The Derby

[BasicPatrick]

There are tears of memory and gratitude in my eyes just from reading this post. This could take a bit but I will try to answer the questions:

The MV Striped Bass and Bludfish Derby is many things for many people. Sure it's a tournament with all the competition, passion, pride,ego, jealously and backstabbing found at all other tournaments.

HOWEVER, it can be and is a whole lot more. It is a gathering, an orientation, and a reunion all at once. It is where old school meets new school in one common effort. It is relaxing for some and hard core for others. It really is up to the individual. My favorite description is that it is a collection of experiences and stories , all happening simultaneously and all having to do with salt water fishing. For a guy like me, it is heaven on earth. Oh yeah, just like most things in life, it surely is not perfect.

Describe my view of the Derby in one word....ASTRONAUGHT TRAINING

If memory serves me correctly this year will be the 21st time I have registered, not all in a row. My ferry departs next Sunday the 21st and I come home three weeks later and one week earlier than usual on Oct 12.

This year I will share the Basic Fishing Shack with Johnny C from MSBA, Eric from NJBBA and NJ BOB the cop from team Suffix. SurfPirate (S-B) and Wayne (MSBA Membership Chair) will be there as well. Hardcorefromsshore (MSBA President) and my Wendy will come and go. Scotty (S-B), Drumcorpsfan (S-B), Dennis (MSBA) will also join us. There are more but I would need to read the list. Bob H from S-B is coming for the first time....welcome.

My Derby experience has mirrored my life's experience.

Early on it was an accident. I was on the Island and was invited to fish with friends that were in the Derby. Those early years were short stays but I kept coming back. I think I have always known Islanders. I vividly remember the long walks through mysterious and dark woods to reveal the most beautiful beaches filled with boulders and other structure. Those times lit the fire and I fell in love with that Island.

As my life went down hill so did my Derby visits. Go to the Derby and barely wet a line. Spend most of the time drunk or stoned or both. Yep, I used to resemble that and finally the gov't decided I had some place else to be.

I grew up (at least I got clean) and my Derby experience really took off when I joined and got involved with MSBA. I got active in the club and eventually got invited to attend "The Fishing Shack", which is a "Derby House" and at the time was run by Bill (& Jules). A "Derby House" is a rented or owned house where groups of fishermen and women share expenses and experience the Derby.

There was a lot of fun at the Fishing Shack. I remember being so frustrated that the shore fly rod bluefish was only 3 pounds that I left a note stating I would not come home until I beat it. Three days later the crew was on the way out to Norton Point to drive over to Chappy and found me at Katama (air down area) passed out, droolling, hanging out the window in the front seat of my full size Ram Charger, which was running and after they woke me up we found out it was in drive. Funny now. No, I didn't get the Blue but I did get second a few years later....right Mr Swimmer...lol.

How about John R and I trying to drive from Squibby to the Chappy Ferry...we woke up at the ferry line in Edgartown, realizing we were in no shape to walk, never mind drive. I do not beleive we didn;t get in an accident that morning.

I know a few on this board that will remember the time Uncle Dave came home to the South Shore from the Derby asking all the tackle shops the same question. How do you get the smell of pee out of your waders?...too funny.

Finally, no one laughed harder than when in the company of Johnny and Joe. Joe is in FL and we miss him greatly! I think I went to that house for 10 years and each year was special.

Four years ago (where does the time go??) Bill & Jules launched the charter business and I stepped up to be the next caretaker of the "Shack". Their help was invaluable that first year and today I have put my own stamp on what is now called the "Basic Fishing Shack". We still got a few openings 9/21-9/28 and 10/5-10/12. Pm me.

I agree with Swimmer on his comment about the moment you drive off that Ferry upon arrival. Damn that feels great. I am reminded of that feeling when watching a scene from the movie The Perfect Storm. You know the scene, when leaving Gloucester Harbor the Captain is thinking...pass Gull Island....wave to the lighthouse keepers boy...that's what that drive off the ferry feels like. Better than any drug I ever tried and up until almost 14 years ago I tried almost all of them.

I drive straight to #^&#^&#^&#^&'s to register and catch up with Steve. Then go get the key to the rental. When I get there Johnny is already in the driveway. Johnny is so impotant to me I can not express it, I never knew my grandfather but I know what having a grandfather is all about. I look forward to watching Johnny C, Charlie B. and Charlie C(into) make their annual fishing trip. To see that kind of enthusiasm from men of that age. To witness the life long friendships and the smiles that reach the soul is................priceless.

I look forward to the Death March to the Stand at Squibby at least once sometimes a lot. The walk (why is it always blowing and raining) to fish under Gay Head and watch the cliffs appear to bleed. The calm of Split Rock and the excitement of Menemsha. I love "the long and bumpy road" to Tashmoo. I love finding new spots or learning one of the ponds has been cut. "Is there any Squid?" "Did you hear Lev weighed another monster?" and my favorite question..."Wanna hop on the boat and fish Nantucket?" These are the things I remember and look forward too. This is why I fish the Derby.

Sure there are things I don't like. Anyone who wins or does well is accused by someone of cheating. It has happenned to me. There are always false rumors started to lure people to spots away from the fish. Friends lie to your face about the fishing. I just accept the negative as rare and choose to experience all the good things, which far outweigh the bad.

I meet new friends every year and look forward to the next moment. ReelExtacy said it right...you step off the planet for a moment and everything is at peace and about the hope of fishing.

So did I answer the questions...I hope so!!!!!

See you there.
Almost forgot...revisiting the place I learned to and caught my first (several) flyrod fish

[JohnR]

Oh - And Patrick - Google Point

[BasicPatrick]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Oh - And Patrick - Google Point

John you are killling me...lmao...I almost forgot about that place...damn fishy looking...even from a satellite laid over a beta version of a chart...I hope I marked it in the map book


Come on John...you have to come for some time...let's make a deal...I am rigging Billy's cooler rack on the new

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by BasicPatrick

John you are killling me...lmao...I almost forgot about that place...damn fishy looking...even from a satellite laid over a beta version of a chart...I hope I marked it in the map book


Come on John...you have to come for some time...let's make a deal...I am rigging Billy's cooler rack on the new

I'm trying - might be able to get 3-4 days over during week

[BEETLE]

You Guys that have not been there don't knock it till you try it.
I'll be there only 25th to 29th because of time constraints w/new job.

Crowded you say ?? I was on East beach last year (Found a "spot" off the beaten path) had the whole damn beach to myself, with the exception of some Albies crashing bait 10 ft from shore. Can't wait to get there.
Make that 31 people on the Menemsha Jetty this year Frank.

[Squibby17]

Basic Patrick really hit it home, well done.


The only time I've actually been able to meet people from this board was on the island during the derby. It's really is about the experience not "killing fish". Last year I fished for 9 days, the year before I was down for the whole thing helping film a documentary about it. Unfortunately this year I might only get down for the very last weekend but you bet your A$$ I'll be fishing hard.

A funny story from last year. The first weekend I was down for a wedding and was going to stay the whole week cause my dad and his crew were coming the next weekend. We had a house the first few days but I was houseless for the middle of the week. BP had given me his # in case I needed to crash at the shack but I ended up fishing off east beach one morning and caught a few albies I end up meeting Wilson Kerr a member of the derby committee. We had a great morning and I told him my situation with out blinking he offers to let me stay at his house and crash in the bunk-bed room. We end up fishing together for the next 3 days! This was a guy I just met on the beach?

He basically taught me the art of fly fishing for albie's off the jetties. I spent 10 hours on the lobsterville jetty with out anything happening but the fish were around. The next day we go back and before I know it I'm hooked up on the fly rod! I never weighed the albie she swam away but all the time and effort was worth every second. I ended up catching 2 more albies on the fly.

I love the vineyard. I see the derby as a convient excuse to get down to enjoy one of the most beautiful places in New England in the fall!

I hope to see some of you down there, maybe we can wet a line together and who knows I might just invite myself over for some much needed sleep

[ScottM]

I don't post here much but I'm a sucker for Derby talk....

This will be my 15th year fishing the Derby. In 1994 my father convinced me to join him on what was probably his 20th Derby trip at the time. He spent all those years staying in "the Maine house" - the guys from Portland Surfcasters. Had it not been for a business acquaintence that turned into a lifelong friend, he never would have started going, and neither would me or my brother. All the sentiments brought up by others are dead nuts on. I'm going down on 9/25 and my brother, a mutual friend and I have been emailing each other all week jabbering on about the Derby. It's definitely an additiction.

That Maine house has been a great place to learn about the island and the Derby "culture". A lot of those guys (many of you here know them) have been doing this since the late '60s when MV was a totally different place. Paul, Louie, Sonny, Pete, etc. These guys, although 30-50 years older than me, have provided invaluable info to me over the years that I've had the pleasure of their company.

I can't think of a better place to be in the fall, especially when it means getting to spend uninterrupted time with my brother and father. Our lives get so busy the rest of the year, it's great to spend a few days (or a couple weeks as it used to be before children) only concerned with one thing - fishing.

Several years ago I caught the albie sickness and since about 2000 have spent 90% of my Derby time dedicated to the pursuit of these speedsters. Most of our albie fishing is spent on East Beach where crowds are never a problem. On a Saturday afternoon you may run into a group of 4x4s and beachgoers having a cookout, but finding an open fishing spot is never an issue.

Good luck to all Derby participants. Maybe I'll get the pleasure of meeting some of you this year.

[Squid kids Dad]

Originally Posted by ScottM

I don't post here much but I'm a sucker for Derby talk....

This will be my 15th year fishing the Derby. In 1994 my father convinced me to join him on what was probably his 20th Derby trip at the time. He spent all those years staying in "the Maine house" - the guys from Portland Surfcasters. Had it not been for a business acquaintence that turned into a lifelong friend, he never would have started going, and neither would me or my brother. All the sentiments brought up by others are dead nuts on. I'm going down on 9/25 and my brother, a mutual friend and I have been emailing each other all week jabbering on about the Derby. It's definitely an additiction.

That Maine house has been a great place to learn about the island and the Derby "culture". A lot of those guys (many of you here know them) have been doing this since the late '60s when MV was a totally different place. Paul, Louie, Sonny, Pete, etc. These guys, although 30-50 years older than me, have provided invaluable info to me over the years that I've had the pleasure of their company.

I can't think of a better place to be in the fall, especially when it means getting to spend uninterrupted time with my brother and father. Our lives get so busy the rest of the year, it's great to spend a few days (or a couple weeks as it used to be before children) only concerned with one thing - fishing.

Several years ago I caught the albie sickness and since about 2000 have spent 90% of my Derby time dedicated to the pursuit of these speedsters. Most of our albie fishing is spent on East Beach where crowds are never a problem. On a Saturday afternoon you may run into a group of 4x4s and beachgoers having a cookout, but finding an open fishing spot is never an issue.

Good luck to all Derby participants. Maybe I'll get the pleasure of meeting some of you this year.

Hi Scott..Frank and myself will be at the Maine house starting oct 8th..