Nature & Science
The state reopened coastal ponds to shellfishing on Saturday, following a closure due to heavy rains which ended early last week. The state Division of Marine Fisheries had issued the closure to more than 30 Massachusetts towns on Sept. 29, based on the expectation that water quality in coastal ponds would diminish after three days of heavy rains.
Shellfish managers were typically concerned that road runoff would fill the ponds with excessive bacteria.
When you get lemons, make lemonade, says the old adage.
By LYNN IRONS
Recently, my six-year-old granddaughter, Violet, took her turn saying grace. She said, “Dear God, thank you for a yummy supper. I love my life and I like myself. Amen.” Guess it could never get any better than that. I started thinking about loving my life. What could be better than living on the Vineyard in the late summer and early fall? The light on the water is magnificent, the days are warm and relaxing, the nights are crisp, the gardens are producing like crazy and there are abundant parking spaces.
Eleven-year-old Curtis Farrell caught this 15.55 pound bluefish from the shore Saturday night. He is now leading the shore bluefish category.
The air was calm this morning under dark gray skies.
“The water is like a mill pond,” said Ron McKee of Buxton, Maine. “So there will be hundreds of boats out there today.”
Mr. McKee was standing with a half dozen anglers. They were all sipping coffee and talking fishing at the weigh station at the foot of Main street in Edgartown. This is the fourth Monday morning in the 63rd annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. There is only one Monday left in the contest.
The forecast was for Friday's high westerly winds to continue through the weekend. Fortunately, yesterday was far better than expected. The winds were lighter, more west southwest.
Still the boat fishermen had to look for places to stay out of the rising seas. That meant they fished close to the shore, near Menemsha, the North Shore, East Chop, East Beach.
Ed Jerome was the weigh master yesterday morning and a frustrated angler.
Almanac
A comprehensive guide to weather and tides on the Island.
Vineyard Gardener
I guess this past week weather-wise is called a January thaw. We did not really experience it the last several years as December was unseasonably warm.
Farm & Field
Beige and brown and tan and black, with horns spiraled or semicircular or in undulating waves, a legion of goats marched up the hill toward us, bleating in anticipation of fresh grass and leaves.