Looking out at the Elizabeth Islands in the distance on Tuesday, derby competitor Max Eagan cast his rod into the rocky waters off Menemsha.
He had been out for hours, the cold October wind hitting his hopeful face, but not much hitting his line.
He cast his line over and over, jigging his rod to lure in a fish big enough to win a prize — or at least provide some sport.
Suddenly, his rod arced, his line let out and the fight was on.
For a moment at least.
After a modest struggle the fish turned out to be a bonito, too small to keep.
“It’s been a lot of cold mornings and barely any fish,” Mr. Eagan said, echoing what many have been saying this derby season.
Mr. Eagan removed the hook from the bonito’s mouth, tossed the fish back and watched it disappear beneath the surface.
Up the beach, at Lobsterville, Eamon Mackenzie fished beside 20 other hopefuls. Mr. Mckenzie has been competing in the derby his whole life, he said.
“I think [when it’s slow moving] it really brings out the dedicated,” he said. “When people aren’t catching fish, you get those people who just want to be out there to be out there and that’s what brings out a lot of the camaraderie.”
John Piekos, director-at-large for the derby, was also fishing on Lobsterville Tuesday afternoon. He said he’s been out every day, changing his usual fishing spots hoping to get lucky, but has only caught two fish thus far.
He remains ever hopeful.
“It’s never over until the last cast,” Mr. Piekos said. “Whenever I feel like I’m ready to give up, I know it’s just one cast away.”
The 79th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass & Bluefish Derby comes to an end Saturday. The awards ceremony is Sunday at Farm Neck Golf Club, beginning at 11 a.m.
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