The region’s longest-standing fishing tournament, the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass & Bluefish Derby, kicked off its 80th year on September 14th and they have hit the ground running with some new awards, new rules and a few regulations, set by the state of Massachusetts, that participants must follow.
Derby President, John Custer, declared the retirement of two of the bells that had been used for decades to mark the start of the historic Derby. Ringing in a new bell, which was gifted on behalf of all of the volunteers that staff Derby Headquarters during the four-week event and was, as Custer put it, “Given in honor and memory, if our friend, Ed Jerome.” Jerome was a longstanding Derby president and all around great guy, who passed away in 2018.
The bell ringing, posted on social media, was steeped in emotion as Derby legends Steve and Ed Amaral rang the old and new bells in unison with president, John Custer, signaling the changing of the guard and the kickoff of the 80th Vineyard Derby.
In addition to the commemorative bell, there are a few other changes to the Derby this year that anglers who fish or follow the historic event will be interested to know about.
Renaming of the MVSA Sportsmanship Award:
The Martha’s Vineyard Surfcasters Association Sportsmanship Award will now be given in memory of the late Janet Messineo. Janet was known by, pretty much everyone that fished the surf in New England. A top notch angler in her own right, Janet’s true gift was her compassion and her willingness to pass her knowledge on to young or novice anglers. Her easygoing personality and passion for the sport made her a very special person, and her name is a perfect fit for an award that is given to, as the Derby website says, ‘honor the true meaning of good sportsmanship during the Derby”.
Three New Awards for High School Age Participants:
The “Albies, Blues & Bones Awards” will be presented to the 15- to 18-year-old participants who weigh in the heaviest shore Albie, Bluefish, and Bonito of the Derby. This award will offer incentive for younger anglers to continue to carry the Derby torch.
Weekly Veteran’s Mystery prize:
Each Sunday, during the Derby, a mystery prize will be awarded to a veteran or active-duty Derby participant. Weigh-in is not required. A veteran checkbox has been added to the on-line and registration card. A token of ‘thanks’ from the Derby committee and volunteers.
Change to fly rod registration eligibility for daily awards:
Last year the daily award structure changed to allow registered fly rod participants to compete for all tackle awards. This new structure is being modified slightly in this year’s Derby, based on participant feedback. If a fly rod registration fish is weighed in and qualifies for a daily all tackle award, the angler will receive the applicable fly rod daily pin and the all-tackle cash award that corresponds to the place in the all-tackle daily prize structure. The all tackle entry will receive the applicable all tackle pin and corresponding cash award.
MA Dept of Marine Fisheries changes:
Anglers please note that a daily bag limit is now in place for bonito and false albacore in Massachusetts, these species are managed in aggregate, meaning a five fish combined limit of bonito and false albacore, per angler, per day. The state also instituted a minimum size limit for both species that is set at 16 inches. This change does not impact the Derby as our minimum length of 21 inches exceeds the state minimum, however Derby anglers should be aware of the changes. Also note that MA DMF recently published rules prohibiting the use of drones and bait/lure launchers.
