Trout scheduled to arrive on April 1

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DFW worker Aaron Best used a net to stock Duarte's Pond in March 2013. — File photo by Ralph Stewart

A Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) tank truck is scheduled to arrive on Martha’s Vineyard Tuesday, April 1, with the first shipment of much awaited trout. No fooling.

The truck will deliver a mix of brook, brown, rainbow, and tiger trout to four Island ponds — about 1,000 trout in all carried over from the Sandwich State Fish Hatchery.

The truck’s route will include Duarte’s Pond, Uncle Seth’s Pond and Old Mill Pond in West Tisbury and Upper Lagoon Pond in Oak Bluffs.

State law prohibits the use of any lead fishing sinkers and lead jigs that weigh less than 1 ounce in fresh water. Fishermen are allowed a limit of three trout per day from ponds. Fishermen 15 years of age and older must have a Massachusetts freshwater fishing license. Licenses are available from town clerks in Chilmark and West Tisbury, from the county and online.

Fishing and sporting license buyers pay for the stocked trout. MassWildlife, the umbrella agency, is supported by license buyers and federal taxes on fishing equipment (Wallop-Breaux) and hunting equipment (Pittman-Robertson).

The popular annual Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun club kids trout derby at Duarte’s Pond is scheduled on Saturday, May 3. In addition to state-provided trout, the club pays for an additional stocking of trout to introduce youngsters to the fun of fishing.