Noble Days and Clarity of Light for Second Week of Derby
Landed a bluefish off the Menemsha jetty.
Landed a bluefish off the Menemsha jetty.
Casting off from State Beach.
Casting off from State Beach.
Fellowship of fishing as small sea bass is reeled in at Memorial Wharf.
Fellowship of fishing as small sea bass is reeled in at Memorial Wharf.
Oli Metters eyes the water for schoolies.
Oli Metters eyes the water for schoolies.
Mattheus Scheffer.
Mattheus Scheffer.
Heading out, and in, to Oak Bluffs harbor.
Heading out, and in, to Oak Bluffs harbor.
Sunset fishing along the Oak Bluffs fish pier.
Sunset fishing along the Oak Bluffs fish pier.
Off Little Bridge.
Off Little Bridge.
Couples that fish together, stay together.
Couples that fish together, stay together.
Gone fishing is the rallying cry for the Island in the second week of the derby. And as always the competition signals that time in the Vineyard year between the waning days of summer and the arrival of autumn. Some say the golden months of September and October are the two best in any Island year. Now come the noble days, the high blue ocean skies and a clarity of light that colors the sea in glitter and draws the far horizon near.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Order of Rod and Reel: Go Fish!
Casting a line off the fishing pier in Oak Bluffs.
Casting a line off the fishing pier in Oak Bluffs.
Hanging the sign at Derby Headquarters at the base of Dock street.
Hanging the sign at Derby Headquarters at the base of Dock street.
Crowds line up along Lighthouse Beach for schoolies.
Crowds line up along Lighthouse Beach for schoolies.
Trolling Katama Bay.
Trolling Katama Bay.
Father and son bond at Menemsha.
Father and son bond at Menemsha.
Boards will soon have daily leaders posted.
Boards will soon have daily leaders posted.
Testing the waters off Menemsha channel.
Testing the waters off Menemsha channel.
Impromptu fillet bench.
Impromptu fillet bench.
Joe El-Deiry unloads the refrigerators at the weigh-in station.
Joe El-Deiry unloads the refrigerators at the weigh-in station.
Crowds of fishermen can always be found lining the Menemsha jetty.
Crowds of fishermen can always be found lining the Menemsha jetty.
Popular spot at sunset too.
Popular spot at sunset too.
It's the time of year when everyone want to get the blues — bluefish, that is, along with false albacore and bonito. The seventy-seventh annual Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby starts at 12:01 a.m. this Sunday and will not conclude until mid-October, by which time any number of Islanders and visitors will be puffy-eyed and zombie-like, conditions brought on by a passion for the fishing competition that overwhelms lesser human endeavors such as sleep.
Derby Brings Fishermen Together in Spirit of Camaraderie
Graceful boat makes her way past line up of fishermen.
Graceful boat makes her way past line up of fishermen.
End of day.
End of day.
Jack Cushman tries his luck on State Beach.
Jack Cushman tries his luck on State Beach.
Familiar scene at the end of the Menemsha jetty.
Familiar scene at the end of the Menemsha jetty.
Evening activity at Derby headquarters.
Evening activity at Derby headquarters.
Wil Sideman weighs in a 5.58 pound bonito.
Wil Sideman weighs in a 5.58 pound bonito.
Leader board is always good reading.
Leader board is always good reading.
Reflections.
Reflections.
Fishermen brave the gale in pursuit of a keeper.
Fishermen brave the gale in pursuit of a keeper.
Each day and night of fishing provides participants in the derby with choices — not only of baits and lures and lines, but favorite fishing spots that become secrets only when competitive fish are landed there. Whether watching the sunset at Lobsterville or the sunrise at South Beach, whether casting into the rip at Wasque or bobbing over the waters of Middle Ground in a Boston Whaler, fishermen know that the search for their finny friends is a competition that, more than anything else, brings them together in a spirit of camaraderie and gives them yet another excuse to celebrate the matchless joys of our Island.
Fish Fever Strikes as Derby Gets Underway
Days end on Sengekontacket.
Days end on Sengekontacket.
Derek Guynn and his golden retriever, Booker, reel in a striped bass aboard the Tomahawk.
Derek Guynn and his golden retriever, Booker, reel in a striped bass aboard the Tomahawk.
MIchael Goldsmith tries his luck in the Edgartown harbor opening.
MIchael Goldsmith tries his luck in the Edgartown harbor opening.
Casting lines in the chaannel at Big Bridge at first light.
Casting lines in the chaannel at Big Bridge at first light.
Oak Bluffs fish pier always brings good luck.
Oak Bluffs fish pier always brings good luck.
Morning boat plies the water for albies.
Morning boat plies the water for albies.
Steven Parece caught a small snapper blue and released it.
Steven Parece caught a small snapper blue and released it.
Boat fishermen are pulling them in offshore.
Boat fishermen are pulling them in offshore.
Watching the Chappy ferry come and go.
Watching the Chappy ferry come and go.
End of the jetty all to himself and his thoughts.
End of the jetty all to himself and his thoughts.
Fish are jumping off East Chop.
Fish are jumping off East Chop.
Noah and Jonah Levenglick land a scup on Memorial Wharf.
Noah and Jonah Levenglick land a scup on Memorial Wharf.
Ella DiBari, 11, catches a shark on her second day of fishing, ever.
Ella DiBari, 11, catches a shark on her second day of fishing, ever.
Wetting a line at Eastville Beach.
Wetting a line at Eastville Beach.
Every fall, the Vineyard is seized by fish fever as one of the East Coast’s best known saltwater fishing tournaments gets underway.
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.
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.