The 31st annual Octoberfish tournament is underway for anglers looking for more saltwater competition following the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby finale.

The best fishing of October may have happened after the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby ended on Oct. 18. Steve Purcell, of Larry’s Tackle Shop, said that the 70 anglers participating in his month-long fishing contest called Octoberfish did well, though some found the fishing better after the derby was over. The awards ceremony for the contest was held at the tackle shop on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 1.

There were more than enough good fishing days this fall to spread into October. The 18th annual Octoberfish tournament, offered by Larry’s Tackle Shop, saw plenty of fish and fishermen. The biggest fish was a 16.80-pound bluefish caught from the shore by Luc Mercier of Edgartown. He weighed in his fish at the tackle shop on Oct. 25. His fish was caught more than a week after the close of the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. Had it been caught earlier, it would have put him on top of both contests.

In the last weeks of the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, Steve Purcell got phone calls from around the Vineyard — and around the country. “They asked me, where was I?” Mr. Purcell said.

Results are in from Octoberfish, a fishing contest sponsored by Larry’s Tackle Shop after the annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.

Jeff Komarinetz caught the biggest striped bass from a boat on Oct. 19. The fish weighed 26.85 pounds and was caught from a kayak.

Tony Rezendes Jr., caught the largest shore striped bass on the first day of the month. The fish weighed 25.79 pounds.