On Wednesday afternoon, Duarte’s Pond looked like a pot of boiling water as over 300 brook trout thrashed about beneath the surface.
The pond had been freshly stocked in preparation for the 52nd Annual Kids Trout tournament, which begins at first light on Saturday, May 2. The event was founded by Cooper Gilkes and his wife Lela, who own Coops Bait & Tackle shop in Edgartown, and organized by the Martha's Vineyard Rod & Gun Club.
“To get these kids up early in the morning, and to see everything wake up, the birds coming in… it’s just exciting,” Mr. Gilkes said.
Mr. Gilkes, who was born in Oak Bluffs but moved to New Hampshire for a time, brought the tradition to the Island soon after he returned. The first tournament took place in 1973 at the Mill Pond in West Tisbury.
The event soon outgrew that small pond and over the years changed a few locations until settling in at Duarte’s on Lambert's Cove Road. On Saturday nearly 100 kids ages 14 and under will fish for fun and prizes, including fishing rods and bicycles.
“They get to have a hot dog for breakfast,” Mr. Gilkes added.
Mr. Gilkes said he still remembers the thrill he felt as a kid when a fish tugged on the line and bent his rod. He said the tournament is less about catching fish and more about ensuring that kids are the ones who get hooked on the sport.
“The whole program is just getting the kids out, letting them see what it’s like early in the morning and getting them adapted,” he said. “It’s amazing how many kids you see later on.”
This article appears in May 1, 2026.
Fabulous. Just fabulous.
Hats off to Coop and nothing like a breakfast hotdog
One of the best things that are done on the vineyard. I grew up in southie and in the early 50’s we used to have a derby at Jamaica pond and we were bused there from the projects cause no one had cars. We thought we were in a different world for a day and they still do it for the poor kids in town