The Boy Fisherman

If you’ve ever spent any length of time on Nantucket, you may have noticed that fishing is a bit of a popular sport.  People love fishing and almost everyone I know has at least one story about the “big one that got away.”

I cannot count how many hours we have logged fishing on Nantucket.  Bluefish are usually the main target, but on a banner day the golden catch is always a striped bass.  It’s safe to say that bluefish and striped bass are the royal celebs of the deep around Nantucket, but they are not the only options.  Scup is another type of fishing lurking in the waters around Nantucket.  Scup can be easier to pursue since the tackle is lighter, the best fishing spots are easy to access, and the scup itself is a rather small fish.  In other words, it’s a perfect variety for a beginner fisherman, like a child.

My 7-year-old son, Owen, is crazy about about fishing.  He claims to be fully prepared to reel in a prize-winning striped bass that would no doubt become gradually larger and larger with each telling of the story.

There are those who say fishing is boring and that “nothing” really happens.  I would argue that the minutes spent with a pole in hand are filled with high expectations for unknown possibilities.  The anglers I know are hopeful sorts who walk through life with a “glass half full” kind of attitude.  We have spent many an afternoon standing at the water’s edge with a rod and reel, taking note of the diving birds or occasional leaping fish.  Optimism looms large on these occasions and sometimes a memorable dinner— catch of the day—is the payoff.  Fishing is like a buying a lottery ticket.  You know the odds are against you, but just being in the game makes you feel like you have a shot at the trophy.

Stay tuned for more informative stories about fishing on Nantucket.  And of course, I’ll throw in a few of our own “fish tales” along the way.

Watch this humorous video of Owen trying to catch a scup.  No, it’s not a revered bluefish or a clandestine striped bass, but the thrill of “reeling one in” is exciting nonetheless.