In Sports Afield for December, Bernhard A. Roth writes, among other things, of salt-water sport fishing, noting in obeisance the Vineyard Striped Bass Derby. Mr. Roth makes the claim that “the salt waters of the Bay State offer a greater variety of angling than any other North American marine area.” His comment on the derby:

 

“Probably the most renowned saltwater sport event is the Martha’s Vineyard Striper Derby, where the heaviest ‘linesider’ wins a fishing cruiser, trailer, or the monetary equivalent, usually. Miles of magnificent sand and surf draw sportsmen from the far corners of the world. And the stripers are there - to catch! While a pre-derby era 73-pound specimen, the world record, was taken from Vineyard Sound in 1913, winners these days are more often in the 40-pound class.

 

“Most sportsmen elect to thrash the surf with big, floating plugs and underwater metal jigs, but a number of open-cockpit boats are on hand for trips too far out for casting. Waters off Cuttyhunk Island at the entrance to Buzzards Bay are famous for this type of angling.”