Members and friends of the Martha’s Vineyard Surfcasters Association got a flavor of a busy season ahead on Saturday. The club now in its 20th year held their annual afternoon banquet at the Edgartown Whaling Church. More than 100 anglers showed up for the luncheon, to sip soda and eat fried chicken. The event included the delivery of plaques to first place winners of the club’s own summer-long fishing tournament and included the election of officers and a report on plans for the new year.

Janet Messineo, re-elected president of the club, said efforts are under way to plan a recreational fishing workshop for the Island’s children. She introduced Ed Jerome of Edgartown who outlined the clinics that will be offered for free to Island children in May.

The program goes beyond just putting a fishing rod in a child’s hand and hoping a fish is nearby. Mr. Jerome explained that this will introduce the Island’s youngest anglers to the different ways one can put a line in the water, from drop-line fishing to fly-fishing. There will be a description of the different sport fish that swim in coastal waters and fishing techniques.

The event is tentatively scheduled for the third week in May.

Mr. Jerome said the club is looking for sponsors and about 20 fishermen to volunteer to help. The event will likely be held from 9 to noon. In years past, the club has taken young anglers out on a free fishing expedition out of Oak Bluffs harbor for hours of fishing. This workshop is being done instead with the hope that it shares knowledge on a sport that can last a lifetime.

Ms. Messineo said the club will not hold their summer Chappy brown shark shore fishing tournament. She said there are far fewer brown sharks swimming in the waters at night.

Ms. Messineo also reported plans are under way for a celebratory 20th anniversary picnic on State Beach sometime in July.

The club will continue its outreach into the community by having a booth at the annual Agricultural Society Fair in August.

David Nash, one of the club’s outspoken activitists, reported on efforts within the club to improve the landscaping and access at Eastville Beach in Oak Bluffs using participating town and state government. Efforts are under way to improve parking, cut down on the knappweed and bittersweet, he said. “We want to make it a more enjoyable destination,” Mr. Nash said.

He said the state access board has offered to help in the regrading of the property to accommodate better parking.

Mr. Nash said a 250-foot pier extending out into the waters of Nantucket Sound in Oak Bluffs, between the harbor and the Steamship Authority wharf, could be built within a year.