After spending more than 30 years in the courtroom, Mattaposiett resident Eddie Doherty decided it was time to pursue a different passion.

The former Clerk-Magristrate in Wrentham District Court, and an avid fisherman for most of his life, Doherty recently published his first book, titled “Seven Miles After Sundown: Surfcasting for Striped Bass Along the World Famous Cape Cod Canal.”

Doherty describes his book partially as a how-to publication, but said he tried to include a human interest element as well.

“A lot of books have been written about fishing and striped bass, but not a lot with a focus about the Cape Cod Canal,” he said. “The book is mostly about my experiences on the canal."

One of the things he says is special about fishing for striped bass in particular, is that they’re not an easy fish to catch.

“They’re a strong, powerful fish,” he said. “And they’re not easily fooled. It takes skill to land them…They’re good eating fish too.”

Striped bass are also somewhat difficult to catch due to their rather unique biological clocks; overnight and into the early morning is when they’re most active.  The best time to fish for them is while is still dark out. For Doherty, the ideal conditions are when the canal has an east-running current and while the sun is just about to come up.

“That’s the prescription for good fishing,” he said. “I’ll get there at 2:30 a.m. just to get a spot.”

Doherty said the book had been on his mind for a while. Finding the time to fish, let alone write, was tough.

“I would drive [from Attleboro] to the canal at 1:30 or two in the morning to fish, then I’d drive back around six and be in the courtroom by 8:30,” he said. Writing a book would stay off the cards for awhile.

Now that the book is complete, though, Doherty takes pride in it—especially one section, called “Legends of the Canal,” where he profiled 10 different well-known people who fished on the canal.

“They’re people you can describe as legends,” Doherty said.

Doherty’s book is available on Amazon, and he will be doing a book signing at the Vendor & Craft Fair at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Saturday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.