False albacore, bonito and bluefish all had their turn in the spotlight this year at the 77th annual Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.

Fly fishing won’t usually land a fisherman at the top of the all-tackle leaderboard in the derby, but it is a category all its own for beauty and bragging rights.

So far approximately 2,800 people have registered for the derby, and organizers expect a final surge for the holiday weekend.

Phil Horton is a shore guy, a surf caster who has been fishing the Derby for 35 years.

The false albacore have had a banner year so far at the 77th Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.

For two hours starting at 6 a.m. on Sunday, kids fished from the Oak Bluffs Steamship Authority pier before the first ferry of the day arrived, thanks to the annual Kids Derby event.

Each year, as part of the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, a special morning returns to the Oak Bluffs Steamship pier. Before the first ferry slides in, kids ages four to 14 are given free reign of the wharf to try their luck during Kids Derby Day.

No registration is needed, just an ability to wake up early — and convince a parent to do the driving.

Steve Amaral rang the opening bell for the 77th Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby and Lisa Belcastro answered with a 10.64-pound albie.

The Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish derby returns for its 77th year, hooking anglers from near and far in the hunt for the largest bluefish, bonito and false albacore.

From the Sept. 13, 1963 edition of the Vineyard Gazette: