For nine-year-old Brielle Cortez, fishing means being able to connect with her grandfather, who died before she was born.

Due to rainy, windy weather, the Kids Derby has been rescheduled for Sunday, Sept. 29, the Gazette learned at press time Thursday.

The Kids Derby had been scheduled for two weeks ago but had to be postponed due to bad weather. Then the rescheduled date had to be rescheduled due to bad weather again. Finally, despite cold winds and overcast skies, the event went forward this Sunday morning, and the kids’ enthusiasm ran high.

On Sunday morning, the mood at the Steamship Wharf in Oak Bluffs was as bright as the December holiday season or a birthday eve.

At first light on Sunday morning, young anglers lined the Steamship Authority wharf in Oak Bluffs, rods and reels in hand, to fish in the annual kids derby.

The annual Kids Derby Day is Sunday, Sept. 16 from 6 to 8 a.m.

On Sunday morning the Oak Bluffs ferry wharf was filled as young anglers took to the pier for the annual Kids Derby, where fish are measured by length and then returned to the sea.

On Sunday, Sept. 17, kids ages 4 to 14 have the opportunity to fish from the Oak Bluffs Ferry Wharf during the annual Kids Derby.

Fishing poles bobbed like reeds and voices were hushed early Sunday as children waited to claim their spots at the Oak Bluffs Steamship wharf for the annual kids derby day. Hannah Gibb, 13, was the overall winner with a 19.75-inch shark.

It’s time to get the future generations of Vineyard fishermen and women hooked on the derby.