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Casting into the Light: Tales of a Fishing Life
Tales of a champion the education of a young woman hell-bent on following her dream and learning the mysterious and profound sport, and art, of surfcasting, on the island of Martha’s Vineyard.
Janet Messineo knew from the get-go that she wanted to become a great fisherman. She knew she was as capable as any man of catching and landing a huge fish. It took years—and many terrifying nights alone on the beach in complete darkness, in search of a huge creature to pull out of the sea—for her to prove to herself and to the male-dominated fishing community that she could make her dream real.
Messineo writes of the object of her striped bass and how it can take a lifetime to become a proficient striped bass fisherman; of stripers as nocturnal feeders, hard-fighting, clever fish that under the cover of darkness trap bait against jetties or between fields of large boulders near shorelines, or, once hooked, rub their mouths against the rocks to cut the line.
She writes of growing up in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and Salem, New Hampshire, the granddaughter of textile mill workers, tagging along with her father and brother as they cast off of jetties; of going to art school, feeling from a young age the need to escape, and finding herself, one summer, on the Vineyard.
She describes the series of jobs that supported her fishing—waitressing at the Black Dog, Helios, and the Home Port, among other restaurants. She writes of her education in patience and the technique to land a fish; learning the equipment—hooks, sinkers, her first squid jig; buying her first one-ounce Rebel lure.
She re-creates the thrill of fishing at night, of being buffeted by the island’s harsh winds and torrential rains; the terror of hooking something mysterious in the darkness that might pull her into water over her head.
She gives us a rich portrait of island life and writes of its history and of Chappaquiddick’s (it belonged to the Wampanoags, who originally called it Cheppiaquidne—“separate island”); of the Martha’s Vineyard its beginning in 1946 as a way to bring tourism to the island during the offseason, and the Derby’s growing into one of the largest tournaments in the world.
Messineo describes her dream of becoming a marine taxidermist, of learning the craft and perfecting the art of it. She writes of the men she’s fished with and the women who forged the path for others (among them, Lorraine “Tootie” Johnson, who fished Vineyard waters for more than sixty years, and Lori VanDerlaske, who won the Derby shore division in 1995). And she writes of her life commingled with fishing—her marriage to a singer, poet, activist; their adopting a son with Asperger’s; and her teaching him to fish. She writes of the transformative power of fishing that helped her to shake off drugs and alcohol, and of her profound respect for fish as a magnificent animal.
With eighteen of the author’s favorite fish recipes, Casting into the Light is a book about following one’s dreams and about the quiet reckoning with self in the long hours of darkness at the water’s edge, with the sounds of the ocean, the night air, and the jet-black sky.
Janet Messineo knew from the get-go that she wanted to become a great fisherman. She knew she was as capable as any man of catching and landing a huge fish. It took years—and many terrifying nights alone on the beach in complete darkness, in search of a huge creature to pull out of the sea—for her to prove to herself and to the male-dominated fishing community that she could make her dream real.
Messineo writes of the object of her striped bass and how it can take a lifetime to become a proficient striped bass fisherman; of stripers as nocturnal feeders, hard-fighting, clever fish that under the cover of darkness trap bait against jetties or between fields of large boulders near shorelines, or, once hooked, rub their mouths against the rocks to cut the line.
She writes of growing up in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and Salem, New Hampshire, the granddaughter of textile mill workers, tagging along with her father and brother as they cast off of jetties; of going to art school, feeling from a young age the need to escape, and finding herself, one summer, on the Vineyard.
She describes the series of jobs that supported her fishing—waitressing at the Black Dog, Helios, and the Home Port, among other restaurants. She writes of her education in patience and the technique to land a fish; learning the equipment—hooks, sinkers, her first squid jig; buying her first one-ounce Rebel lure.
She re-creates the thrill of fishing at night, of being buffeted by the island’s harsh winds and torrential rains; the terror of hooking something mysterious in the darkness that might pull her into water over her head.
She gives us a rich portrait of island life and writes of its history and of Chappaquiddick’s (it belonged to the Wampanoags, who originally called it Cheppiaquidne—“separate island”); of the Martha’s Vineyard its beginning in 1946 as a way to bring tourism to the island during the offseason, and the Derby’s growing into one of the largest tournaments in the world.
Messineo describes her dream of becoming a marine taxidermist, of learning the craft and perfecting the art of it. She writes of the men she’s fished with and the women who forged the path for others (among them, Lorraine “Tootie” Johnson, who fished Vineyard waters for more than sixty years, and Lori VanDerlaske, who won the Derby shore division in 1995). And she writes of her life commingled with fishing—her marriage to a singer, poet, activist; their adopting a son with Asperger’s; and her teaching him to fish. She writes of the transformative power of fishing that helped her to shake off drugs and alcohol, and of her profound respect for fish as a magnificent animal.
With eighteen of the author’s favorite fish recipes, Casting into the Light is a book about following one’s dreams and about the quiet reckoning with self in the long hours of darkness at the water’s edge, with the sounds of the ocean, the night air, and the jet-black sky.
- GenresNonfictionMemoirSports
320 pages, Hardcover
Published July 2, 2019
34 people are currently reading
815 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 22, 2020
The parts of the book leading up to her living on the Vineyard and her first years there were great, the author has a great writing style. Once it got into the heavy-duty fishing I lost interest. You could feel her love of the sport and her excitement, no doubt about that, but since I don't fish it got way too technical and I got bored. She should write a book about life on the Vineyard. I'd buy that in a heartbeat.
January 7, 2023
This book is perfect for improving the visual appearance of the coffee table in your Martha’s Vineyard home. The cover is beautifully designed and the deckled edge gives it a rough and ready feel appropriate for a book about fishing.
As a piece of writing, it comes and goes like the tides. My guess is that it is a compilation of the author’s articles and notes thrown into a book length treatment with too little editing. Messineo tosses back and forth without a clear point and will often repeat herself even within the same chapter. Many of the stories were interesting, though could have baited the reader with clearer organization. Tackling the book as a whole is a bit much, but the reader would be well served by fishing for an occasional chapter.
As a piece of writing, it comes and goes like the tides. My guess is that it is a compilation of the author’s articles and notes thrown into a book length treatment with too little editing. Messineo tosses back and forth without a clear point and will often repeat herself even within the same chapter. Many of the stories were interesting, though could have baited the reader with clearer organization. Tackling the book as a whole is a bit much, but the reader would be well served by fishing for an occasional chapter.
April 26, 2020
This book can be very easily graded and categorized. If you truly love fishing and are familiar with Martha’s Vineyard and New England surf casting in general, you will devour this book. When the author writes of a fish on the line, her heart racing and the line screaming off the reel - you’ve been there. You wish you were there right then. You wish it was you. Just like actually catching fish, hearing the author’s stories never gets old. The image of a bygone era when 50lb stripers were not that rare is a reminder how much damage we have done to our environment in the past three decades.
Messineo is over the top passionate about fishing and it pours out in her writing. For someone who has spent most of her life fishing and living on little sleep - with some hard living mixed in - the writing is surprisingly good. It could have used some editing here and there and there is some repetition, but those are small bits in a book defined by a direct primacy created with the reader and a lot of authenticity.
On the other hand, if you are not pretty seriously interested in fishing this book is a zero star outing for you.... steer clear. We know you don’t understand us and we like it that way!
Messineo is over the top passionate about fishing and it pours out in her writing. For someone who has spent most of her life fishing and living on little sleep - with some hard living mixed in - the writing is surprisingly good. It could have used some editing here and there and there is some repetition, but those are small bits in a book defined by a direct primacy created with the reader and a lot of authenticity.
On the other hand, if you are not pretty seriously interested in fishing this book is a zero star outing for you.... steer clear. We know you don’t understand us and we like it that way!
June 18, 2023
I love buying and reading these types of books.
Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
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Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
https://numberoneboats.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/
https://theboatyacht.com/boats-for-sale/
https://numberoneboats.com/boats-for-...
https://theboatyacht.com/yachts-for-s...
https://numberoneboats.com/yachts-for...
November 8, 2021
Let me begin by saying this book is not for everyone — it has some redundant elements — and there is perhaps too much about fishing but if you approach it as a very honest, heart felt impression of a Place — Martha’s Vineyard— and a Time — the past 40 years — it’s a beautiful piece of folk art. Certainly, it helps that I was just there cycling 321 miles on MV and Cape Cod but even without that knowledge I think many would enjoy this book because of its focus on place and time and an obsession — fishing — and all aspects of that obsession from bait capture to lure making to taxidermy to rod making. Tip O’Neil once said all polities is local and Emerson said the only true history is biography and for those reasons I’m sure they would like this book. It’s very local and very autobiographical and unique. It even has cooking recipes. Fishing is really about loss — losing the big one, growing older, losing friends and family — and simple joy and gratitude that comes with mastering a special skill. As they say, a morning to learn, a lifetime to master.
September 18, 2019
I am an extremely slow reader, reading usually only a a few minutes a day but could not put this book down. It was an easy and captivating read. Every time I opened the pages, I felt like I was right there. I’m heading to the Vineyard in a few weeks for the first time and have been looking forward to but also nervous about entering into the derby. Reading about Janet’s experiences and stories, breaking into a male dominated sport and proving to herself and everyone else that she can do it gives me hope and encourages me to keep on learning and fishing as much whenever I can. Many great tips and even recipes!
March 14, 2022
This is a delightful book. It is very enjoyable and it’s filled with stories and recollections. Very well organized and written.
Well performed by the author for the audio version. Though I’m not sure that those with Boston accents should be allowed to narrate books. Takes a while to get used to all those dropped r’s! If they can pronounce an r at the end of a word I don’t understand why they can’t say it in the middle?
Well performed by the author for the audio version. Though I’m not sure that those with Boston accents should be allowed to narrate books. Takes a while to get used to all those dropped r’s! If they can pronounce an r at the end of a word I don’t understand why they can’t say it in the middle?
September 6, 2019
If you like the Vineyard, successful women, the outdoors and a glimpse into the life of a salt water surf caster, you will love this book. It brought me back to time spent watching my Dad & Uncle surf casting into the waters off of Matunuck, RI. Also a book I want to share with my grandson. You should be interested in fishing.
September 15, 2019
A very cool behind-the-scenes look at the fishing culture on Martha’s Vineyard, where I grew up year-round, from an unlikely source: a female fisherman in a very male-dominated industry. I learned a lot, but the book could have benefited from a strong editor to pull it together and tease out some narrative.
December 17, 2024
Bought this on the Vineyard this summer in Edgartown. Fun stories about the island and how it developed as a fishing hotspot for stripers. Messineo is a natural storyteller and at times this felt like her diary - lots of jumping back and forth in time. solid read and a nice coffee table book if I owned a house in Aquinnah.
July 26, 2019
This is a wonderful read, I learned so much about not only Janet’s experiences and the culture of fishing on Martha’s Vineyard, but also about the species of fish that are native to the area. I’ve not fished much in my life but this book makes me want to pick up a rod and give it a try!
August 26, 2019
There's so much more to learn about surfcasting, and fishing in general, than I ever would have expected. This book was taught me a great deal about a topic I never thought would interest me. I thoroughly enjoy memoirs of strong, determined women and this one was no exception.
December 31, 2019
Highly recommend this book. So thoughtful and reflective. The author has had a very interesting life: living off the land, getting sober, and fishing at a time when women were excluded from the sport. Her respect for the environment and her fishing family is really touching to read.
April 9, 2020
Sorry to say but there just was not enough interesting parts to carry it. Kind of a mishmash of repetitive information throughout. The chapter on taxidermy was almost too much to bear. Liked the author for her grit and tenacity and he total devotion to fishing but just cannot recommend the book.
Want to read
June 26, 2019Can't wait to read this! Sounds like a very interesting story line!
August 19, 2019
One of the best books I've read in a long time. It's all about fishing, of course!
August 2, 2020
This is a great read for anyone who loves Martha’s Vineyard or fishing or is curious about either! I enjoyed learning about something new and Love her authentic voice.
October 24, 2020
4.5 shares. very well written and a tremendous journey of one's life with a some great fishing tales.
tried-but-never-again
October 30, 2021Not badly written just not for me. I never went back to it after I put it down and it’s been hanging out on my kindle ever since. Time to let it go
March 2, 2022
I met Janet in person a few years ago and got a signed copy, then read it in a few days.
Great detail and passion and she is a wonderful person!
Great detail and passion and she is a wonderful person!
May 30, 2023
The story of a woman with an unquenchable desire to fish, breaking the gender barrier and the good ole boy network to succeed at casting for stripers off Martha’s Vinyard.
October 1, 2025
The fishing bits were fun, but it felt like a "you had to be there" sort of book.
March 23, 2023
I loved this book. She's forgotten more about chasing rock than I will ever know. For those who complained there was too much fishing stuff, I'm guessing you're the same folks who go to a Led Zeppelin concert and wait til it's over to say the music was too loud.
March 18, 2021
Very short sentence structure and graphic descriptions made this a good read. Learned much about the daily rhythms of a surfcaster. Can't wait to try some of her tips and tricks on my next trip.
October 9, 2019
I found this oddly interesting.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews