Call it a race to the top for the old pros. With four days left in the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish derby, two well-known tackle shop owners and former derby winners are in first place for shore bluefish and bass.
Cooper A. (Coop) Gilkes 3rd stills holds his spot in first place with a 34.34-striper caught from the shore last week. And on Columbus Day Stephen C. Morris moved into first place on the leaderboard 14.86-pound bluefish caught from the shore.
Richard A. Penney holds first place for the largest striped bass (46.15 pounds) caught from a boat.
And in the boat bluefish category. Charles J. Ogletree leads with his 15.50-pound chomper.
Domingo P. Canha leads the boat bonito category with a 9.79-pound fish.
Summer-like temperatures have frustrated fishermen, who know that colder water means better fishing.
“It is time for a change in the weather,” declared Janet Messineo, another veteran derby fisherman.
For more results go to mvderby.com.
This article appears in October 7, 2011.