. I like the daily pins but 99% of mine are for 40 in plus stripers.But the people we fish with are great people an fun to be around.

DEATH MARCH in
OCTOBER!

I just want to go and fish the vineyard and fish with a great group of guys.

I've never weighed fish for any derby or tournament.

Would love to get in on a trip if this happens
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Swimmer which way you wanna go. Squibby or North Shore. Not many but us nut cases that do them.

Park in MV Surfcasters lot...walk through dune....take a left...cast & walk...cast & walk...cast and walk.....one of life's best experiences

OR

Follow the Alligators

PAT THE LAST PART YOU SHOULDA LEFT OUT. tHAT AXCESS IS IN JEPORDY RIGHT NOW.To much trash an such last yr.

50086

PAT THE LAST PART YOU SHOULDA LEFT OUT. tHAT AXCESS IS IN JEPORDY RIGHT NOW.To much trash an such last yr.

It's ok, they removed the gators, replaced them with...:devil2:

The care taker for many of the properties there is a friend of mine and asked for the word to quietly be put out as the last owners meeting it was brought up by several the amount of fishing trash down there.

Swimmer which way you wanna go. Squibby or North Shore. Not many but us nut cases that do them.


Ronny I need to make it again, fall asleep at the base of the dunes. Wake up before sunrise and fish some more. Not getting any younger. Use to do Squibby and some oter beaches just south of there every year four or five times.

That being said I am going this year. Don't know if the Maine house will happenb, so I am leaning towards a Chappy place with a small group

I'm gonna be over for at least the last 2 weks. Can't do the whole Derby right now with work bein the way it is. Don't know about the Maine house but there are other's avail.I do know what you mean about the age thing LOL. I used to do 10 miles a night many nights. gettin harder the closer to 60 I get LOL.

Scotty and I stayed at the campground for 2011, We cound not get enough interest for a house rental as the fishing has not been what it once was and kinda expensive when splitting the cost of a house rental between two people. But Scott and I both enjoy just being able to fish every day for a whole week, No phones to answer no daily grind. With the advent of smart phones weather updates were just a click away, The Derby is what you make of it.. Fish hard or fish easy after all it is a vacation. I will be going in 2012 one way or the other but prefer staying in a house, No fish weighed in by me last year
but like I said FISHING EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK is cool...

Leo

Scotty and I stayed at the campground for 2011, We cound not get enough interest for a house rental as the fishing has not been what it once was and kinda expensive when splitting the cost of a house rental between two people. But Scott and I both enjoy just being able to fish every day for a whole week, No phones to answer no daily grind. With the advent of smart phones weather updates were just a click away, The Derby is what you make of it.. Fish hard or fish easy after all it is a vacation. I will be going in 2012 one way or the other but prefer staying in a house, No fish weighed in by me last year
but like I said FISHING EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK is cool...

Leo


What Leo said............

The care taker for many of the properties there is a friend of mine and asked for the word to quietly be put out as the last owners meeting it was brought up by several the amount of fishing trash down there.

wow, that's too bad... How can even the most experienced slob let even a gumwrapper get away from them in a place like that? I only went in there once last year and didn't see any trash but I imagine someone was walking down there daily picking it up and taking note... I mean what kind of "fishing trash" could people possibly have in there? I would hope and assume that guys that know limited/shaky access spots like that would know better... Shut off truck, grab rod and plug bag, walk to water... It's not like anyone has a truck floor full of DD and McD's trash that can accidentally get kicked out unless they bring it with them from America.. They must be opening new plugs and leaving the wrappers? I guess I give people too much credit sometimes... Glad I like to walk... The more parking spots that get shut down means a better chance of having the fishing to myself when I make the walk.
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Hi Leo!

I picked up bait wrappers an bottom rig pakages along with beer bottles myslf twice so it doesn't surprise me.I always carry a bag to pick up trash that shows fishing stuff was in it. Some even gets washed ashore from the boat people.Sad part is we get blamed for it all if there's just one thing from fishin in it.

That being said I am going this year. Don't know if the Maine house will happenb, so I am leaning towards a Chappy place with a small group

Swimmer, it's highly unlikely the Maine house will happen again. As we all know Paul isn't getting any younger (I think he's 84 now) and with Louie's death it doesn't look like someone else will take over. Me, my father, brother and a few other "full share" members won't be staying there going forward for a multitude of reasons so unless Paul can get at least 8 new guys to go full share ($350) it won't be happening. It's too bad because that place had become an institution and was the reason I was able to fish the Derby starting in '94. My group is renting a cabin at the campground for 3 nights this year as we didn't go last year and can't imagine another year without being there. We looked into a Chappy rental too but can't justify renting a house for a week and only using it for 3-4 days. Good luck on your search. If you want, PM me as I found what appears to be a great house on Litchfield Rd for $1000/week and it sleeps 5.

Scott

You guys need to look around. There are some nice places that go for 1500 for the month during the Derby.I'll check with Lee and Dennis to see what I can find out. Ron

I'd like to go again for at least three or four days. (I'd also like to see the fishing improve....) Maybe the committee will finally get the Trustees to issue a weekly pass for beach access too...

It will be a question of economics for me, won't know for sure until maybe August. So, Danno, Patrick and Frank, keep me on the "maybe" list. I realize you need commitments, but it is the best I can do today....

If you have never fished the Derby, it should be high on the bucket list for any East Coast striper fisherman. Tourists are gone, and you see rods in racks on every other truck/SUV. The Basic Shack is great comraderie and good food. Price is right at the houses that know how it needs to be run. It is impressive to have three champions of this tournament as members here. I happened to get invited to a barbeque on East Beach by Swimmer and brother SKD. A lot of old timers, locals, and organizers with a ton of knowledge and history that they were more than happy to share with me, the new guy in the group. Good laughs, great stories. Ranks as one of my fondest memories of the Derby. It is the only place I have caught albies. I've yet to weigh in a striper in the Derby.... But it is more about the people. If you can, consider doing it.

The MV Derby is on my bucket list. 5 days is tough for me, given my schedule. 2 night for sure. I'll post if I can commit. Thanks for the invite. Much appreciated.

We love our annual trip to the Derby. To us, the Derby means much more than just fishing. :)

Most of the trash I find is aluminized mylar balloons from the weddings. Alot of these and they do not degrade much if at all. Can't say I remember seeing any real fishing trash to speak of. Hopefully they know what they are talking about.

Trust me I've played beach cleaner a few times there.Those baloons are a pain.I have access to a real nice spot due to being caught cleaning up someones mess so there are some benefits to picking up the trash.

I live here year round and while I wish the island had different thinking when it came to trash collection, it is not a dirty place. They (the towns) refuse to put enough trash cans around (because then they have to empty them)and when they do they become overflowed with a lot of household trash that is dumped late at night because they charge per bag to get rid of trash here and many (esp visitors) just find a dumpster to sneak their trash in there. It tends to overflow and blow around in the vicinity of the trash can. All trash is taken off the island and dumped at a landfill someplace in central mass I think.
My philosophy is they they should increase taxes on everyone enough to pay for this (trash collection and proper disposal), thus discouraging this dumping behavior and encouraging people to use trash cans because it is "free". But the mere mention of this brings hated scowls from across the room But they do not realize that it will cost more in terms of clean ups and dirty's up the place.
All that said...it is a clean place.



As for fishing...it appears the breach is nearly closed, you may be able to drive across to chappy in the next couple years!!:jump1:
Breach Narrows At Norton Point, May Close This Year - 1/20/12 - Vineyard Gazette Online (http://www.mvgazette.com/article.php?33683)

Yeah, but where did all that sand come from?

I have to admit that I am looking forward to the breach closing. Back when it opened, we envisioned epic fishing in what appeared to be an ideal situation but for me and my group anyway, it never really payed off. We took fish but it never lived up to expectations. I look forward to being able to drive back out to Wasque for a night tide and not be limited by the ferry schedule.

It will be interesting to see if there is any correlation between the breach closing and the squid fishing in the harbor. Many have complained that the breach screwed up the squidding but I don't buy it. I have never seen squid have any challenges moving in extreme currents and in fact have done quite well the past few years, mostly late at night, when the locals swore there were no squid around. Sometimes this meant changing tactics and using much heavier jigs right on the bottom(and losing a poop load of them:smash:) but the squid were there.