Each year, as part of the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, a special morning returns to the Oak Bluffs Steamship pier. Before the first ferry slides in, kids ages four to 14 are given free reign of the wharf to try their luck during Kids Derby Day.

No registration is needed, just an ability to wake up early — and convince a parent to do the driving.

The event is from 6 to 8 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 18, and features both prizes and bragging rights. Fish are judged by length, not weight, a different set of criteria than the adult derby. But at heart, everything else is the same — a hook and a prayer are all one needs to take part.

For more information, visit mvderby.com.