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lmost everything that makes Nantucket so appealing to both its year-round residents and the tourists who visit

the island in the summer is rooted in the surrounding Atlantic Ocean.

The whaleboat captains of yesteryear who made their fortunes in the open sea, building fabulous mansions that are now part of the Island’scultural heritage, have long since given way to tourism as the Island’s breadwinning activity, but the ocean – and the many water sportsassociated with it remains the focus.

Perhaps first and foremost among the Island’s many aquatic attractions are its impressive 80 miles of beaches which vary in size and surf.To name but three - Jetties Beach, located on Nantucket Sound, features mild surf that is perfect for families. Lifeguards are on duty, anda playground and volleyball net are also located there. Meantime, one can take in impressive sunset views at Madaket Beach, at the southwestern tip of the Island, which is also a popular spot for swimmers and sunbathers.

For your stay on Island in the high season, you may think it impossible to find a quiet, secluded beach. But you would be surprised. If yourent or bring a trusty 4x4, you can still find obscure beaches to share alone with your sweetheart or family and friends, even in the heart

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Gone Fishing Normally the main recreational fishing season on Nantucketis roughly from early May, with prized striped bass and bluefish, until late October, when the recreational scallopingseason gives way to the commercial scalloping season. Butresidents may also enjoy ice fishing in the winter in one of the Island’s many fresh water ponds. Into ice that can be at leastfive inches thick, enjoying the novelty of being able to walk totheir favorite fishing locations. Some of the most popular spotsinclude Miacomet, Washing Pond and the north head of Hummock Pond.

Fishing ChartersThe Island hosts a large number of charter fishing boats, including businesses that provide you with all the equipmentyou need for rent, from rod and reel to bait and tackle. The seasoned fishermen have secret spots – not the popular ones,such as Great Point and Eel Point, which are always crowdedin the summer. Many charter fishing businesses propose tripsof anywhere from two hours to an entire day, with a guaranteed catch on a five hour trip.

Two of the Island’s most prized fish, striped bass and bluefish,come early in the season around May. Later, closer to July and

of the high season. At least that is what one 15-year Islandresident told me – and he promised to take me out there, provided I wear a blindfold. But Nantucket’s aquatic attractionsdon’t end with its beautiful beaches: charter fishing, surfing,water skiing, sailing, kayaking, scuba diving, pleasure cruisesand other activities promise a fun-filled stay for one and all,so read on…

Surfing NantucketFor those who enjoy surfing, the aptly named Surfside Beachon the south side of the Island offers not only windswept dunesbut also waves for surfers.

Surfers on Nantucket represent a tight-knit if open community.In the cold months of January, you can still see them, wearingsix millimeter-thick wetsuits that cover their entire bodies, leavingonly part of their face open, riding the waves off NobadeerBeach, not far from Surfside and just near the airport. Becausethe wind comes from the west in the wintertime, Nobadeer isa great choice in the cold months of January and February.During the summer, you won’t need any wet suits, but it isharder to find quiet beaches. For those of you who have nevergone surfing, Nantucket may be the perfect place for you. Thewaves are not as big as in California, and the Island includesseveral businesses that offer surfing lessons.

Surfers call each other about weather conditions and the bestbeach to go to. Part of the fun, according to one surfer, is seeingbluefish jumping out of the water as you try to catch a wave.He even saw a whale feeding on minnows in the distance. Inthe winter, it is common to see seals popping out of the water.

Certain more isolated beaches, only accessible with a 4x4,are a surfer’s dream in the summer. One such beach isMadaquecham located between The Airport and Tom Nevers.But the summer months are also perfect for a surfer’s visit toMadaket Beach. You can spot them riding waves there, as wellas off Cisco Beach on the southwest shore.

If you do not have a surfboard (which can also be rented), ordo not want to risk wiping out, you can also try body surfing.It is not that difficult, but will likely require several attempts before getting it right. The trick is to catch the wave just beforeit breaks, when you feel a certain amount of undertow – atthat moment, flatten yourself out and extend your armsstraightforward, aiming for the shore. The wave will take youin what can be a really fun experience – and no equipment is needed.

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Nantucket Blues

Local surfer Tavio Gonçalves at Cisco beach, Spring 2012

August, you can fish bonito (a member of the inshore tunafamily). Bonito [pronounced bonita] is not top of the line tuna –you need to bleed the fish as soon as you catch it and put iton ice for it to be good – but it is better than false albacore.As a sport fish, however, many anglers agree that none is better, because bonito can swim at extreme speeds, and putup a fight, so you always wonder if you have a long enoughline. Bluefish also put up a fight but are not as obstinate as thebonito, while striped bass is a great catch because it can bevery large. For striped bass in the summer, it would be wise toget out at first light.

Some of the more exotic fish to be caught include Spanishmackerel, which comes in August and is great eating. Again,you should bleed it and put it on ice immediately, preventingany poisons from tainting your catch. Essentially, it is wise tobleed all the fish that you want to keep. Other fish worthy ofattention include scup, a bottom feeder, which feeds on debrisat the ocean bottom. Scup have teeth and tend to be verysmall: a two-pound fish is considered extraordinary, but it alsogives you a great fight. Black sea bass and fluke are also twofantastic food fish.

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Flats Fishing Another popular type of fishing on Nantucket is called flatsfishing or shallow water fishing, which gives you the chanceto see how a fish reacts to different flies and the manner ofyour fly presentation. A critical factor in flats fishing is the needfor light. A typical flats trip tends to go from approximately 8 am to 4 pm, but the best time to fish the flats is from 10amto 2pm, when the sun is at its brightest. Polarized glasses area necessity for spotting fish on the flats, and a hat with a darkunder-brim will also help reduce glare.

If you feel more adventurous, you can take a boat some 100miles to the underwater canyons northeast of Nantucket, wherethe continental shelf drops off a few thousand feet underwater.Here the Gulf Stream surges its warm body of water, whereplenty of tuna and marlin species can be caught, including thetasty mahi mahi, also called dolphin fish.

Come September, the prized giant bluefin tuna, which is verytasty, can be caught about 30-60 miles offshore, but one needsthe proper equipment to do so, as these fish can weigh up to1,000 pounds. But there are plenty of boats getting them, andwhile out there, you can spot whales and porpoises – which isa good sign, because if the whales are out there feeding onsomething, that means that the tuna are likely out there too.The bluefin tuna season lasts for about a month and is moreof a commercial venture. Each year, a quota is set, and theseason ends once that quota is met.

ScallopingThe month of October is best known for the much-hallowedscalloping season for private recreational permit holders. Scalloping requires a permit that can be obtained from theTown for a modest fee. You are allowed to gather one bushelper week. Nothing beats walking into the water on a crisp fallday with waders, clutching a push rake to scoop up the scal-lops and throw them into the floating basket tied to your wader.While some scallopers eat their catch raw out of the water,most take it home, shuck the shellfish, and prepare it searedor with linguini in a cream sauce, among other deliciousrecipes. Nantucket bay scallops are prized nationwide andcan be ordered at some of the finest restaurants across thecountry. If you are scalloping for the first time, it is essential togo out with someone who is experienced to show you how toproperly rake and pick out the right scallops (some are notmature enough and it is illegal to collect baby scallops, whichare critical for the promulgation of the population).

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From Setting Sail to SnorkelingWith the salty ocean air gliding past you, nothing beats mastering the art of balancing a sailboat. Subject to manyforces, from wind to waves, the sailboat needs a skilled sailorto harness the energy of the wind and combat all the opposingforces to create a controllable forward motion for the boat.The task of sailing would be easy if the pressure or velocity ofthe wind were constant, but because the relationship betweenthrust and hull resistance do not remain the same, equal andopposite force is required to maintain a controlled heading –at least this is what I heard when I took a sailing lesson onNantucket a few years back.

Nantucket offers many opportunities for you to learn how tosteer and maneuver a sailboat, using rudder and sail on aclear sunny summer day. Inspiration can be drawn from twomajor Nantucket sailing regattas which take place in August:the Opera House Regatta, which features classic wooden sailboat races and the Nantucket Community Regatta featuringboth fiberglass and wooden sailboats. If you want to try sailingyourself, several boat owners provide both lessons and excur-sions, varying from a few hours to an entire day. You can alsotry the more scaled down, but equally challenging windsailingon most beaches where boards are for rent by the hour.Founded in 1995, Nantucket Community Sailing, a non-profitsailing school, also provides recreational access to sailing andvarious water sports to the public. With three separate locationson-Island, NCS also provides a wide array of youth sailingprograms. Sailing can foster confidence, independence, team-work and an appreciation of the marine environment.

Water sports on Island range from the accessible to the equipment-ridden. Counting among the most accessible arekayaking and canoeing – which require a boat, oars and alife vest that you can rent at most calm water beaches like Jetties. Taking a kayak trip not only proves to be a workout foryour arms and shoulders, but also gives you a chance to investigate the Island’s outlying geology, as well as to enjoy aview of Nantucket. For more adventurous spirits, there is noshortage of parasailing opportunities, if you feel like attachingyourself to a parachute that rises rapidly (with you in tow) asa motorboat takes off from the shore. All you have to do istake three or four quick steps and then you are in the air, soaring as much as hundreds of feet above water.

But the water sports adventure also takes place below water,with several businesses renting snorkeling and diving equipment. Snorkeling is far more accessible, as one needsless equipment (a mask and a snorkel and you’re good to go),but to dive, you will need first of all a license that proves yourability to withstand underwater pressure, to go back up to thesurface properly, and to breath properly underwater with oxygen tanks. You can also hire a scuba diving boat. Nantucket’s rich underwater life provides plenty of opportunitiesto enjoy the ocean from down below.

Finally, less a water sport than unadulterated pleasure: cruises.What better way to end your stay on Nantucket with yet another water option: the pleasure cruise. Seeing the Islandfrom aboard a boat can be as breathtaking as it is relaxing.Enjoy the waters that surround Nantucket!