At 7:59 a.m. John Custer stood outside derby headquarters and slid open the door to reveal a derby legend: Janet Messineo. Ms. Messineo rang the official derby bell to start the 79th edition of the beloved Island tradition.
The parade to the water’s edge begins in the first minutes after midnight Sunday morning. The 79th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby will open and for the next month thousands of friends and strangers will compete in what has become one of the most prestigious fishing tournaments in the nation.
The Martha’s Vineyard Surfcasters Association held its annual tackle sale for the eighth consecutive year Saturday. The sale is timed to precede the opening of the derby which begins Sept. 15.
At the 79th annual iteration of the derby, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 19, false albacore will be eligible for daily awards and daily prize money is going up.
Island recreational fishermen gathered to celebrate the end of the 78th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. Over the course of the five week-long competition, 2,999 contestants submitted more than 17,000 pounds of bluefish, bonito and false albacore to derby headquarters.
The 78th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby draws to a close with the final bell ringing on Saturday evening. The awards presentation takes place Sunday at Farm Neck Golf Club, beginning at 11 a.m.
