More than 250 people registered to participate in the fifth annual Fluke For Luke fundraiser, a two-day fishing derby on the Island. The fishing tournament was founded in memory of Luke Gurney, a pillar of the Vineyard fishing community who died six years ago in a boating accident.
However, it was long after the final weigh-in on Sunday that the real event began at the Portuguese American Club in Oak Bluffs.
Friends and family of Mr. Gurney — as well as fishermen from up and down the Cape — told stories and shared fond memories of their late friend while enjoying a barbecue and raw bar. Almost all participants wore a hat or shirt bearing the name of Luke’s boat: No Regrets.
“The thing about this tournament, it’s all about being a good friend and a family man. And that was what Luke was all about,” Matthew Merry said, after winning the competitive adult sea-bass category with a 4.04-pound fish.
Julian Pepper won the adult fluke category with an 8.86-pound fish. In the junior division, 12-year-old Jake Gatchall won with a 3.54-pound sea bass and seven-year-old Ethan Rivers won with a 2.76-pound fluke.
Three Boats and a Gull, made up of Pat Martone, Julian Pepper, Josh Kresel and Jena Beauregard, won in the team category with a cumulative total of 32.28 pounds of fish.
First, second and third-place finishers in all categories received a new fishing rod and tackle box as prizes.
Gina deBettencourt, president of the Portuguese-American club and host of the event, helped grill almost 400 hot dogs and hamburgers for the occasion.
“We pride ourselves on helping whenever we can,” Ms. deBettencourt said. “That’s our mission.”
Funds from the event’s registration and silent auction, as well as other donations, raise money to pay for Luke’s sons to go to college. Currently, Mr. Gurney’s eldest son Jacob is entering his sophomore year at the University of Rhode Island, while his younger son Sam is still attending high school on the Island.
Josh Flanders, an Oak Bluffs resident, first met Mr. Gurney over 30 years ago. “We would go out in kayaks and fish off Squibnocket,” Mr. Flanders said. “That was back when there were still big fish around.”
He organized the donation of quahaugs for the event’s raw bar, collecting the shellfish from fish markets around the Island.
“We usually shuck close to 1,000 oysters and quahaugs for the event,” Mr. Flanders said.
Many fishermen did not want to be named, asking instead to be referred to as “a friend of Luke’s.” One of the anonymous anglers estimated there were about 20 kids on the Island named Luke, a testament to Mr. Gurney’s lasting memory.
For Joe El-Deiry, an organizer of the event and friend of Mr. Gurney, it’s exactly this legacy that the tournament looks to preserve.
“It’s family first, and fishing second,” said Mr. El-Deiry.
A complete list of results can be found on the Fluke for Luke Facebook page.
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