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. This year’s derby began on Sunday, Sept. 13 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 17.

Started in 1946 as a promotional event and run since 1987 by a nonprofit organization composed largely of local fishermen, the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby attracts anglers from all over the world.

Derby Stories

Derby Photos

Derby Awards

Anglers, volunteers, board members, family and friends gathered at Farm Neck Golf Club to watch the 81st Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass & Bluefish award ceremony. David M. Gerhardt would walk away with the grand prize of Derby-themed Jeep Gladiator Mojave X, provided by Vineyard Vines and Premier Jeep Cape Cod.

David M. Gerhardt wins the derby.
David M. Gerhardt wins the derby. – Ray Ewing
David M. Gerhardt weighed in a 21.01 pound boat bluefish.
David M. Gerhardt weighed in a 21.01 pound boat bluefish. – Ray Ewing
Friends and family rush to surround David M. Gerhardt.
Friends and family rush to surround David M. Gerhardt. – Ray Ewing
David M. Gerhardt is from Louisiana and had never caught a bluefish before.
David M. Gerhardt is from Louisiana and had never caught a bluefish before. – Ray Ewing
Overcome with emotion.
Overcome with emotion. – Ray Ewing
Keys to the new ride.
Keys to the new ride. – Ray Ewing
Sweet victory!
Sweet victory! – Ray Ewing
Congratulations from fishing friends.
Congratulations from fishing friends. – Ray Ewing
David in disbelief.
David in disbelief. – Ray Ewing
A once-in-a-lifetime experience.
A once-in-a-lifetime experience. – Ray Ewing
by Ray Ewing

Derby Days: Home Stretch

The Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby enters its final week and anglers are packing in fishing hours before the bell tolls. Time will tell if the leaderboard is set, or if big upsets are in store.

Anglers line the Chappy side of Edgartown harbor.
Anglers line the Chappy side of Edgartown harbor. – Ray Ewing
Waiting for that elusive blitz or blowup.
Waiting for that elusive blitz or blowup. – Ray Ewing
The beach is a social scene between tides.
The beach is a social scene between tides. – Ray Ewing
Dan Athearn with a nice bonito.
Dan Athearn with a nice bonito. – Ray Ewing
A quick stop at Derby HQ before work.
A quick stop at Derby HQ before work. – Ray Ewing
Activity on the boards at the weigh in station.
Activity on the boards at the weigh-in station. – Ray Ewing
The memory of Ed Jerome is a constant presence.
The memory of Ed Jerome is a constant presence. – Ray Ewing
Spending the morning at the headquarters.
Spending the morning at the headquarters. – Ray Ewing
Trying the fly in the salt.
Trying the fly in the salt. – Ray Ewing
Waiting to feel the bite.
Waiting to feel the bite. – Ray Ewing
Looking for the next hot spot.
Looking for the next hot spot. – Ray Ewing
The fillet station stays ready for the next fish.
The fillet station stays ready for the next fish. – Ray Ewing
Putting on a show at the Oak Bluffs fishing pier.
Putting on a show at the Oak Bluffs fishing pier. – Ray Ewing
Turbines in the background during a slow drift over the rip.
Turbines in the background during a slow drift over the rip. – Ray Ewing
Paula Sullivan weighs in a bonito.
Paula Sullivan weighs in a bonito. – Ray Ewing
Another solid fish.
Another solid fish. – Ray Ewing
Waiting for the action to pick back up.
Waiting for the action to pick back up. – Ray Ewing
Taking advantage of some amazing weather.
Taking advantage of some amazing weather. – Ray Ewing
Sparkling ocean in the middle of the day.
Sparkling ocean in the middle of the day. – Ray Ewing
A good day on the beach.
A good day on the beach. – Ray Ewing
Keeping a weather eye on the surface of the water.
Keeping a weather eye on the surface of the water. – Ray Ewing
A good spot attracts a crowd.
A good spot attracts a crowd. – Ray Ewing
Circling the wagons.
Circling the wagons. – Ray Ewing
Making the perfect cast takes time.
Making the perfect cast takes time. – Tim Johnson
Always a big crowd at the last weigh in.
Always a big crowd at the last weigh in. – Ray Ewing
[l-r] Emily Mizer, Donaime Juster, Arthur Hynes, Randy Cameron.
[l-r] Emily Mizer, Donaime Juster, Arthur Hynes, Randy Cameron. – Ray Ewing
[l-r] Steve Tirrell, Clement Green Jr, Clement Green.
[l-r] Steve Tirrell, Clement Green Jr, Clement Green. – Ray Ewing
Applause for Isabella Pachico.
Applause for Isabella Pachico. – Ray Ewing
Ash Peters with a bluefish.
Ash Peters with a bluefish. – Ray Ewing
Clement Green, Jr with his first fish.
Clement Green, Jr with his first fish. – Ray Ewing
Joey Huang with a bluefish.
Joey Huang with a bluefish. – Ray Ewing
Luke Stobie takes the junior shore bluefish lead.
Luke Stobie takes the junior shore bluefish lead. – Ray Ewing
Steve Tirrell takes the lead in the senior shore bluefish division.
Steve Tirrell takes the lead in the senior shore bluefish division. – Ray Ewing
Tucker Schaefer rings the final bell.
Tucker Schaefer rings the final bell. – Ray Ewing
by Ray Ewing

Bass in The Grass

The annual Bass in the Grass fundraiser is open and on display now at The Carnegie in Edgartown. The event is held in honor of the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby and proceeds go to help raise money for local artists.

Mitch Gordon for The Preservation Trust.
Mitch Gordon for The Preservation Trust. – Jeanna Shepard
– Jeanna Shepard
Althea Freeman-Miller for The Vineyard Gazette.
Althea Freeman-Miller for The Vineyard Gazette. – Jeanna Shepard
David Joseph for The Derby.
David Joseph for The Derby. – Jeanna Shepard
Gisela Clausin-Diaz for Edgartown Books.
Gisela Clausin-Diaz for Edgartown Books. – Jeanna Shepard
Leah Fraumeni for the Derby.
Leah Fraumeni for the Derby. – Jeanna Shepard
M-C Lamarre for Hob Knob.
M-C Lamarre for Hob Knob. – Jeanna Shepard
Rachel Cassiani for Edgartown Meat & Fish.
Rachel Cassiani for Edgartown Meat & Fish. – Jeanna Shepard
Rachel Romanowski for Sea Legs.
Rachel Romanowski for Sea Legs. – Jeanna Shepard
Rebecca Everett for The Old Sculpin Gallery.
Rebecca Everett for The Old Sculpin Gallery. – Jeanna Shepard
Steve Lohman for Summer Shades.
Steve Lohman for Summer Shades. – Jeanna Shepard
Tara Reynolds for Edgartown Village Market.
Tara Reynolds for Edgartown Village Market. – Jeanna Shepard
Thomas Osborn for Rockland Trust.
Thomas Osborn for Rockland Trust. – Jeanna Shepard
By Jeanna Shepard

Fishing Stories