This year's Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish awards ceremony featured a twist not yet seen in the 70-year history of the beloved derby: a proposal. Moments after Miles Whyte of Edgartown won a new Eastern Boats fishing vessel, he asked his girlfriend, Deanna Withers, to marry him. She said yes and there were few dry eyes among those gathered at Farm Neck.

In more usual business, awards were handed out in categories ranging from sportsmanship to flyrod fishing. The big draw of the day had the grand leaders drawing keys to find out who would win a new Chevrolet truck from Clay Chevrolet and a new Eastern Boats fishing vessel. The striped bass division carried the day. Mr. Whyte, who caught the largest shore striped bass with a 37.95-pound beauty, won the boat. Stephen (Striper Steve) Pietruska, a seasonal West Tisbury resident, caught the largest striped bass by boat, a 41.98-pounder. This was the fourth time Mr. Pietruska has caught the biggest bass from a boat, but this year he was the winner of a new truck.

And so the book is closed on this year's derby, the weigh station closed until next September. See you next year.