Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Fishing for Stripers off the Vineyard
If President Obama needs to get away from the woes of modern health care and breathe in the salty air one morning this week on Martha’s Vineyard, he should consider going fishing. From rock jetties to sandy beaches, striper (striped bass) mania flourishes along the Vineyard coast all summer. Incredibly accessible, these fish have voracious appetites, grow in excess of 70 pounds, and fight like champions. Bluefish are even easier to hook. All you have to do is search for the seagulls swarming and diving into the water and you’ll find the blues. The gulls are looking for leftover pieces of fish flesh, the result of a bluefish feeding frenzy. You can actually see the fish on the top of the surface, splashing around the water in their quest to fill their stomachs. For a fishing guide, it’s hard to top Cooper Gilkes, a third-generation islander who knows all the coveted spots on the Vineyard. Coop’s guided trips last four to five hours and he offers fly fishing and deep-sea fishing as well as surfcasting.
More than 100 miles long, Eleuthera, one of the Bahamian Out Islands, barely exceeds two miles in width. Firm white sand flats and shallow water ring the island, perfect for hooking the elusive bonefish. On a clear day, you can wade knee-deep in the water and spot the shimmering scales of the darting bone. The challenge is getting one of these suckers to take your bait. A little patience, a graceful cast just beyond the reach of the school, and a bonefish just might take that fly and run off some 75 yards of line in a couple of seconds. You’ll get the feverish feel of what it’s like to be connected to a remarkably fast and furious fish. 
Flyfishing for bones can be one of the most punishing sports known to man. You stalk the flats and see the large quarry, cast your long fly with precision, and then watch in utter frustration as the grazing pod scatters every which way. Averaging just four to seven pounds, the bone is so easily spooked that the best saltwater fishermen will often remain mute and in place for hours in order to hook one. The wily fish can sense the boat moving, can feel you wading in the water, can hear you speaking. One awkward movement on your part and off they flee. Yet, a little patience, a graceful cast just beyond the reach of the school, and a bonefish just might take that fly and run off some 75 yards of line in a couple of seconds. You’ll get the feverish feel of what it’s like to be connected to a remarkably fast and furious fish. The reason why inveterate anglers will often tell you that if you “hook a bone, you’ll be hooked on the sport.” Winter is a great time to try your luck on the flats of the Upper Keys. There are a slew of guides. One of the best is 
