Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass & Bluefish Derby

(posted by Katama Delight of Martha's Vineyard)

Fish fever strikes the island!

The 73nd annual derby, one of the East Coast's best known saltwater fishing derbys, starts at 12:01 am on Sunday, September. 9, 2018. It runs through 10 pm, Saturday, October 13, 2018.

The Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby attracts anglers from all over the world.

Fishermen compete for awards for the biggest catch caught from the shore or from a boat.

In addition to striped bass and bluefish, the tournament also includes bonito and false albacore.

Fishing in the Katama sunset (Photograph by Timothy Johnson for the Vineyard Gazette 2016)

There is a junor division for anglers ages 9 to 14, and the youngest fishermen, age 4 to 8, compete as mini juniors.

Twice a day, mornings and evenings, crowds gather at the weigh-in shack by the Edgartown Yacht Club as the daily and weekly leaderboards are updated.

At the end of the tournament, top fishermen in eight divisions have a chance at winning grand prizes, including a truck and a boat.

The coveted derby pin (Mark Lovewell for the Vineyard Gazette 2016)

The awards ceremony will take place Sunday, October 14.

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: https://www.mvderby.com/

To see highlights of derby history: https://vineyardgazette.com/timemachine/collection/striped-bass-and-bluefish-derby

Fisherman line the shore at the Edgartown Light (Jeanna Shepard for the Vineyard Gazette, 2016)