Make the commitment to get there and get hooked for life!
It goes by many names, The Big One, The New England Fall Classic or just “The Derby”. Since 1946, for five weeks each September and October, the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass & Bluefish Derby attracts anglers from across New England and beyond. For almost eight decades, the Derby has endured and forged a reputation as one of the largest and most-successful inshore saltwater tournaments in the country.
Autumn is a quieter time on-island that accentuates the natural beauty of the place. Think cold crisp mornings, hot coffee, and warm apple fritters. The summer crowds are gone and the island rhythms feel more local, more focused on fishing and tradition. Islanders call this time of year “Derby Days” – a chance to reconnect to a slower pace of life. This year, the 79th Derby runs from September 15 through October 19.
From its humble beginnings after WWII, the event has grown to attract over 3,000 anglers and all proceeds benefit a college scholarship program for island students interested in marine science or environmental conservation. This year alone, the registered non-profit Derby awarded over $100K to 10 deserving students and crossed the $1M milestone for total money awarded.
At just $70 for adults and $25 for juniors for five weeks of fishing, the Derby is a deal! Seniors are $45. The event is organized and staffed by volunteers who run Derby Headquarters, a non-descript dockside building at the foot of Main Street in Edgartown. For the Derby-afflicted, this weigh-station is ground zero for fish tales, checking the leaderboards, sharing a hot cup of coffee and, of course, watching the twice-daily weigh-ins! For anglers who cannot take their catch home, a donation program delivers iced fillets to Island seniors and fish scraps are used by commercial lobstermen.
The Fishing
And the fishing is great! As the water cools each autumn, the action picks up, with striped bass, bluefish, bonito and false albacore the traditional four species included. Striped bass are ineligible this year for conservation reasons, but this gap is more than filled by the visual daytime excitement of the bonito and false albacore and the sometimes-nonstop bluefish action.
There are boat and shore, senior, junior and fly rod divisions. Weekly and daily prizes (pins), mystery prizes and a triple crown for the highest combined weight of all three species. After five weeks, the six overall division leaders (three species, boat and shore) each get a chance at the grand prize – a boat, motor and trailer package donated by Eastern Boat Works. In total, over $300,000 in cash and prizes are given away and yet, for most, prizes and pins are not what keeps them coming back. It’s the people.
You see, the Derby is about friendships and camaraderie as much as fishing. Experiences are the fuel the powers the passion for most who fish it. A sunset or sunrise that reduces you to tears. The solitude of a walk alone on an empty beach, as you scan for breaking fish. A new sense of awareness and gratitude for just being out there, feeling the wind or seeing the stars above. The Derby is far-more about these things than the great fishing the Vineyard has to offer.
And yet, most New England anglers have never fished it! We heard this over and over at the RI Saltwater Fishing Show this year. “Always wanted to, never have”. “Been meaning to fish the Derby for 20 years”. “Got to get over there, someday”. And so, in this article, I will attempt to dispel some myths regarding the complexities of getting there and impart some tips for once you make it over. I promise, once you experience “Derby Fever”, you will come back.
First things first. Martha’s Vineyard is an island. It’s located about 7 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, so yes, getting there requires a commitment – a little extra work. But, once you arrive, the “surrounded by saltwater” isolation and separation from the hustle and bustle of the mainland lies at the core of the Derby’s appeal. It fuels a singular focus on the fishing that, once felt, will more than offset the extra bit of logistical effort.
By Land or By Sea
With six towns and 124 miles of shoreline, the Vineyard is large enough that a vehicle is definitely needed to fish the Derby from shore. Good bus service exists, but the reality is that you will want your own wheels. Drive-on car ferry service from Woods Hole runs from 6 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. every day, roughly on the hour. You can drive your gear-loaded rig on the boat for about $200 round trip, with easy reservations made online at steamshipauthority.com. Get a few buddies to join you and share the cost. Turn it into an annual fishing road trip adventure!
For boat anglers, the boundaries include the waters around the Vineyard, but stretch all the way across Vineyard Sound to the southern shores of the Cape and surround both the Elizabeth Islands and Nantucket. It’s an easy run across from Falmouth, Cotuit, or even Hyannis if the seas are calm and many hotels offer dockage. Harbormasters can be hailed by phone or marine radio for paid slips at all four Island harbors and the online service/app Dockwa covers them too. Some marinas offer discounts for Derby anglers, so be sure to ask.
Where to Fish
Spot burning has become a major faux pas in the fishing world, so I will not share any secret spots in this article. These need to be discovered by putting in the work. That said, there are plenty of classic fishing locations along the island’s shores and the Derby booklet includes a fishing map with many popular and very-productive locations marked, along with a tide chart. You can access this map online (page 58 and 59) at www.mvderby.com/pdf/79thDerbyBooklet.pdf
Most Derby anglers are friendly and will offer subtle tips to those who approach the subject in the right way. Island tackle shops will too, of course, as they rely on good fishing and successful anglers for their trade. Derby Committee members can be very helpful too. As most readers will know, fish move in and out with the tides and no set rules apply. A blitz can occur almost anytime, anywhere. Being there when it happens by putting in the time is most of the battle.
Some Starting Points
The small island of Chappaquiddick is adjacent to Edgartown and accessed by a small car ferry. From Wasque Point to the Lighthouse at Cape Poge, “Chappy” is a surfcaster’s paradise with miles and miles of open beach to fish by 4×4 (paid sticker required) or you can park and walk out. Camaraderie runs deep on Chappy and friendships are as easy to catch as blitzing bluefish.
In Edgartown, the lighthouse area at the mouth of the harbor is a top spot for early morning albies and bonito and the entire state beach between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs offers miles of open, public shoreline to fish. Be sure to check the action at both the bridges along this stretch.
The jetty at Vineyard Haven Harbor and the area around the drawbridge (can’t miss it) has easy public access and the road offers excellent views of the water, if the fish blow up as you drive past. Tashmoo Inlet requires navigating some dirt roads, but this public/town beach can be a real albie hotspot.
Up-Island (west), there are two well-known hot spots also pointed out in the Derby map, the Menemsha Jetty and the Lobsterville Beach/Jetty. Both can light up during the Derby and require some exploration, both in terms of the physical location and the approach to fishing there. By careful observation and tactful conversation, aware anglers will fit into the flow of things. A good rule of thumb is to yield to anglers who arrived before you. Please obey parking rules and signage and pack in and pack out any and all trash.
For new Derby anglers fishing it by boat, the advice is simple: watch for birds, read the water and use the same skills you would use anywhere to catch fish. Avoid running over breaking fish and stay well-clear of shore anglers if the fish move in close to the beach. Be safe and watch the weather. The boat fishing can be spectacular – with both trolling and casting highly productive.
And let’s not forget the fly fishing! It can be top-notch and this year’s Derby booklet cover features a fly-rodder. Only fly-rodders who buy a special fly rod button can register fish into this division.
Be sure to know all state regs and Derby rules and carry a tape with you, as there are Derby minimum qualifying lengths per species. Check the standings online before you fish, so you know if your fish has a chance to place and carrying a small digital scale is a good idea. Most of all, ice your catch so that’s it’s safe for donation or enjoying at home.
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Where To Stay While many think of the Vineyard as prohibitively expensive, rates come way down in September and October, and there are dozens of hotels to choose from. I just did an early October midweek search and the Vineyard Harbor Motel has kitchen rooms for $220/night, on the water. The Harbor Landing Resort, also in Vineyard Haven, has kitchenette apartments that sleep three for $350/night. Summer Camp, a hotel literally on the Oak Bluffs waterfront has rooms for $235. VRBO had multiple listings in the $300/night range. Get a few buddies together and make it happen! Provisions Groceries, gas, ice, tackle and anything else you need during your stay are all easily available and the prices at the Stop & Shops are the same as off-island. Most restaurants are still open and all the tackle shops will all be well-stocked with bait and gear. Coop’s and Larry’s are in Edgartown and Dick’s Bait and Tackle is in Oak Bluffs. All three are top-notch. There is even a dedicated flyshop on the Island – Kismet Outfitters, also in Edgartown. Registration You must register before wetting a line. You can walk into any of the four tackle shops on the island and/or you can pre-register and pay online at www.mvderby.com, making the in-person process easier. Menemsha Texaco is also a registration point. You pick a badge and your profile is assigned that unique number. You cannot fish the Derby without completing this last step. Arriving early or in the evening? Remember that Derby HQ also is a registration point, is open from 8 to 10 a.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., and it can be accessed by boat! Each registration packet includes a collectible 100+ page souvenir booklet, your collectible badge, a rules brochure, and an embroidered Vineyard Vines Derby hat. Be sure to read the rules carefully. |
Make it Happen
Life goes by fast. Fishing the Derby is a bucket list item for many New England anglers that is far-easier to check off than most think. Text some fishing buddies, book the car ferry reservation and start checking room rates. You will be surprised how easy it is to drive on the ferry and simply drive off onto an entire island obsessed with fishing. Derby Days are coming soon and, once you make the effort to feel the magic in the air for yourself, you will know what many before you already know…there is simply nothing like fishing the Derby.
I hope you make it out and that I see your name on the leaderboard! And the best apple fritter on the Island? Backdoor Donuts in Oak Bluffs. Trust me.
