Dick Vincent, Charter Fishing-Boat Captain, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Dick Vincent guarantees you’ll catch fish while out on his Flashy Lady — maybe bluefish, but probably large striped bass (which he’ll fillet for you back in port). If you don’t catch a fish, you don’t pay. That happened just twice last season, and both customers paid anyway, probably because in addition to any fish you might catch, you also get an old salt on the side. Dick’s the real deal: island-born, with 11 generations of island ancestors, including whalemen, windjammer captains, lobstermen, and ferry engineers. “It’s hard for us to hide where we’re fishing,” he says. “Pretty soon we’re surrounded. I get a kick out of being surrounded by other boats, and we’re the only ones catching fish.”

Flashy Lady Charters,Basin Road, Menemsha.508-645-2462.