The Big One: An Island, an Obsession, and the Furious Pursuit of a Great Fish

by David Kinney

Renowned for its pristine beaches and celebrity inhabitants, Martha’s Vineyard is one of the most exclusive destinations in America. But each September, after the tourists clear out, thousands of fishermen take back the beaches to compete in the Vineyard’s annual fishing derby, a monthlong contest that pits plumbers against investment bankers, schoolkids against senior citizens, and natives against newcomers in a round-the-clock hunt for a great fish. Island immortality is at stake, and history has proven that anyone can win it: teenage girls, dozing fishermen, complete amateurs. In The Big One, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist David Kinney takes readers behind the scenes at the derby to chronicle thirty-five days of fish-addled hope and heartbreak. He captures all the action and introduces us to an eccentric gallery of characters that includes: Dick Hathaway, the crotchety legend who once caught a bluefish from a helicopter; Janet Messineo, a recovering alcoholic who says that striped bass saved her life; and Lev Wlodyka, a cagey local whose next fish will spark a storm of controversy and throw the tournament into turmoil. The Big One is a hugely entertaining story of passion and obsession that does for fishing what Friday Night Lights did for football.

Genres: Nonfiction

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 8, 2009

Reviews

[Jeff Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

JUst read this again. I think the MV turny has modified it's indorcement/augmentation of killing big breeding striped bass, if not they should, either way it is too late. Anyone who fished the vineyard in the last two years will tell you it6s over. as the population of striped bass is apparently in steep decline. In Striper Wars Dick Russel ( a book that should have gotten a lot more attention for capturing wonderful grass route movement to save the fish in 83') warns that history repeats. KInney is a great Jurnalist and writer for sure; he is a pro, if he did a story on the black market on these fish he might win another Puilzer prize. But I guess fish arnt as sexy as politics. (BTW I don't blame anyone for staying away from this subject of poaching, and distribution of bass Commercial fisherman are scary people, best to avoid the subject completely). Striped bass, it would ssem, will never get the media attention it deserves---Cod did but it is too late for them. Isteas we have to read about these "cahractors" in this book. Still i did enjoy this, good history etc. I liked KIney more than the marginal characters, (some of them sold large female bass for years, big bass carry a lot of toxins, they should not be ingested by children and Pregnant mothers, yet restaurants in region pushed the stuff hard. but I guess that another story? ( they were not wild enough, mudas used to kill whales to attract Greatwhites to win turnaments.. thats a charactor-- a real beast of a man, pure evil. the best line in the book ( is when when you get a glimps into Kineys mind, he is funny ( I wish I had the book infront of me to quote) it was when Dave is casting off a jetty , it is towards the end of a the tunrey and he is exusted and the jetty is crowded and someone cast over his line from the other side and fowls Daves line . and he wrotes about wanting to beat the egregous ofender.. what he said was great! I forgot how it was written but very funny.

sorry for all the typos I am dyslexic and they hide sp check on the apple I am on

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

You don't have to be into fishing to enjoy this book. I'm proof of that. The characters on Martha's Vineyard, and the stories about their behavior during the annual Derby, are fascinating. The descriptions of the island itself make me want to visit it. All in all, a fun book to read.

[Nate Winkelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fishing read about the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Blue Derby

[Matthew Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this while on Marthas Vineyard, though I'm no fisherman at all - it painted a very vivid picture, and the characters are certainly memorable - a good summer read.

[Erin Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

[Kelsey Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for every islander!

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

gr read

[Bart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a marvelous job of capturing the authentic weirdness of Martha's Vineyard, as manifested playfully in the fishing culture. In many ways it says: So, you took a ferryboat to Oak Bluffs on a Saturday morning, rented a mo-ped, drove all 26 miles, and now you know the island? Pal, you don't know the island.

But statements like that, anymore, are cliches too. This is a place, after all, where, about 25 years ago, folks began driving round with bumper stickers displaying the lovely litotes: "Drive Slow: You're not off-island anymore!"

The fishing parts are sort of scattered about and almost relentless. At some point, about halfway through, you become hopeful that the book was written in a way to make you empathize with a derby participant, and maybe it was originally. It's too short, though, to pull that off - and a number of stories could have been better reported, even with the author's oft-restated assertion that most fish stories are not true.

Still, if you've ever fished the derby, reading this will bring back much of the thrill; just the names of the beaches themselves'll do it.

[David Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Big One: An Island, An Obsession, and the Furious Pursuit of a Great Fishby David Kinney (Grove Press 2009) (799.1) is a great tale about the annual "Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby" which is five weeks of nonstop fishing and fishing-induced madness. Islanders and visitors compete for prizes for the biggest striped bass, bluefish, false albacore, and Atlantic bonito in a number of different categories. It's a great fishing story. My rating: 7.5/10, finished 1/31/14.

[Kristin R · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read about the annual Martha's Vineyard fishing derby. If you are passionate about fishing - pick this up. I have never been fishing and don't plan to, but this light and entertaining read let me in on a small but fascinating yearly event.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting narrative of the Striped Bass Fishing Contest on Martha's Vineyard. Some funny stories, but is longer than it needs to be.

[Lance Conte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get the net - this book is a keeper!!!

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second best fishing book I have read!!