From the October 20, 1967 edition of the Vineyard Gazette:
The leads in the twenty-second annual fishing derby were further capsized during the final hours of fishing. The derby ended at noon on Sunday, and the weighing-in continued until 2 o’clock.
James McCormick of Saugus nosed out Lee Fracchia of Manchester, Conn., by two ounces, making first in nonresident bass with a fish that weighed 49 pounds 5 1/2 ounces. Mr. Fracchia dropped to second place, and Mike Pagano of Newton to third, crowding Mrs. Louise deSomov off the list, but she was still tops in the senior group, and also the weekly prize for bass landed by women.
Fred Kiener of Vineyard Haven, who had held the lead among resident bass fishermen, held his place to the final hour, with Richard Hathaway of Edgartown second, and Stephen Amaral of Oak Bluffs third. Champ of striper boat fishing was Kib Bramhall of Needham, who had held this place for some days. Ralph and Norman Whitten of Swampscott won the father and son trophy, Joyce and Ted Malley of South Duxbury won the husband and wife trophy, and Mrs. Malley the greatest shore fishing poundage. Lewis Hathaway Jr. of Edgartown won the Schaefer fly-rod trophy.
The largest shore bass landed on the final day was 28 pounds 7 ounces. It was landed by James Sullivan of Mattapoisett. The largest bluefish was 13 pounds 13 ounces, caught by Mark Davis of Oak Bluffs. Mark also won the juvenile prize boat or shore.
Total fish landed on Sunday was thirty-one, sixteen bass and fifteen blues, still indicating the pinching-out of the fishing. Total fish landed in the thirty-day contest was 1,856, 844 bass and 1,012 blues.
The champion bluefishermen in the derby were the “dauntless three,” Arnold Carr of Teaticket, 16-11 1/2, Allan Peterson of Brockton, 16-11, and Robert Flanders of Mattapoisett, 16-2.
The first grand prize in the resident and nonresident striper shore fishing categories is a $500 U.S. Savings Bond, second is a $100 bond and third is a $50 bond.
Twenty-five dollar bonds were awarded for the leader in striper boat fishing, senior striper shore fishing and as the woman’s bonus award for the greatest striped bass shore poundage. Fifty dollar bonds were awarded to the leaders in the juvenile striper and juvenile bluefish categories,
In the twenty-two years that the Vineyard’s fishing derby has been an annual event, the contest and related features have given rise to new ideas and developments from time to time. The changes have generally inclined toward a more sporting attitude on the part of the contestants.
No one connected with the management of the derby has suggested such things, yet it has been apparent that little by little the heavy surf rods and lines have been replaced by lighter tackle, as fishermen realized that the prolonged battle with a fish that has been given a fighting chance affords much more real sport than derricking in a half-drowned fish.
This year the trend toward still lighter gear has been more apparent than ever, and it is the very lightest, flyrods and fifteen-pound test lines or even lighter being favored to a higher degree than ever. Because of this trend, the prize for fly-fishing was added to the list, and another derby is expected to see the number of fly-fishers greatly increased.
This development can result in an absolute change of character in the derby, Benjamin F. Morton, who has directed the operation of the derby from the beginning, believes. It is his cherished idea that the contestant in the derby of the near future will do his fishing with a flyrod, and that his fishing ground will be the salt ponds of the Island rather than the beaches. Here, as he points out, may be found striped bass every fall. Here, a man can fish under conditions which favor fly-fishing regardless of weather conditions in many cases. Travel over private property can be reduced to a minimum, and in all ways the overall picture will be more attractive and provide greater sport.
Sunday:
Weekly prizes, bonus awards: Women’s striper shore fishing, Louise deSomov, Hampton Bays, L. I., 37-1; juvenile striper shore fishing, William Wannamaker, Edgartown, 21-3; women’s bluefish, Sandra Valois, Key West, Fla., 16; juvenile bluefish, Ed Tina, Mattapoisett (15 years), 10-1; weekly boat striper, Kib Bramhall, Needham, 45-3; weekly shore bluefish, Ed Pina, Oak Bluffs, 11-1.
Daily striper shore fishing: Francis Bernard, Oak Bluffs, 19-13; Bill Parks, Edgartown, 19-5, Cape Pogue; Bob Morgan, Edgartown, 13-10, Cape Pogue; John Searle, Oak Bluffs, 8-15, Tashmoo; Roger Andrews, Vineyard Haven, 7-15, Chilmark. Daily mystery, Dick Brown, Westport.
Daily bluefish: Bill Nolan, Norwell, Mass., 12-15, Gay Head; Gerald Morency, Padanaram, Mass., 12-9 1/2 off Wasque; Marshall Carroll, Chilmark, 11, Gay Head; George Vincent, Westport, Mass., 11-12 1/2, Gay Head: Richard Brown, Westport, 10-7 1/2, Gay Head. Daily Mystery, Marshall Carroll, Chilmark.
Compiled by Hilary Wallcox
library@vineyardgazette.com