Chasing the Bass and the Blues: It Will Cost You a Few Extra Bucks

By BRETT FERRY

During the month-long fishing derby, while derby fever is running
high, people may be questioning what it takes to be a contender in this
local, world-class event.

Sure, you can hang around the tackle shops or diners and pick up on
the buzz - where the hot spots are, what time of day to be there,
what the fish are eating. But what if you're a greenhorn, a
landlubber without any gear? Where do you start? And, more importantly,
what kind of damage will it do to your wallet?

Visiting a local tackle shop can put it all into perspective.

At Dick's Bait and Tackle, Bruce Scott explains how to outfit
a novice fisherman with what he calls "middle of the road
stuff."

Assuming the focus is on surfcasting, Mr. Scott recommends waders at
$115, a rod and reel setup for $150, $5 worth of line, five leaders at a
dollar apiece and six lures for maybe another $45. You can substitute
live eels for lures at a dollar each. Then, of course, you will need to
purchase a package of hooks for about $10. There you have it, a
sufficient package to threaten bass and blues from the beach, all for
about $300.

"Some guys are going to fish five days a week, some five days
a month and some five days a year," says John Cherchio of
Larry's Tackle Shop in Edgartown. "We have so many fanatics
out here on the Island. They spend a lot of time here in the shop. We
have a lot of fun with them. They're good energy."

These fanatics provide good income, too.

Mr. Cherchio says the first question he poses to someone looking to
outfit themselves is what their price point is. This helps him sort
through the huge range of products. He says while some surfcasting rods
cost $275, others, already set up with a reel, cost just $75.

Some young kids are put on a payment plan so they can afford the
gear, says Mr. Cherchio.

Then there is fly-fishing, an advanced form of angling where the
skill level is higher and so are the prices.

A beginner fly fisherman can still purchase a rod for $150, but for
a top-of-the-line rod, handmade in the United States, the price can
easily exceed $600.

The beginner can add a reel to that rod for $140, though most fly
reels are priced between $400 and $600. And displayed in the glass case
is what is presumably every fly fisherman's dream, the Charleton,
a handmade fly reel priced at a cool $1,000.

When casting with a flyrod, the angler uses the weight of the line
to cast the fly rather than the weight of the fly itself. A spool of
this casting line is roughly $60.

"Fly fishing is a very involved sport. The art of casting is
one thing. Tying knots is another," says Mr. Cherchio.

Many fly fishermen tie their own flies from color-dyed bird
feathers, deer tails and ostrich plumes. A package of bird feathers
costs $10, a deer tail $6, an ostrich plume $2.50. To add a little
dazzle to your fly, sparkle flash strips come in a package for $4. A
pack of 80 eyes costs $2. Pretied flies cost from $5 to $10.

"Some of these kids are carrying around $1,000 worth of
flies," says Cooper Gilkes of Coop's Bait and Tackle.

Fishermen need to keep all those flies organized somewhere. Fly
cases sell for from $10 to $40. You will also want to protect your
fragile rod and reel. A fly reel case costs close to $13; a nice rod
case can cost from $100 to $180.

Now suppose you actually catch a fish with all this gear.
You'll need some pliers to tear the hook out of its lip. Pliers
are priced from $7 to $18.50. Or, you can go for the deluxe "Super
Pliers" for $40.

Do you plan to bring your catch home for dinner? Fillet knives run
from $18 to $72.

How's your wallet looking? If you're still flush with
cash, you might consider venturing offshore.

Phil Hale, president of the Martha's Vineyard Shipyard,
estimates that a used 13-foot Boston Whaler with an outboard motor and
trailer starts between $5,000 and $7,000. "They only go up from
there," he says.

Daily Derby Results
Friday, October 4

All tackle boat bonito: 1, Patrick T. Jenkinson, 6.25; 2, Morgan
Child, 8.02; 3, William J. Davies, 5.45; 4, Steve R. Dufresne, 4.78; hat
trick, Nick Warburton, 8.14. Shore bonito: 1, James Fretz, 6.29; 2,
Roland R. Perreault, 5.32; 3, Gregory A. William, 4.99; 4, Mary
Robbenhaar-Fretz, 4.16. Boat bluefish: 1, James E. Beers, 13.18; 2,
Robert J. Baum, 12.28; 3, Paulee M. Davies, 11.02; 4, Tena J. Davies,
10.71. Shore bluefish: 1, Ernie J. Baracchini, 5.97; 2, Tony Rezendes,
5.81; 3, Alphonsus Simmons, 3.60; 4, Russell K. Hooper, 4.05. Boat
striped bass: 1, David D. DeCastro, 34.92; 2, Lynn E. Howell, 32.24; 3,
Abram E. Kirschenbaum, 31.98; 4, Francis Kelleher, 31.66. Shore striped
bass: 1, Dana A. Rezendes, 27.07; 2, Robert Graves, 19.92; 3, Ron H.
McKee, 16.19; 4, Matthew Sudarsky, 17.19. Flyrod shore bluefish: 1, Ken
Vangilder, 3.80.

Junior boat bonito: 2, Zachary Horrocks, 5.63. Boat striped bass: 1,
Marguerite S. Smith, 15.23; 3, Annie C. Finnerty, 21.31. Mystery prize:
bluefish Keith Ogren, bonito Will Geresy, striped bass Len A. Giusti,
flyrod Ken Vangilder, junior Zachary Horrocks.

Saturday, Oct. 5

All tackle boat bonito: 1, Steve Sjogren, 8.70. Shore bonito: 1,
Annette M. Cingle, 7.35; 2, Dennis R. Gough, 6.09; 3, Pete C. Lynch,
5.43; 4, Stanley W. Brown, 4.44. Boat bluefish: 1, Greg Llioff, 10.86;
2, Fred P. Collins, 10.57; 3, Roy Cutrer Sr., 9.82; 4, David Pothier,
7.69. Shore bluefish: 1, Lee P. Bruni, 11.92; 2, Alan M. Coscia, 11.28;
3, Doug A. Searle, 10.70; 4, Michael J. Mulcahy, 6.89. Boat striped
bass: 1, jared D. Mackenzie, 34.82; 2, Harry Delany, 34.78; 3, Charles
Ogletree, 29.63; 4, Anthony Thompson, 29.17. Shore striped bass: 1, Lev
C. Wlodyka, 39.96; 2, Whitney Brush, 36; 3, Ted Calamia, 31.76; 4, Shawn
M. Broadley, 31.50. Flyrod shore striped bass: 1, Dick A. Adams, 11.71.
Junior boat bluefish: 1, D.J. Pothier, 9.91; 2, Mitchell Pachico, 14.02;
3, Clayton Ilioff, 9.85; 4, Zachary Llioff, 9.18. Junior shore bluefish:
1, Lucas L. Landers, 3.74; 2, Keira R. Mercier, 2.88; 4, Asa P. Bernard,
3.38. Mystery prize: Charles Ogletree, bonito Stanley W. Brown, striped
bass Micah S. Forgione, flyrod Dick A. Adams, junior Keira R. Mercier.

Sunday, Oct. 6

All tackle boat bonito: 1, Karl E. Kallinich, 7.56; 2, Joe El-Deiry,
6.39. Shore bonito: 1, Robert F. Marie, 6.04; 3, Annette M. Cingle,
5.73. Boat bluefish: 1, George (Sandy) S. Lockwood, 11.70; 2, Martha
Smith, 9.52; 3, Thomas Langman, 12.77; 4, Cliff B. Meehan, 9.37. Shore
bluefish: 1, Richard A. Cassiani, 5.36; 2, Abram N. Williams Jr., 4.55;
3, Thomas Kieras, 4.08; 4, Roy C. Hope, 4.04. Boat striped bass: 1, Lois
Kelley Stout, 37; 2, Kevin O'Farrell, 33.94; 3, Andrew W. Hyde,
29.62; 4, Helena Kirschenbaum, 29.05. Shore striped bass: 1, Al Gantz,
27.58; 2, Andre B. Bonnell, 27.51; 3, Paul L. Willoughby, 27.32; 4,
Peter Miselis, 26.33. Flyrod boat bonito: 1, Salvatore Forio, 5.74.
Junior boat bluefish: 2, Tony P. Canha, 9.69. Boat striped bass: 1, Alex
M. Poole, 28.94; 2, Brendan G. Good, 15.94; 4, Annie C. Finnerty, 22.97.
Junior shore striped bass: 1, Jesse Steere 4th, 19.45. Mystery prize:
Thoams Kieras, bonito Annette M. Cingle, striped bass Ngor F. Leong,
flyrod Salvatore Forio, junior Brendan Good.

Monday, Oct. 7

All tackle boat bonito: 1, Jack Kallinich, 8.25; 3, Ray Faini, 6.89.
Shore bonito: 1, Roland R. Perreault, 7.19; 2, Ron H. McKee, 6.80; 3,
Chuckie T. Casella, 5.66; 4, Dan Keniston, 5.57.

Boat bluefish: 1, Bruce G. Laird, 13.93; 2, Jonathan B. Wilson,
11.52; 3, John F. Schillinger, 11.36; 4, William Farnsworth, 10.42.
Shore bluefish: 1, Alphonsus Simmons, 7.13; 2, Ron H. McKee, 6.48; 3,
Mark Malcolm, 5.56; 4, Tim N. Duys, 4.27.

Boat striped bass: 1, Bruce G. Laird, 39.06; 2, Jim Kingsley, 28.93;
3, Samuel G. Nord, 28.67; 4, Charles W. Wendel, 28.08. Shore striped
bass: 1, Benjamin G. McCormick, 34.58; 2, Ernest J. Pribanic, 34.52; 3,
Jonathan V. Munro, 31.20; 4, George R. Medeiros, 24.62. Flyrod boat
bluefish: 1, Norris E. Johns, 5.82.

Junior boat bluefish: Christopher A. Morris, 9.58; 3, Cayla A.
Morris, 5.34. Junior boat striped bass: 1, Cayla A. Morris, 13.69.

Mystery prize winners: bluefish, Peter C. West; bonito, Jack
Kallinich; striped bas,s Francesca A. Uranker; flyrod, Norris E. Johns;
juniors, Cayla A. Morris.

Weekly Leaders
For Week Ending Oct. 12

All tackle boat bluefish: Bruce G. Laird, 13.93. Shore bluefish:
Alphonsus Simmons, 7.13. Boat striped bass: Bruce G. Laird, 39.06. Shore
striped bass: Benjamin G. McCormick, 34.58. Boat bonito: Jack Kallinich,
8.25. Shore bonito: Roland R. Perreault, 7.19. Boat false albacore: Nick
Warburton, 11.60. Shore false albacore: Melbourne Nickerson, 9.24.

Flyrod boat bluefish: Norris E. Johns, 5.82. Flyrod boat bonito:
Salvatore Forio, 5.74. Flyrod boat false albacore: Art E. Crago, 9.75.
Flyrod shore false albacore: Chip J. Bergeron, 7.26.

Junior boat bluefish: Tony P. Canha, 9.69. Junior boat striped bass:
Alex M. Poole, 28.94. Junior shore striped bass: Jesse Steere 4th,
19.45.

Female Weekly Leaders

All tackle boat bluefish: Martha Smith, 9.52. Boat striped bass:
Helena Kirschenbaum, 29.05. Shore striped bass: Kelley M. Marks, 14.35.
Junior boat striped bass: Cayla A. Morris, 13.69.

Derby Leaders to Date

All tackle boat striped bass: 1, Capt. Buddy Vanderhoop, 53.60; 2,
Geoff K. Codding, 48.52; 3, Zachary K. Tilton, 44.42. Shore striped
bass: 1, Lev C. Wlodyka, 39.96; 2, Whitney Brush, 36.00; 3, Benjamin G.
McCormick, 34.58. Boat bonito: 1, Lev C. Wlodyka, 10.89; 2, Sascha
Wlodyka, 8.72; 3, Steve Sjogren, 8.70. Shore bonito: 1, Annette M.
Cingle, 7.35; 2, Roland R. Perreault, 7.19; 3, Ron H. McKee, 6.80.

Boat bluefish: 1, William E. Welch, 14.70; 2, Thomas Langman, 14.63;
3, Bruce G. Laird, 13.93. Shore bluefish: 1, Daniel J. Geary, 15.69; 2,
Pete J. Pate, 15.07; 3, Sandy Luce, 12.42. Boat false albacore: 1,
Walter S. Wlodyka, 11.63; 2, Nick Warburton, 11.60; 3, Gary G. Carter,
9.33. Shore false albacore: 1, Bob W. Iwaskiewicz, 12.93; 2, Mike D.
Ludwig, 10.07; 3, Frederick W. Ruhlemann, 9.94.

Flyrod boat striped bas: 1, Jaime H. Boyle, 26.82; 2, Mark W. Jones,
21.36; 3, Art E. Crago, 19.77. Flyrod shore striped bass: 1, Michael J.
Tuck, 23.25; 2, Thomas J. Spina, 18.19; 3, Ralph DeFelice, 11.78. Flyrod
boat bonito: 1, Terry W. Horrocks, 7.67; 2, Thomas J. Rapone, 7.07; 3,
Thor Farrish, 6.17. Flyrod shore bonito: 1, Robert Hadley, 7.77; 2,
David A. Nash, 6.62; 3, Rick Lindgren, 6.57.

Flyrod boat bluefish: 1, Ken Barracchinni, 13.61; 2, Bob Page,
12.93; 3, Thor Farrish, 12.70. Flyrod shore bluefish: 1, Tim P. Sheran,
5.36; 2, Dino Piskopanis, 5.26; 3, Michael J. Tuck, 4.56. Flyrod boat
false albacore: 1, Art E. Crago, 9.75; 2, Gary A. Mirando, 8.73; 3, Mim
A. Moineau, 8.50. Flyrod shore false albacore: 1, Tim P. Sheran, 8.99;
2, Jared Hull, 8.79; 3, Norris, E. Johns, 7.99. Junior boat striped
bass: 1, Alex M. Poole, 28.94; 2, Annie C. Finnerty, 22.97; 3, Win C.
Grimm, 22.86.

Junior shore striped bass: 1, Cameron Maciel, 26.59; 2, Jesse Steere
4th, 19.45; 3, Keira R. Mercier, 18.33. Junior boat bonito: 1, Sarah L.
Kadison, 5.86; 2, Zachary Horrocks, 5.63; 3, Cameron Maciel, 5.46.
Junior boat bluefish: 1, Cody J. Brewer, 14.38; 2, Mitchell Pachico,
14.02; 3, Maxwell S. Nunes, 13.61. Junior shore bluefish: 1, Asa P.
Bernard, 10.56; 2, Eamon D. MacKenzie, 8.55; 3, Nick Jerome, 4.92.
Junior boat false albacore: 1, Jose C. Ehntholt, 7.98; 2, Andrew
Fargnoli, 7.40; 3, William C. Kadison, 7.38.

Mini Juniors. All tackle boat striped bass: 1, Tony P. Canha, 10.10.
Shore striped bass: 1, Cameron Maciel, 26.59; 2, Keira R. Mercier,
18.33; 3, Thiana M. Souza, 16.04. Boat bonito: 1, Cameron Maciel, 5.46;
2, Nolan C. Ehntholt, 5.19; 3, William C. Kadison, 4.75. Boat bluefish:
1, Tony P. Canha, 9.69; 2, Christopher A. Morris, 9.58; 3, Nicholas
Nelson, 8.84. Shore bluefish: 1, Asa P. Bernard, 10.56; 2, Eamon D.
MacKenzie, 8.55; 3, Keira R. Mercier, 2.88. Boat false albacore: 1,
William C. Kadison, 7.38; 2, Wyatt A. Jenkinson, 6.93.

Grand Slam Leaders

Boat: 1, Capt. Buddy Vanderhoop, 75.15; 2, Geoff K. Codding, 70.97;
Lev C. Wlodyka, 68.95. Shore: 1, Bob Jacobs, 44.51; 2, Roy C. Hope,
36.90; 3, Ron H. McKee, 36.90. Boat flyrod: 1, Jaime H. Boyle, 46.04; 2,
Mark W. Jones, 43.65. Ken Barracchinni, 40.00.