Scenes from the 2016 Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby
Catch and release.
Catch and release.
Roy Langley rings the opening bell and first weigh-in begins.
Roy Langley rings the opening bell and first weigh-in begins.
Derby began at 12:01 a.m. Sunday; first weigh-in was at 8 a.m.
Derby began at 12:01 a.m. Sunday; first weigh-in was at 8 a.m.
Bluefish comes through weigh-in station.
Bluefish comes through weigh-in station.
Peter West has a cap full of derby buttons.
Peter West has a cap full of derby buttons.
Sunset casting at South Beach.
Sunset casting at South Beach.
Eli Bonnell holds up a fish at the weigh-in station Monday.
Eli Bonnell holds up a fish at the weigh-in station Monday.
Tim Peters is one of first on leaderboard with 10.85-pound shore bluefish.
Tim Peters is one of first on leaderboard with 10.85-pound shore bluefish.
Tim Peters brings bluefish to be weighed in by Roy Langley.
Tim Peters brings bluefish to be weighed in by Roy Langley.
All eyes will be on the scale for the next five weeks.
All eyes will be on the scale for the next five weeks.
First day of derby action in Menemsha.
First day of derby action in Menemsha.
Posing with an albie.
Posing with an albie.
All smiles during derby time.
All smiles during derby time.
Darryl Goffreda with his first albie of the Derby.
Darryl Goffreda with his first albie of the Derby.
All smiles at derby headquarters.
All smiles at derby headquarters.
Fishing by lamplight at Edgartown harbor.
Fishing by lamplight at Edgartown harbor.
Casting a line at State Beach.
Casting a line at State Beach.
Fishermen line the beach by Edgartown Light.
Fishermen line the beach by Edgartown Light.
Tim Luce.
Tim Luce.
Where the action happens.
Where the action happens.
Hot accessory of fall: derby pins.
Hot accessory of fall: derby pins.
Lines in Menemsha.
Lines in Menemsha.
Waiting for a bite at Lighthouse Beach.
Waiting for a bite at Lighthouse Beach.
All eyes on the leaderboard.
All eyes on the leaderboard.
Casting into the setting sun in Katama.
Casting into the setting sun in Katama.
Anthony Sullo poses with his striped bass.
Anthony Sullo poses with his striped bass.
Weigh station manager Amy Coffey.
Weigh station manager Amy Coffey.
Joe El-Deiry weighs in 11.11-pound bluefish on Oct. 1.
Joe El-Deiry weighs in 11.11-pound bluefish on Oct. 1.
Derby headquarters.
Derby headquarters.
Sofia Campos with 13.02-pound shore bluefish, the daily winner for Oct. 1.
Sofia Campos with 13.02-pound shore bluefish, the daily winner for Oct. 1.
Mini junionr division competitior Dylan Cafferty weighs in a 15.16-pound boat bluefish.
Mini junionr division competitior Dylan Cafferty weighs in a 15.16-pound boat bluefish.
A glance at the leader board.
A glance at the leader board.
Kevin FitzGerland fishing at Philbin. He comes every year from his home in Alaska to fish the Derby.
Kevin FitzGerland fishing at Philbin. He comes every year from his home in Alaska to fish the Derby.
Tommy Elliott and Capt. Jonathan Boyd take part in American Heroes Saltwater Challenge.
Tommy Elliott and Capt. Jonathan Boyd take part in American Heroes Saltwater Challenge.
Scene at headquarters: Shelly O'Neil, Polly Conway, Lizzie Wallo and Joe El-Diery.
Scene at headquarters: Shelly O'Neil, Polly Conway, Lizzie Wallo and Joe El-Diery.
Every fall, the island of Martha's Vineyard is seized by fish fever as one of the East Coast’s best known saltwater fishing tournaments gets underway.
Started in 1946 as a promotional event and run since 1987 by a non-profit organization composed largely of local fishermen, the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby attracts anglers from all over the world.
The 72nd annual derby starts at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, and runs through Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. The awards ceremony will take place Sunday, Oct. 15.
Fishermen vie for awards and bragging rights for the biggest catch caught from the shore or from a boat. In addition to the striped bass and bluefish, the tournament covers bonito and false albacore. Anglers under 15 compete in the junior division.
Crowds gather twice a day at the weigh-in shack by the Edgartown Yacht Club as the daily and weekly leaderboards are updated. At the end of the tournament, the top fishermen in eight divisions have a chance at grand prizes, including a truck and a boat.
See highlights of derby history at the Vineyard Gazette's Time Machine.
A true community event, the derby sponsors a program that provides fish to the Island’s elderly population and each year provides four-year college scholarships to Island youth.
For more information about the derby, go to mvderby.com.