Gone Fishin' : Send not to know for whom the gate is locked, it is locked for thee
By Nelson Sigelman
Published: October 8, 2009
A few weeks ago I ran into Ron McKee of Buxford, Maine. He is a serious striper fisherman and authentic Maine-iac who travels to the Vineyard every fall to participate in the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.
Human yardstick Brian Cioffi of Chilmark lies next to a bluefin tuna taken off Chatham Sunday that measured 107 inches long and weighed close to 700 pounds. The tuna trip was a 50th birthday present for Doug Bardwell of West Tisbury aboard captain Tim Goodman's 47-foot Cabo, Nobska, out of Tashmoo. The crew included Brian, Doug, John Keene of Chilmark, Mark Campos of Tisbury, Bob Dunkley of Sandwich and mate Morgan Taylor. Captain Goodman said the fish was taken at a spot known as "The Figs" after chunking all day. It ate a live bunker about 4 pm on a slack tide. Photo courtesy Brian CioffiRon was perturbed to find the gate to the Mink Meadows beach parking lot in Vineyard Haven locked. He asked me what I knew about it.
Now it is true that fishermen have virtual unrestricted access to the water. The Massachusetts colonial ordinances, a set of laws written by sensible colonial lawmakers who knew something or two about firearms, allow for fishing and fowling between the low and high water mark. But while finding a place to park a horse was easy, finding a spot to leave a modern internal combustion engine fishing buggy is quite another.
Generally, after Labor Day Island towns, beach associations and even some private property owners have generously allowed fishermen to park in private lots and walk across restricted areas to reach the water.
Over the years Ron, like many other visiting Derby fishermen and year-round Islanders, had come to expect a certain degree of access during the off-season that was not possible in the summer. So it was very disappointing to find the gate locked at Mink Meadows.
I know from experience how disheartening it is to drive down a familiar dirt road on the way to a beach and encounter a locked gate where once there was no lock.
I also understand why private property owners become annoyed when people show no respect for private property. I get just as annoyed when I have made an effort to gain permission to access a piece of property and encounter trespassers.
The Mink Meadows Association maintains a small parking lot that allows easy access to a stretch of beach on the Island's north shore just west of West Chop. Years ago the lot was open year-round, but in an effort to cut down on late night drinking, the association began locking steel gates set at the entrances of the two access roads during the summer season.
This fall the gates stayed locked. The Mink Meadows board of directors - comprised of representatives of the association, the Mink Meadows Golf Club and the nonprofit landowners group - made the decision at a meeting last spring.
I telephoned Joe Fitzgerald, Mink Meadows Golf Club president. We had a nice conversation. He sounded like the kind of guy you would enjoy meeting fishing on a beach if he was not so misguided about his sports.
Joe described what led the board to lock the gate. He said that in the past the board did leave the gate open, but due to major vandalism they had decided to lock it. He said the isolated nature of the beach provided a convenient spot for people to party.
In a follow-up email, Joe referred to an incident that occurred on December 17 last year when someone drove a vehicle in a circle on the first green and did a considerable amount of damage to the turf that was costly to repair.
Referencing our phone conversation he wrote, "We have locked the gate to the beach parking area on the advice of the Tisbury Police Dept. because of major vandalism done to the beach area, and most recently the golf course. This occurs as the result of young people partying in the beach parking lot, and then going on to vandalizing sprees. The golf course damage earlier this year included running a four-wheel vehicle in circles over the first green, resulting is costly repair, and visible scars on the green into this summer.
"I further noted to you that the Mink Meadows community is not adverse to Derby fisherman going to the beach area to fish. That is, we have not closed the beach to fisherman, only the parking lot. However, should there be any confusion on this point, we have today Friday, Sept. 25, put up 4 foot by 4 foot signs at the two gate entrances saying: Welcome fishermen. Beach is open. Park in Club lot. Furthermore, the distance from the club parking lot to the beach parking lot is approximately 800 feet, not in my mind an unreasonable distance to walk."
Joe went on to describe the many ways the Mink Meadows community and golf club supports various Island events throughout the year. And that is all true.
However, to be accurate, the Tisbury Police did not recommend the gate be locked, according to the police report. The responding officer the night of the vandalism, Sergeant Tim Stobie, suggested to the golf club superintendent that he call police immediately when he hears something suspicious and said that police could make more frequent patrols of the area in order to discourage poor behavior.
The decision to lock the gates in the off-season is on the board of directors. Are they within their rights? Yes. Do they have ample reason to be concerned about behavior that is both disturbing and costly? Yes again.
Perhaps locking the parking lot will afford a degree of protection. I tend to think that the presence of fishermen sometimes provides a deterrent as well.
It is generous of the board to invite fishermen to park in the golf course lot as a way to mitigate the locked gates. But I just cannot welcome a decision to lock another gate on Martha's Vineyard and I told Joe that.
I asked Joe to look at the Mink Meadow board's decision in the wider context of what it means for our community. One more locked gate in the off season represents a slow but incremental change to a quality of life that sets the Vineyard apart from other summer resort communities and is worth working to protect.
I can think of another parking lot down a long dirt road that now remains open. I know there has been talk about locks.
I hope that does not happen. But Fishermen would do well to remember that picking up trash and reporting misbehavior is one way to stave off future closures.
Fisheries experts appear
Ana M. Parma and Jose Orensanz, internationally known fisheries research scientists with the Argentine Council for Science and Technology, will speak at the Chilmark Library about their work at 3 pm on Monday, Oct. 12.
Both have participated in United Nations fisheries management programs and in the prestigious Pew Fellows in Marine Conservation program, according to a press release.
In part they will talk about how programs that emphasize co-management and involvement of the local fishing community in monitoring, decision making and enforcement can be much more effective in managing small-scale fisheries, like those that exist on Martha's Vineyard.
The Menemsha Fisheries Development Fund and the Friends of the Chilmark Public Library are sponsoring the presentation. Admission is free. Call the library for more information at 508-696-9322.
Fish or hunt
The last week of the Derby presents something of a distraction for Island sportsmen. The bow season for deer begins on Monday. The early duck season begins on Friday, Oct. 16. Pheasant season begins and the Derby ends on Saturday, Oct. 17. Theoretically, an energetic person could on one day catch a striped bass, shoot a deer and a bird, and have quite a feast.
Derby on ice
The Derby committee was scheduled to meet last night to discuss a big bluefish that would have taken over the leader spot but for the discovery of ice in the fish's stomach. As is customary and warranted, the committee is taking a very deliberative approach.
Derby Results
(Through Tuesday, October 6)
Grand Leaders
Boat bluefish: Thomas J. Rapone, 13.81.
Shore bluefish: Peter C. Shepardson, 13.81.
Boat bass: Stephen J. Pietruska, 44.68.
Shore bass: Ryan Kurth, 34.10.
Boat bonito: Joseph A. Serpa, 9.28.
Shore bonito: Michael L. Seeger, 7.99.
Boat Albacore: William A. Pate, 12.66.
Shore Albacore: Keith A. McArt, 16.55.
Overall Leaders
All-Tackle Division
Boat bass: (1) Stephen J. Pietruska, 44.68 (2) Evan Metropoulos, 40.88; (3) Charles P. Finnerty, 40.53. Shore bass: (1) Ryan Kurth, 34.10; (2) Colin T. Britt, 29.22; (3) Dana A. Rezendes, 28.23. Boat bonito: (1) Joseph A. Serpa, 9.28; (2) Joe H. Turney, 9.12; (3) Kenneth P. Baracchini, 8.90. Shore bonito: (1) Michael L. Seeger, 7.99; (2) Brian Gracie, 6.98; (3) Craig P. Salvaggio, 6.35. Boat bluefish: (1) Sandy E. Fisher, 13.50; (2) Henry R. Fauteux, 13.45; (3) Allan Sgroi, 13.36. Shore bluefish: (1) Peter C. Shepardson, 13.81; (2) Angela J. Deltorto, 13.01; (3) Michael J. Mulcahy, 11.56. Boat albacore. (1) William A. Pate, 12.66; (2) Lenny F. Beford, 12.12; (3) Jared E. Fisher, 11.42. Shore albacore: (1) Keith A. McArt, 16.55; (2) Mark Campos, 13.24; (3) Hayden Boullie, 11.24.
Fly Rod Division
Boat bass: (1) Paul W. Dimaura, 16.64; (2) John C. Rapone, 15.37; (3) Art Crago, 9.52. Shore bass: (1) David W. Skok, 25.02; (2) Herbert C. Tilton, III, 18.49; (3) Norris E. Johns, 17.70. Boat bonito: (1) Thomas J. Rapone, 6.39; (2) John C. Rapone, 5.77; (3) W. Brice Contessa, 5.73. Shore bonito: (1) W. Brice Contessa, 6.38. Boat bluefish: (1) Thomas J. Rapone, 13.81; (2) John C. Rapone, 11.53; (3) Everett J. Francis, 9.36. Shore bluefish: (1) Art Crago, 4.74. Boat albacore: (1) Rob D. Morrison, 12.12; (2) John C. Rapone, 10.63; (3) Noah C. Maxner, 10.55. Shore albacore: (1) Cooper A. Gilkes, 10.22; (2) Tom Sharpe, 9.64; (3) David A. Nash, 9.34, 9.34.
Junior Division
Boat bass: (1) Tyler K. Dufresne, 28.04; (2) William C. Kadison, 27.49; (3) Townsend R. Morey, 20.87. Shore bass: (1) Curtis J. Farrell, 17.71. Boat bonito: (1) William C. Kadison, 7.48; (2) Christopher A. Mayhew, 6.87; (3) Cathal Robinson, 6.64. Shore bonito: (1) Evandro Medici, Jr., 4.45. Boat bluefish: (1) William C. Kadison, 11.06; (2) Cameron Maciel, 10.87; (3) Donald F. O'Shaughnessey, Jr., 10.81. Shore bluefish: (1) Hunter D. Wojslaw, 8.08; (2) Derrick C. Weckman, 7.00; (3) Jeffrey S. Cimeno, Jr., 3.87. Boat albacore: (1) Bryan Carter, 12.39; (2) Alec B. Cobban, 10.53; (3) Emily M. Turney, 10.31. Shore albacore: (1) Curtis J. Farrell, 10.96; (2) Gordon A. Moore, 9.30; (3) Cameron Maciel, 6.79.
Mini Junior Division
Boat bass: (1) Dylan Kadison, 28.02; (2) Brendan R. Morris, 27.15; (3) Nolan Bouchard, 19.31. Shore bass: (1) Taylor P. Blair, 20.96; (2) Christopher T. Ferry, 11.63. Boat bonito: (1) Brendan R. Morris, 7.13; (2) Dylan Kadison, 6.67; (3) Mike B. Metcalf, 5.95. Boat bluefish: (1) Victoria Scott, 13.36; (2) Nolan Bouchard, 11.58; (3) Gus N. Hoy, 11.14. Shore bluefish: (1) Brendan R. Morris, 8.84; (2) Tristan R. Blair, 4.27. Boat albacore: (1) Brendan R. Morris, 8.33; (2) Katherine G. O'Brien, 7.90.
Daily Winners
Wednesday, September 30
All Tackle
Boat bonito: (1) Nils Leaf, 6.24; (2) Phil P. Baracchini, 5.99; (3) Mark W. Jones, 4.40. Boat bluefish: (1) Bob S. Levine, 11.91; (2) Dale H. Benson, 11.86; (3) Henry R. Fauteux, 11.14; (4) Wendy M. Bowles, 11.04. Shore bluefish: (1) Dan O'Keefe, 7.33; (2) Daniel J. Benedetto, 7.12. Boat bass: (1) Richard F. Pytko, 20.65; (2) Everett J. Francis, 17.82; (3) Tom Norbury, 15.95; (4) Helena A. Kirschenbaum, 14.82. Shore bass: (1) James M. Gibson, 12.09.
Fly Rod Division
Boat bluefish: (1) Everett J. Francis, 9.36. Shore bass: Herbert C. Tilton, III, 18.49.
Junior Division
All Tackle
Boat bluefish: (1) Cameron Maciel, 10.87.
Thursday, October 1
All Tackle
Boat bonito: (1) Robert L. Webb, 6.52; (2) David C. Hearn, 7.25; (3) Tom R. Barlosky, 5.99. Shore bonito: (1) Joe E. Tucker, 6.27. Boat bluefish: (1) Alphonsus D. Simmons, 13.28; (2) Paul E. Ryan, 11.16; (3) Sandy E. Fisher, 10.45; (4) Henry R. Fauteux, 12.51 (hat trick). Shore bluefish: (1) Thomas Neadow, Jr., 10.01; (2) Thomas K. Hannon, 5.54; (3) Ron R. Drake, 7.41; (4) Daniel J. Benedetto, 7.22 (hat trick). Boat bass: (1) Erin K. Blair, 24.68; (2) David C. Kadison, 37.15; (3) James R. Walpole, 23.30; (4) Mark S. Morris, 23.08. Shore bass: (1) Steve Coito, 19.34; (2) Johnny C. Hoy, 15.76; (3) Matt Bendle, 11.90.
Fly Rod Division
Boat bluefish: (1) John C. Rapone, 7.14. Shore bass: (1) Norris E. Johns, 17.70.
Junior Division
All Tackle
Boat bluefish: (1) Corbin A. Buchwald, 5.33; (2) Henry Pardo, 3.35; (3) Cameron Maciel, 9.23. Boat bass: (1) Quinn C. Keefe, 13.75; (2) Corbin A. Buchwald, 12.84; (3) Lachian B. Cormie, 12.21; (4) Brendan R. Morris, 23.80. Shore bass: (1) Taylor P. Blair, 20.96.
Friday, October 2
All Tackle
Boat bonito: (1) Joseph A. Serpa (9.28); (2) David C. Kadison, 8.08; (3) Stanley W. Brown, 7.66; (4) Johnny C. Hoy, 7.38. Boat bluefish: (1) Sandy E. Fisher, 13.50; (2) Robert J. Papetti, 12.12; (3) Stephen J. Pietruska, 11.68; (4) Bruce E. McIntosh, 11.50. Shore bluefish: (1) Peter C. Shepardson, 13.81; (2) Pete J. Pate, 9.63; (3) Bill P. Prodouz, 7.73; (4) John P. Curran, 6.42. Boat bass: (1) Richie Fisher, 23.50; (2) Brian K. Nunes-Vais, 20.73; (3) Stephen J. Pietruska, 32.11; (4) Johnny R. Graham, 20.49. Shore bass: (1) Heath J. Estrella, 23.33; (2) Neal J. Farrell, 19.90; (3) Patrick S. Toomey, 17.85; (4) John T. Burba, 16.95.
Fly Rod Division
Boat bluefish: (1) John C. Rapone, 11.53.
Junior Division
All Tackle
Boat bonito: (1) Daniel B. Tucker, 4.81. Boat bluefish: (1) Nolan Bouchard, 11.58. Shore bass: (1) Christopher T. Ferry, 11.63.
Saturday, October 3
All Tackle
Boat bonito: (1) Adam J. Zeiberg, 6.56; (2) Richie Fisher, 5.71; (3) kevin C. Dobroth, 5.45; (4) Harry Bruno, 5.18. Shore bonito: (1) Michael L. Seeger, 7.99; (2) Stanley W. Brown, 5.81. Boat bluefish: (1) Clay D. Edwards, 9.88; (2) Tom R. Barlosky, 11.09; (3) George J. Rogers, Jr., 10.82; (4) Alphonsus D. Simmons, 10.34. Shore bluefish: (1) Paul S. Glass, 8.99; (2) David A. Nash, 7.84; (3) Kevin J. McDaniel, 7.50; (4) Donald R. Sicard, 6.81. Boat bass: (1) Jeffrey P. Komanietz, 22.03; (2) Tom R. Barlosky, 24.35; (3) Stephen J. Pietruska, 32.47 (hat trick). Shore bass: (1) Glenn J. Stalgren, 25.28; (2) Paul E. Buckley, II, 23.69; (3) Patrick J. Paquette, 23.55; (4) Peter C. Shepardson, 21.94.
Fly Rod Division
Boat bluefish: (1) Richard P. Schiffer, 7.59.
Junior Division
All Tackle
Boat bluefish: (1) Bradley W. Carroll, 7.78. Shore bluefish: (1) Jeffrey S. Cimeno, Jr., 3.87; (3) Dylan Kadison, 18.97.
Sunday, October 4
All Tackle
Boat bonito: (1) Patrick M. Courtney, 7.49; (2) Conrad Neumann, 7.36; (3) Jason F. Ketchen, 7.04; (4) Glenn J. Stalgren, 6.79. Boat bluefish: (1) Allan Sgroi, 13.36; (2) Kevin E. Peters, 12.24; (3) David C. Kadison, 11.08; (4) Manuel M. Nieto, 11.80. Shore bluefish: (1) Dick Hern, 11.44; (2) Douglas M. Asselin, Sr., 10.35. Boat bass: (1) Sandy Mincone, 29.05; (2) Michael P. Ferry, 27.17; (3) Steve R. Dufresne, 21.60; (4) Beverly A. Bergeron, 20.16. Shore bass: (1) Peter Costas, 15.32; (2) Glenn J. Stalgren, 22.54; (3) Roland R. Perreault, 14.47; (4) Adam Darack, 14.08.
Fly Rod Division
Boat bonito: (1) Thomas J. Rapone, 6.39. Boat bass: (1) Art Crago, 9.52. Shore bass: David W. Skok, 25.02.
Junior Division
All Tackle
Boat bonito: (1) Cathal Robinson, 6.64; (2) Brendan R. Morris, 7.13; (3) Austin A. Fournier, 6.23; (4) Andrew P. Fournier, 6.15. Boat bluefish: (1) Christopher T. Ferry, 10.78. (2) Victoria Scott, 13.36 (hat trick); (3) Donald F. O'Shaughnessey, Jr., 10.81; (4) Mike B. Metcalf, 10.41. Boat bass: (1) Tyler K. Dufresne, 28.04; (2) Brandon A. Steigelman, 15.18.
Monday, October 5
All Tackle
Boat bonito: (1) Jesse J. Donnelly, 11.57; (2) Sandy E. Fisher, 11.25; (3) Jeffrey P. Canha, 10.70; (4) Patrick M. MacPherson, 10.27. Shore bluefish: (1) Pete J. Pate, 9.53; (2) Ted Calamia, 7.95; (3) Raymond D. Arendt, 7.87; (4) Peter J. Grossman, 4.25. Boat bass: (1) Tim W. Goodman, 25.56; (2) Howard D. Harrison, 24.82; (3) Troy D. Stinman, 23.88; (4) Brewster Conant, 20.24. Shore bass: (1) Stephen C. Morris, 28.03; (2) Roger A. Schaefer, 17.71; (3) Pete J. Pate, 20.60; (4) Michael J. Tuck, 15.04. Boat bluefish: (1) Tyla D. Packish, 10.96.
Tuesday, October 6
All Tackle
Boat bluefish: (1) Marshall H. Segall, 12.38; (2) Patrick T. Jenkinson, 11.91; (3) Joseph A. Serpa, 11.38; (4) Seth R. MacPherson, 10.71. Shore bluefish: (1) Colin T. Britt, 9.00; (2) Ron R. Drake, 7.36. Boat bass: (1) Nils Leaf, 29.83. Shore bass: (1) Roger A. Schaefer, 17.59; (2) Ryan Kurth, 34.10; (3) Oziel Martins, 13.45; (4) Patricia DuPlessis, 12.74.
Junior Division
All Tackle
Boat bluefish: (1) Lachlan B. Cormie, 10.58.
