The end of the 56th annual Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby is a day away. Many of the Island's top fishermen will fish right to the end, through tonight and into tomorrow. The derby will end when the headquarters at the foot of Main street in Edgartown close at 10 p.m. tomorrow.

An awards ceremony will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Oak Bluffs nightclub Atlantic Connection.

This has been a difficult tournament for shore fishermen. And though there is a dip in their landings, a top state fisheries biologist sees plenty of good news in the statistics.

Greg Skomal, sportfishing biologist for the state Division of Marine Fisheries, has been keeping track of derby landings for years. Compiling derby statistics is an excellent way to take the pulse of marine resources in this region.

While Mr. Skomal confirms most of the good fishing is being done from boats, the shore fishermen have done their share. Not since 1992 have so many bluefish been weighed in at the derby.

"Boat fishermen have had very good fishing success," Mr. Skomal said. "We basically were in a declining trend in bluefish landings until last year. Last year, bluefish landings increased; this year it has taken a tremendous bounce."

As of Wednesday night, derby boat anglers had landed 8,945 pounds of bluefish. Their shore counterparts had landed 1,420 pounds.

Fishermen come from around the world to participate in this event. Nearly 2,800 fishermen have joined, about 250 fewer than last year. The anglers are competing to catch the largest striped bass, bluefish, bonito and false albacore. This year, the derby will award close to a quarter million dollars in prizes and prize money. The top prize is an 18-foot Boston Whaler, with a Mercury outboard and trailer.

Two windy weekend storms have interfered with the fishing this year. And for the last two weeks, anglers have complained that catching big fish from the shore was tough.

Bonito and false albacore fishing has always fluctuated from year to year. Mr. Skomal said anglers haven't had a good bonito fishing season in seven years, though last year wasn't bad. "This year the bonito landings are 50 per cent of last year's landings, to date," he said.

"Ninety per cent of all the bonito taken in this year's contest were taken by boat fishermen," he said. "That, to me, is pretty amazing."

The same can be said for the false albacore season, with one interesting difference. "Fly fishermen have had a lot more success fishing for false albacore this year than last," Mr. Skomal said.

There is not much to report about striped bass other than a slight decline compared to last year. With 250 fewer fishermen competing, the number of striped bass landed is 50 less than last year. "Remember that is to date - the final numbers for the derby aren't in yet," Mr. Skomal said.

Shore fishermen pursuing striped bass did better this year than last. "Last year, nine per cent of the striped bass landed were caught by shore fishermen. That nine per cent increased to 25 per cent for this year," Mr. Skomal said. "This is a bit of a bump for shore fishermen, though it is still far below what shore fishermen are typically able to catch during the derby.

"There could be many reasons why the shore fishing success is not as good as in past years," Mr. Skomal said. Don't look for an easy answer. Weather conditions, availability of bait and water temperature are a few factors.

The good news is that 22,574 pounds of fish were weighed in as of Wednesday night, with about an equal amount of striped bass and bluefish making up the bulk of that tonnage, close to 10,000 pounds apiece.

And here, with a day and a half of fishing time remaining in the derby, are the standings as of last night:

Daily Derby Results

Friday, Oct. 5

All-tackle boat bonito: 1, Charles Long, 7.48; 2, Lev C. Wlodyka, 7.11; 3, Walter S. Wlodyka, 6.77; 4, Stephen W. Bycholski, 5.22. Boat bluefish: 1, Norman E. Bouchard Jr., 14.50; 2, William E. Welch, 14.37; 3, Jan Grabowski, 13.57; 4, Ed C. Amaral, 13.65. Shore bluefish: 1, Ernest J. Pribanic, 11.98; 2, Joe El-Deiry, 10.87; 3, Daniel J. Sweeney, 9.89; 4, George P. Moran, 7.89.

Boat striped bass: 1, Judd W. Fuller, 37.76; 2, Edward J. Walsh, 35.02; 3, Jim Pieche, 31.38; 4, Norman E. Bouchard Jr., 30.84. Shore striped bass: 1, John Segar, 39.46; 2, Dennis Guluzy, 32.14; 3, Mike S. O'Rourke, 12.98.

Flyrod boat bluefish: 1, Rob Morrison, 10.71; 2, Thomas J. Rapone, 6.73; 3, Art E. Crago, 3.83. Flyrod shore bluefish: 1, Jeffrey R. Sayre, 3.80.

Junior boat bluefish: 1, Megan G. Dreyer, 10.26; 2, Seth R. MacPherson, 9.75; 3, Becca L. Webb, 9.87; 4, Patrick MacPherson, 5.91. Junior shore bluefish: 1, Travis McKee, 4.23. Junior boat striped bass: 1, Becca L. Webb, 33.14; 2, Patrick MacPherson, 13.71.

Mystery prize winners: Bluefish, Peter Vaisler; bonito, Charles Long; striped bass, Steve J. Baccelli; flyrod, Jeffrey R. Sayre; juniors, Travis McKee.

Saturday, Oct. 6

Shore bonito: 1, Morgan Muir, 7.14; 2, Stan W. Brown, 6.49; 3, Dave Desmarais, 5.34; 4, Bernie Arruda, 3.95. Boat bluefish: 1, Ed Willoughby, 12.53; 2, Kenneth A. Ponte, 12.31; 3, Norman E. Bouchard Jr., 12.11; 4, Steven V. Purcell, 11.52. Shore bluefish: 1, Rob H. Cross, 13.45; 2, Chris T. Chandler, 11.93; 3, Mark Keegan, 11.20; 4, Al A. Premo, 4.20.

Boat striped bass: 1, Mark Campos, 19.22. Shore striped bass: 1, Ernie J. Baracchini, 24.51; 2, David J. Cron, 22.25; 3, David Ofer, 19.05; 4, Jim P. Tiganella, 17.23.

Junior boat bluefish: 4, Becca L. Webb, 11.46. Junior boat striped bass: 1, Amanda J. Ponte, 30.04.

Mystery prize winners: Bluefish, John Smith; bonito, Stan Brown; striped bass, Mark Campos; juniors, Amanda J. Ponte.

Sunday, Oct. 7

Boat bluefish: 1, John Smith, 14.17; 2, Ryan C. Welch, 14.08; 3, Debbie J. Manley, 13.92; 4, Thor Farrish, 12.70. Shore bluefish: 1, Robert H. Shriber, 12.52; 2, Thomas Kieras, 6.50; 3, Ed C. Amaral, 4.40; 4, Charles M. Barr, 4.07.

Boat striped bass: 1, A.J. Streb, 26.21; 2, Lynn Dougherty, 25.22; 3, Gregg Dougherty, 25.20; 4, Matthew J. Vanderhoop, 24.67. Shore striped bass: 1, David C. Hearn, 40.48; 2, Justin E. Elia, 28.23; 3, Todd Fiorentino, 14.35.

Flyrod boat bluefish: 1, Kevin A. Ludwig, 10.97. Flyrod boat striped bass: 1, Ned Casey, 12.33.

Junior boat bluefish: 1, Ashley T. Brede, 10.89; 2, Ken A. Ponte Jr., 10.45; 3, Sarah L. Kadison, 10.76; 4, Nathan B. Webb, 10.80. Junior shore bluefish: 1, Alex Miserandino, 3.37. Junior boat striped bass: 1, Alex C. Avakian, 16.87; 2, Ashley T. Brede, 11.35.

Mystery prize winners: Bluefish, Charlie J. Smith; striped bass, Lynn Dougherty; flyrod, Kevin A. Ludwig; juniors, Alex C. Avakian.

Monday, Oct. 8

Shore bonito: 1, Stan W. Brown, 6.93. Boat bluefish: 1, Thomas C. Antolik, 14.34; 2, Richard Blackinton, 13.04; 3, David W. Lawrence, 12.86; 4, Jim J. Brennan, 11.79. Shore bluefish: 1, Ed C. Amaral, 8.86; 2, Ron Domurat, 8.06; 3, Ralph J. Peckham, 8.27; 4, Thomas Kieras, 7.28.

Boat striped bass: 1, Bob C. Tierney, 17.29; 2, David W. Lawrence, 15.68; 3, Christian E. Averill, 12.19. Shore striped bass: 1, Stephen J. Kelly, 32.04; 2, Ron Domurat, 19.32; 3, Joseph H. Calamia, 11.93.

Junior boat bluefish: 1, Bonnie M. Ponte, 6.66; Hat Trick, Nathan B. Webb, 9.61.

Mystery prize winners: Bluefish, John W. Piekos; striped bass, Ron Domurat; juniors, Nathan B. Webb.

Tuesday, Oct. 9

Boat bonito: 1, Andre M. Levesque, 6.82; 2, David Pothier, 6.60; 3, William J. Davies, 4.58; 4, David C. Hearn, 4.99. Boat bluefish: 1, Porky J. Francis, 13.92; 2, Lisa A. Brown, 12.88; 3, Buck Martin, 11.84; 4, Brian K. Nunes-Vais, 10.71. Shore bluefish: 1, Dennis Guluzy, 7.04; 2, Derek P. Bergeron, 6.38; 3, Keith Ogren, 4.76; 4, Ted Dewing, 4.05.

Boat striped bass: 1, Samuel G. Nord, 30.80; 2, Ray M. Rapino, 25.40; 3, Thomas J. Hayes, 17.57; Hat Trick, Patrick T. Jenkinson, 34.84. Shore striped bass: 1, Ron H. McKee, 16.04; 2, Keith Ogren, 14.99; 3, John A. Johnston, 11.15.

Junior boat bluefish: 1, Gus M. Hayes, 12.70; 2, Brendan P. Looby, 10.44; 3, Tony P. Canha, 10.68; 4, Christopher A. Morris, 9.66. Junior shore bluefish: 1, Leeanna M. Fisher, 3.98.

Mystery prize winners: Bluefish, Edward J. Lepore; bonito, David Pothier; striped bass, Patrick T. Jenkinson; juniors, Leeanna M. Fisher.

Wednesday, Oct. 10

Boat bluefish: 1, Albion A. Alley 3rd, 10.69; 2, Earl V. Peters, 12.92; 3, Keith Ogren, 10.54; 4, Thomas R. Barlosky, 9.67. Shore bluefish: 1, Lynn E. Howell, 3.92; 2, Ed C. Amaral, 6.24; 3, Dennis Guluzy, 4.28; 4, Keith A. McArt, 3.68. Shore striped bass: 1, Phil M. Horrton, 20.16; 2, Stephen J. Kelly, 25.80; 3, David M. Burke, 13.89; 4, Mark L. Sauer, 13.96.

Flyrod boat bluefish: 3, Ken Scott, 6.51. Flyrod boat striped bass: 1, Dick Adams, 17.32.

Junior boat bluefish: 1, Annie C. Finnerty, 7.73.

Mystery prize winners: Bluefish, Marjorie W. Mason; striped bass, Mark L. Sauer.

Thursday, Oct. 11

Boat bonito: 1, Edward J. Lepore, 7.79; 2, David (Tubby) J. Medeiros, 7.30; 3, Robert A. Plante, 7.23; 4, David C. Kadison, 7.19. Shore bonito: 2, Dave Desmarais, 4.39. Boat bluefish: 1, Kerry J. Caldon, 13.11; 2, Roy Cutrer Jr., 11.58; 3, Jim McDevitt, 11.17; 4, Paulee M. Davies. Shore bluefish: 1 Stephen J. Kelly, 10.61; 2, John Hoy, 8.62; 3, Francesca A. Uranker, 4.13; 4, Joseph P. Uranker, 3.88.

Boat striped bass: 1, Stephen J. Whorton, 33.58; 2, David C. Hearn, 29.80; 3, George R. Medeiros Jr., 28.52; 4, Brian K. Nunes-Vais, 24.54. Shore striped bass: 1, Dan T. Pribanic, 44.96; 2, Jean-Marc G. Dupon, 31.36; 3, Stephen J. Kelly, 33.08; 4, Jeffrey A. Pribanic, 29.40.

Flyrod boat bonito: 2, Ken Scott, 8.41; 3, Thor Farrish, 5.32. Flyrod boat bluefish: 2, Bill Jurczyk, 6.32. Flyrod shore bluefish: 1, Wilson L. Kerry, 3.37. Flyrod shore striped bass: 1, Ernest J. Pribanic, 21.68; 2, Jack Hess, 9.15.

Junior boat bluefish: 1, Christopher A. Morris, 11.33; 2, Peter D. Goodwin, 5.72; 3, Matt San Sanfilippo, 3.57.

Mystery prizes: bluefish, Mike J. Harrold; bonito, Michael Dubroff; striped bass, Jeffrey A. Pribanic; flyrod, Wilson L. Kerr; juniors, Peter D. Goodwin.

Weekly Leaders for Week

Ending Saturday, Oct. 6

Boat bluefish: Edward J. Jerome, 16.65. Shore bluefish: Jack M. Livingston, 15.26. Boat striped bass: Judd W. Fuller, 37.76. Shore striped bass: John Segar, 39.46.

Boat bonito: Charles Long, 7.48. Shore bonito: Morgan Muir, 7.14. Boat false albacore: Robin J. Davies, 8.68.

Flyrod boat bluefish: Thor Farrish, 11.48. Flyrod shore bluefish: Jeffrey R. Sayre, 3.80. Flyrod boat striped bass: Art E. Crago, 14.53. Flyrod boat bonito: David C. Kadison, 6.38. Flyrod boat false albacore: David W. Skok, 12.97.

Junior boat bluefish: Becca L. Webb, 11.46. Junior shore bluefish: Travis McKee, 4.23. Junior boat striped bass: Becca L. Webb, 33.14. Junior shore striped bass: Tim J. Sauer, 27.04.

Female weekly leaders. Boat bluefish: Estey L. Teller, 12.68. Shore bluefish: Annette M. Cingle, 3.95. Boat striped bass: Sherry A. Mele, 17.90. Shore striped bass: Lynn E. Howell, 9.25. Boat bonito: Phyllis Heerwagen, 7.29. Boat false albacore: Robin J. Davies, 8.68. Junior boat bluefish: Megan G. Dreyer, 10.26. Junior boat striped bass: Becca L. Webb, 33.14.

Grand Derby Leaders to Date

All tackle boat striped bass: 1, Lev C. Wlodyka, 44.14; 2, Judd W. Fuller, 37.76; 3, Roger T. Sylva, 37.50. Shore striped bass: 1, Dan T. Pribanic, 44.96; 2, Reid G. Silva, 42.08; 3, David C. Hearn, 40.48. Boat bonito: 1, Robert H. Clay, 8.89; 2, Jared D. Mackenzie, 8.81; 3, Dana R. Morris, 8.10. Shore bonito: 1, Morgan Muir, 7.14; 2, Stan W. Brown, 6.93; 3, Rick N. Hall, 6.79.

Boat bluefish: 1, Karen A. Kukolich, 16.78; 2, Edward J. Jerome, 16.65; 3, Earl V. Peters, 15.42. Shore bluefish: 1, Jack M. Livingston, 15.26; 2, Ernest J. Pribanic, 13.51; 3, Rob H. Cross, 13.45. Boat false albacore: 1, Frances Clay, 9.11; 2, Robert S. Basque, 9.02; 3, Thor Farris, 8.79. Shore false albacore: 1, Nancy Oh, 7.93; 2, Tom V. Noonan, 7.65; 3, Bob Jacobs, 7.54.

Flyrod boat striped bass: 1, Ally Moore, 22.52; 2, Art E. Crago, 19.12; 3, Kevin A. Ludwig, 17.78. Flyrod shore striped bass: 1, Ernest J. Pribanic, 21.68; 2, Dick Adams, 17.32; 3, Mike J. Tuck, 16.99. Flyrod boat bonito: 1, Ken Scott, 8.41; 2, Terry W. Horrocks, 7.31; 3, Steven Robinson, 6.57. Flyrod shore bonito: 1, Jared Hull, 5.26. Flyrod boat bluefish: 1, Jamie H. Boyle, 14.14; 2, Mark W. Jones, 13.01; 3, Dick Adams, 12.86. Flyrod shore bluefish: 1, Jeffrey R. Sayre, 3.80; 2, Art E. Crago, 3.71; 3, Thomas J. Rapone, 3.61. Flyrod boat false albacore: 1, Michael D. Henry, 9.81; 2, Mo J. Flaherty, 9.22; 3, David C. Kadison, 9.22. Flyrod shore false albacore: 1, David W. Skok, 12.97; 2, Philip C. Lofgren, 8.55; 3, Jared Hull, 8.04.

Junior boat striped bass: 1, Becca L. Webb, 33.14; 2, Amandy J. Ponte, 30.04; 3, Annie C. Finnerty, 27.96. Junior shore striped bass: 1, Tim J. Sauer, 27.04; 2, Briar Thomas, 24.37; 3, Jake A. Bilodeau, 14.15. Junior boat bonito: 1, Spencer A. Sass, 6.83; 2, Maxwell A. Davies, 6.46; 3, Taylor C. Pierce, 6.04.

Junior boat bluefish: 1, D.J. Pothier, 15.14; 2, Taylor C. Pierce, 14.94; 3, Christopher Carter, 14.22. Junior shore bluefish: 1, Jack C. Stevenson, 5.51; 2, Keira R. Mercier, 4.97; 3, Travis McKee, 4.23. Junior boat false albacore: 1, Lauren A. Williston, 8.18; 2, Zachary Horrocks, 7.68; 3, Taylor Pierce, 7.55.

Junior boat striped bass (mini juniors): 1, Vladimir Smirnov 3rd, 22.10; 2, Ashley T. Brede, 11.35. Junior striped bass (mini juniors): 1, Keira R. Mercier, 11.03. Junior boat bonito (mini juniors): 1, Maxwell A. Davies, 6.46; 2, Nolan C. Ehntholt, 5.93; 3, Sarah L. Kadison, 5.79. Junior boat bluefish: (mini juniors): 1, Christopher Carter, 14.22; 2, Christopher A. Morris, 11.33; 3, Tony P. Canha, 11.22. Junior shore bluefish (mini juniors): 1, Keira R. Mercier, 4.97; 2, Maxwell A. Davies, 3.80. Junior boat false albacore (mini juniors): 1, William C. Kadison, 7.25.

Grand Slam Leaders

Boat all-tackle: 1, Patrick T. Jenkinson, 12.58 bluefish, 6.20 bonito, 7.89 false albacore, 34.84 striped bass, 61.51 total. 2, Geoff K. Codding, 9.21 bluefish, 6.01 bonito, 7.79 false albacore, 35.74 striped bass, total 58.75; 3, David C. Hearn, 10.95 bluefish, 5.85 bonito, 8.75 false albacore, 29.80 striped bass, 55.35 total.

Shore all-tackle: 1, Bob Jacobs, 10.80 bluefish, 5.20 bonito, 7.54 false albacore, 22.69 striped bass, 46.23 total. 2, Albert P. Angelone, 4.09 bluefish, 5.23 bonito, 7.43 false albacore, 17.50 striped bass, total 34.25; 3, Mark L. Sauer, 3.78 bluefish, 6.02 bonito, 6.48 false albacore, 17.21 striped bass, 33.49 total.

Boat flyrod: 1, Jamie H. Boyle, 14.14 bluefish, 5.41 bonito, 7.03 false albacore, 16.01 striped bass, 42.59 total; 2, Rob Morrison, 10.71, 5.67 bonito, 7.20 false albacore, 12.57 striped bass, 36.15 total; 3, Thomas J. Rapone, 6.73 bluefish, 6.10 bonito, 8.53 false albacore, 14.21 striped bass, 35.57.