The surf fishermen of Martha's Vineyard are the heroes of this collection. Brought together by a longtime Vineyard fisherman, these colorful men and women offer advice, insight, and the inevitable tall tales.There is Nelson Bryant, about to haul in a fifty-pound striper only to be cut off by an unseasoned newcomer who casts a plug over his line. There is Whit Manter, doggedly pursuing the next strike, the next rush of adrenaline, the next exhilarating struggle far into the surf and the eerie blackness of the night. And Janet Messineo, dragging a Derby-winning bluefish across the beach at dawn; hair matted, face drawn with fatigue, hands sliced and punctured, she's the epitome of the sporting woman. Intense and determined, the surf fishermen face cold, exhaustion, or a line gone slack at the height of battle. They prowl the beaches, testing their wits and lures against the sea's bounty . . . and each other. While the romance and excitement of the hunt is at the core of these tales, there is practical information to be gained - about the subtleties of tide and current, the phase of the moon, the direction of the wind, the best baits and lures. It's a stirring testament to one of the most delightful corners of angling, in one of its richest locales.