Howard Davis and his 13-year-old son Calvin began fishing together 10 years ago and haven’t stopped since. Early Sunday morning, the two of them were up before dawn, ready to take part in the annual Kids Derby at the Oak Bluffs Steamship wharf.

Mr. Davis smiled at his son as he measured a 16.25-inch scup, which would eventually earn him a third place award.

“I tell friends back home about the derby, and they want to know, what’s the prize?” Mr. Davis said. “I think it was probably three or four years in that I realized that it honestly is the ability for us to be in the derby fishing these five weeks together.”

Calvin echoed his father’s excitement.

Getting the next generation up to speed and excited.

Tim Johnson

Getting the next generation up to speed and excited.

Tim Johnson

“I love the water and fishing,” Calvin said as he returned to his rod to make another cast.

For many like the Davis family, the love for fishing and passing it on to the next generation starts at the Kids Derby, an annual event that is part of the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. The gates opened at 6 a.m. for dozens of kids and families eagerly awaiting the once-a-year chance to fish from the Oak Bluffs Steamship terminal.

Within minutes a line formed at the makeshift weigh-in station.

Cooper Gilkes, one of the founders of the Kids Derby, said he always looks forward to Kids Derby.

“It’s candy, look at this,” he said, gesturing at a kid running to get his fish measured. “The kids get to see a sunrise, which they don’t very often, and there’s a lot of fish. It is precious. Absolutely precious.”

All in the family.

Tim Johnson

All in the family.

Tim Johnson

Mr. Gilkes remembered a customer coming into his Edgartown tackle shop earlier this year and speaking about the impact of the event.

“He said, ‘you probably don’t remember me, but about 15 years ago, I brought my first kid to the derby. I’d never been fishing. I was standing over in the corner over there, and I had this wicked tangle in my line, and I just didn’t know how to handle it. Out of the blue, you showed up, handed me a new rod and we just kept fishing,’” Mr. Gilkes recalled.

Gabe Dickson, one of the youngest fishermen at three years old, had a big smile on his face when he walked over to measure his fish with the help of his father, Nelson Dickson.

“It’s unbelievable to bring him out,” Mr. Dickson said. “I did the Kids Derby once with all my buddies [right before] we hit the age limit. It is such a cool experience, the prep, getting up early, finding a spot and walking over with a fish.”

For Kingsley Francis, Sunday morning was her first time fishing. She tagged along with her uncle Aiden Rogers, who grew up fishing the derby. Hesitant at first, Kingsley eventually caught two scup, one 10 inches and the other 11 inches. At the weigh-in, she shied away from holding the fish but immediately ran back to her spot on the pier for another try.

For her, the hardest part was getting up early in the morning.

“I didn’t like it,” she said.

More pictures.

Winners Circle

Grand prize winner: McCabe Neadow, age 9, 25.75-inch striped bass

11-14 years old

1) Emery Fullen, age 14, 17-inch black sea bass.

2) Henry Jackson, age 12, 16.75-inch black sea bass.

3) Calvin Davis, age 13, 16.25-inch scup.

7-10 years old

1) Felicity Sprague, age 10, 16.5-inch black sea bass

2) Luke Stobie, age 9, 16.25-inch black sea bass.

3) Thea Desosa, age 8, 16-inch black sea bass.

6 and under

1) Avery Kohl, age 5, 17.5-inch black sea bass.

2) Hazel Tuper, age 6, 16-inch black sea bass.

3) Nikita Heath, age 5, 16-inch black sea bass.