With six scenic towns offering various shopping outlets, beautiful natural sites to explore, fine dining to indulge in, and a lively nightlife for visitors and locals to revel in, it’s no wonder Martha’s Vineyard vacation rentals are heavily popular in the summertime. Located south of the Cape, the Vineyard contains a summer population of more than 75,000 people in comparison to its year-round population of 15,000.
One summer activity that many Vineyard vacationers particularly favor is fishing, and not only because
the hit movie JAWS was filmed in the fishing village of Menemsha. Fishing is not only a sport, but a way of life for Islanders and visitors alike. Whether you’re an experienced fisherman or want to spend time with your family making a big catch, Martha’s Vineyard offers various fishing charters for off-shore catches, during which you will be accompanied by an experienced captain and his crewmen to help you get the fish on-board.
If you don’t want your fishing experience on Martha’s Vineyard to end there, every fall, fishermen from around the world come to the island for the annual month-long Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. Running for 67 years now, the Derby is a fishing tournament in which up to 3,200 contestants compete in catching the largest of four species of fish: striped bass, bluefish, false albacore and Atlantic bonito. The Derby lasts from early September to early October and winners are awarded assorted tackle and gear, a plaque, and money according to their winning placement.
But fishing doesn’t have to stop at Martha’s Vineyard. During your stay at a Martha’s Vineyard vacation rental, you can boat your way over to Martha Vineyard’s neighbor, Cape Cod, by ferry. The Cape is one of the most sought-out saltwater fishing destinations, and fishing off the Cape makes for a great day trip. In addition to catching striped bass, bluefish, albacore and bonito, you may reel in great-tasting cod, flounder, fluke, tautog, mackerel, sea bass, or even a Bluefin tuna. You can make a deep-sea saltwater catch on one of the many fishing charters available, which offers you and your family a fun and memorable experience. If you would rather cast the line instead of the lure, fly fishing is a popular and exciting sport, in which you can fish for Trout and Largemouth Bass.
Although Cape Cod is surrounded with endless saltwater fishing waters, the Cape is home to 365 ponds and lakes for vacationers to make a freshwater catch. The ponds and lakes are stocked annually with freshwater fish that include trout, yellow perch, white perch, pickerel, bullheads, catfish and salmon.
With the various places to make a catch and the opportunity to catch an array of species, Martha’s Vineyard and the Cape are your fishing headquarters.
Jillian Johnson is a professional content writer who enjoys writing blogs concentrating on many topics, particulalry travel and vacation. Follow her @JillianLJ87.