Begin the Derby Days
Sun rises over Chappy as fishermen try their luck.
Sun rises over Chappy as fishermen try their luck.
Lining the jetty on the Big Bridge channel.
Lining the jetty on the Big Bridge channel.
This is the 79th year of the derby.
This is the 79th year of the derby.
Gil Alves lands a bonito.
Gil Alves lands a bonito.
Sam Bell tries out rods at Larry's Tackle Shop.
Sam Bell tries out rods at Larry's Tackle Shop.
Julian Pepper at Larry's.
Julian Pepper at Larry's.
Derby pins are fall fashion accessory.
Derby pins are fall fashion accessory.
Bonito blitz in Edgartown harbor.
Bonito blitz in Edgartown harbor.
Pete Bergeron displays his bonito.
Pete Bergeron displays his bonito.
Casting lines off Memorial Wharf.
Casting lines off Memorial Wharf.
Lighthouse Beach.
Lighthouse Beach.
Follow the birds.
Follow the birds.
The parade to the water’s edge begins in the first minutes after midnight Sunday morning. The 79th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby will open and for the next month thousands of friends and strangers will compete in what has become one of the most prestigious fishing tournaments in the nation.
The competition is open to all, to the very young and the old, to expert fishermen and novices just beginning, and to those who may wish to fish a little while enjoying the Vineyard shore during September and October, the golden months, often declared the best months in the Island years. It will be hard to find people around the Vineyard in the next few weeks, and that’s because most them have gone fishing.
It’s a grand Vineyard tradition and derby only makes it better.