The Vineyard made a strong showing recently at the Massachusetts Saltwater Derby Awards ceremony at the New England Boat Show in Boston. Out of 250 total entries in the derby, eight Islanders, including three in the junior category, took home top honors from the state Division of Marine Fisheries for weighing in the heaviest fish.

The Saltwater Derby runs each year from Jan. through November and takes place all over the state.

David Nash, a retired environmental program manager and avid fisherman, told the Gazette that it was an overcast day off the waters of Edgartown last September when he felt the tug on his line of a prize winning 11 pound 3 ounce false albacore. He said he was surprised that it was the heaviest fish in the category, especially since it was his first time entering the Saltwater Derby.

“It was thin but very long,” said Mr. Nash. “Once he came in, I knew I should weigh-in.”

Other Island winners include Trish Lyman of Edgartown, who caught a 12 pound 4 ounce false albacore; Tony Jackson of Edgartown with an 11 pound, 6 ounce bonito; Peter Shepardson of Vineyard Haven with a 66 pound, 5 ounce yellowfin tuna, and Sol Watson of Vineyard Haven with a 6 pound, 13 ounce Spanish mackerel.

In the Junior category, Elizabeth Thompson of West Tisbury caught a 7 pound king mackerel and Chesca Potter of Vineyard Haven caught a 10 pound 9 ounce false albacore.

The heaviest fish of them all came from Mason Warburton of West Tisbury, who reeled in an 18 pound, 13 ounce bluefish in the junior category.

“These kids have fishing in their blood,” said Mr. Nash. “They are the future of recreation on the Island.”