I'm a young guy but I have read lots about the good old days when monster bass were caught every day.
Sergey de Somov: is mentioned in "Reading the Water" by Robert Post. He was one of the best bass fisherman ever. He won the MV derby three consectutive years in a row between 1963-1965 with 52, 54,and 49 lbs bass he won again in 1969 with a 51 lb bass.
No one ever really got to fish with him. He was rumored to use lobster tails amoungst other things. He also would pick up his tackle and leave in the middle of a blitz if another fisherman was around. I'm certain he could have taught me a thing or two about pulling slobs from the surf.
http://www.mvderby.com/history/halloffame.html
I wish I had a mentor, because my Enthusiasm and drive is there, but I do spend many a night getting skunked and wandering beaches quessing rather than knowing where to go
I have never fished Block island (hope to get down this fall) but I'm going to nominate The isle of Martha's Vineyard in this debate but I'm openly biased.