The Martha’s Vineyard striped bass derby wound up in a blaze of glory at noon on Tuesday, when the last fish were entered for we
The first Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass Derby, the most ambitious event of its kind to be arranged for this coast, will begin at 12 noon on Sunday, Sept. 15, and will continue until 12 noon on Oct. 15. The grand prize of the derby is $1,000, and among the contestants so far are salt water fishermen from Toronto, others from Canada, four from Virginia, two from Philadelphia, and hundreds from the New England states and New York.
Scenes from the 2015 Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby
Wasque fishing scene.
Wasque fishing scene.
Brian (Chip) Vanderhoop assesses bluefish catch after a fishing charter with Nicholas lehrhoff, Logan Solomon and Steven Solomon. Mr. Iehrhoff came in second for all-tackle boat on Tuesday with 12-pound bluefish.
Brian (Chip) Vanderhoop assesses bluefish catch after a fishing charter with Nicholas lehrhoff, Logan Solomon and Steven Solomon. Mr. Iehrhoff came in second for all-tackle boat on Tuesday with 12-pound bluefish.
Oak Bluffs jetty at sunset.
Oak Bluffs jetty at sunset.
Lines in the water at the Menemsha Jetty.
Lines in the water at the Menemsha Jetty.
Fernando Almeida at Memorial Wharf.
Fernando Almeida at Memorial Wharf.
Amy Lima was the shore grand leader early Sunday--and the first woman to weigh in--with this 19.30-pound striper.
Amy Lima was the shore grand leader early Sunday--and the first woman to weigh in--with this 19.30-pound striper.
Derby time brings generations together.
Derby time brings generations together.
Warming up for the derby at Lighthouse Beach.
Warming up for the derby at Lighthouse Beach.
Longtime weighmaster Roy Langley rings the opening bell as derby chairman John Custers looks on and Aidan Gates waits to weigh-in his fish.
Longtime weighmaster Roy Langley rings the opening bell as derby chairman John Custers looks on and Aidan Gates waits to weigh-in his fish.
Aidan Gates, 14, of Vineyard Haven, weighs in first fish of the derby: a 5.95-pound false albacore.
Aidan Gates, 14, of Vineyard Haven, weighs in first fish of the derby: a 5.95-pound false albacore.
Aidan Gates weighs in albie, first of many fish that will come through headquarters.
Aidan Gates weighs in albie, first of many fish that will come through headquarters.
Chris Bonica, 26, of Norwood, brings his bluefish to headquarters.
Chris Bonica, 26, of Norwood, brings his bluefish to headquarters.
John Casey brings in biggest fish of day one, a 24.82-pound striped bass caught from a boat.
John Casey brings in biggest fish of day one, a 24.82-pound striped bass caught from a boat.
John Casey of Edgartown with his striper.
John Casey of Edgartown with his striper.
Weigh station is back in action as John Casey waits for the results.
Weigh station is back in action as John Casey waits for the results.
Aubrey Warburton with 14.65-pound boat bass.
Aubrey Warburton with 14.65-pound boat bass.
Oak Bluffs channel.
Oak Bluffs channel.
Roy Langley weighs in big bass.
Roy Langley weighs in big bass.
A bluefish at West Basin.
A bluefish at West Basin.
Riley Amaral tries his luck at Oak Bluffs fishing pier.
Riley Amaral tries his luck at Oak Bluffs fishing pier.
Andrew Haugevik.
Andrew Haugevik.
Karen Altieri was on the grand leaderboard Sept. 19 with 15.65 bluefish.
Karen Altieri was on the grand leaderboard Sept. 19 with 15.65 bluefish.
Memorial Wharf is fishing hotspot.
Memorial Wharf is fishing hotspot.
Fishing with friends at Wasque
Fishing with friends at Wasque
Darryl Goffreda nabs an albacore by the Edgartown Lighthouse.
Darryl Goffreda nabs an albacore by the Edgartown Lighthouse.
Some are not keepers.
Some are not keepers.
After kids' derby, Alyssa, 6, and Nayelli, 4, fish with dad Garrison Vieira.
After kids' derby, Alyssa, 6, and Nayelli, 4, fish with dad Garrison Vieira.
Michelle DeSiena and Darryl Goffreda, visiting from New Jersey, pose with their catch.
Michelle DeSiena and Darryl Goffreda, visiting from New Jersey, pose with their catch.
Janet Messineo heads to headquarters.
Janet Messineo heads to headquarters.
Jacob Riley works on his gear.
Jacob Riley works on his gear.
About 200 anglers turned out for annual kids' derby day.
About 200 anglers turned out for annual kids' derby day.
Cameron Maciel has a 9.05-pound albie measured.
Cameron Maciel has a 9.05-pound albie measured.
A look at the leader board.
A look at the leader board.
Weighmaster Roy Langley measures Jim Cornwall Jr.'s albie as Jim Cornwall Sr. looks on.
Weighmaster Roy Langley measures Jim Cornwall Jr.'s albie as Jim Cornwall Sr. looks on.
Joey Huang has a tough choice: which one to enter?
Joey Huang has a tough choice: which one to enter?
Derby gear ready and waiting at headquarters.
Derby gear ready and waiting at headquarters.
Near Little Bridge in Oak Bluffs, flyfishermen wet their lines at sunset.
Near Little Bridge in Oak Bluffs, flyfishermen wet their lines at sunset.
Kathi Pagoda with her winning shore Albie - it weighed in at 10.10 pounds and won the Super Saturday shore prize.
Kathi Pagoda with her winning shore Albie - it weighed in at 10.10 pounds and won the Super Saturday shore prize.
Neither wind, nor waves, nor driving rain will keep fishermen away from the derby.
Neither wind, nor waves, nor driving rain will keep fishermen away from the derby.
Lathrop Keefe fishes Menemsha harbor.
Lathrop Keefe fishes Menemsha harbor.
Grady Keefe spends some quality time near old fishing boat Unicorn.
Grady Keefe spends some quality time near old fishing boat Unicorn.
Stephen J. Pietruska landed on leader board Oct. 6 with 41.98-pound boat bass.
Stephen J. Pietruska landed on leader board Oct. 6 with 41.98-pound boat bass.
Aaron Kinne in a quiet moment in Menemsha.
Aaron Kinne in a quiet moment in Menemsha.
Kevin Shea paints the Menemsha scene.
Kevin Shea paints the Menemsha scene.
Miles Spabone casts a line.
Miles Spabone casts a line.
Scott McDowell.
Scott McDowell.
Squid Row is a derby hub.
Squid Row is a derby hub.
The 70th annual Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby got underway in the wee hours of the morning on Sept. 13.
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.
Scenes from 72nd Annual Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby
Charlie Blair poses with his son Taylor, who weighed in second fish of the derby.
Charlie Blair poses with his son Taylor, who weighed in second fish of the derby.
Janet Messineo poses with striped bass on the first day of the derby.
Janet Messineo poses with striped bass on the first day of the derby.
Derby chairman John Custer.
Derby chairman John Custer.
Ron McKee's 19 pound, 12 ounce striped bass is first fish weighed in at 2017 derby.
Ron McKee's 19 pound, 12 ounce striped bass is first fish weighed in at 2017 derby.
John Custer and Taylor Blair at the weigh station.
John Custer and Taylor Blair at the weigh station.
Roy Langley, pictured with derby president Ed Jerome, rings the opening bell to start the 72nd derby.
Roy Langley, pictured with derby president Ed Jerome, rings the opening bell to start the 72nd derby.
Derby treasurer Chris Scott and president Ed Jerome with Karen Altieri and her 32-inch, 10 pound shore bass caught on the first day of the derby.
Derby treasurer Chris Scott and president Ed Jerome with Karen Altieri and her 32-inch, 10 pound shore bass caught on the first day of the derby.
Alex Friedman at the weigh station.
Alex Friedman at the weigh station.
Beau Begin is busy at the fillet station.
Beau Begin is busy at the fillet station.
Terry Pothier, Kevin Searle, and Robyn Joubert at derby headquarters.
Terry Pothier, Kevin Searle, and Robyn Joubert at derby headquarters.
Kyle Gatchell weighs in 8.09 pound albie caught in Vineyard Haven harbor.
Kyle Gatchell weighs in 8.09 pound albie caught in Vineyard Haven harbor.
Casting a line in Menemsha.
Casting a line in Menemsha.
Ed Jerome weighs in 11.60 pound striped bass with weighmaster Mike Cassidy.
Ed Jerome weighs in 11.60 pound striped bass with weighmaster Mike Cassidy.
Early risers gather in Oak Bluffs for annual kids derby.
Early risers gather in Oak Bluffs for annual kids derby.
Tighe McHale and his father, Dave McHale, reel in a fish at kids derby.
Tighe McHale and his father, Dave McHale, reel in a fish at kids derby.
Lucy Mae, 4, and Stella, 2, at kids derby with parents Alex Friedman and Kealee Rainaud.
Lucy Mae, 4, and Stella, 2, at kids derby with parents Alex Friedman and Kealee Rainaud.
Chloe Cook, seven, is all excitement at kids derby.
Chloe Cook, seven, is all excitement at kids derby.
Kids derby winners.
Kids derby winners.
Trying to get luck at Memorial Wharf, just a stone's throw from weigh-in.
Trying to get luck at Memorial Wharf, just a stone's throw from weigh-in.
Casting into white water at the Oak Bluffs seawall.
Casting into white water at the Oak Bluffs seawall.
Albies are busting in Menemsha.
Albies are busting in Menemsha.
Striped bass.
Striped bass.
Late afternoon fishing on West Chop.
Late afternoon fishing on West Chop.
