An Island Point of View

Dan and Kathleen Kelliher
An Island Point of View, Nantucket History & People

Thanking Those Who Help along the Way

Teachers are a special breed. They are vital to our society and far too often underappreciated (and underpaid). As in so many things in my life, I remember those who treated me well…and those who didn’t. In fairness, I also remember the ones that I didn’t appreciate enough at the time. I truly regret the times that I acted poorly for those who simply wanted to make me a better person. My two daughters have both grown up to become teachers and I couldn’t be any prouder. It is a noble profession.

August Blues Nantucket 2025
An Island Point of View

August Is for Blues

Heather Unruh has won a lot of awards over the years. Four Emmy awards for her journalism and the Clarion Award for women in communication. How about the Gracie Allen Award from the group American Women in Radio and Television? Yup, she won that as well. But which award is displayed prominently in the family room of her Nantucket home, you ask? Of course it’s her first place framed August Blues—Nantucket Champion print that she won last year.

Nantucket tautog fishing 2025
An Island Point of View, Nantucket Essays

Going Out after Togs

Not to divulge big secrets, but when I’m not taking people out beach fishing, I spend some time working with my buddy Mike Ramos. Mike is a master plumber. He often needs a hand while turning on / closing down houses for the seasons. I have a blast working with Mike, playing the role of “plumber’s monkey.” And a real fine monkey I am, if I do say so myself!

Nantucket surfcasting story
An Island Point of View, Nantucket Voices

“Bad Luck Billy”

“I don’t do a lot of beach fishing. I’m a boat fisherman. And I never fish at night. You guys do this all the time.” My brother Billy seemed a bit nervous as I drove him and Dale Gary to Pocomo Point to fish the incoming tide in mid-September of 2020. Night fishing does require a different skill set, no doubt. It’s important to fish by feel. Generally, the targeted species is striped bass, the most nocturnal of the fish hanging around Nantucket. And yes, Dale and I do fish a lot at night together. Quite a bit. Both of us could pretty much cast and retrieve while blindfolded.

Matt Yarborough bass fishing Nantucket
An Island Point of View, Nantucket Essays

Fishing with the Coach

It started with an email that I received on my fishing account last summer: “My son Matt and his family arrive (next week). They live in Louisville Kentucky where Matt is the bass fishing coach (varsity sport) at Saint Xavier High School. He has been fishing every chance he gets ever since he could stand up!”

Nantucket fishing charter story
An Island Point of View

A Day in the Tuna Life

Oh man, what was I thinking to book a 6 am fishing charter on a Saturday? Well, it had to be, as some medical appointments had shuffled my week pretty thoroughly. I somehow woke up a minute before my alarm went off. Now I’m not flexing here, but this ability is something of a superpower. I was fairly beat from bass fishing the night before. Maybe not my wisest decision to go but those stripers aren’t going to catch themselves, right?