JR Thomas pumped his fists in the air Sunday morning after he weighed in his 3.87-pound bonito as the first fish in the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.
JR Thomas pumped his fists in the air Sunday morning after weighing in his 3.87-pound bonito at the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby headquarters.
It was the first fish checked into the derby weigh-in station in Edgartown for the 80th iteration of the tournament, earning Mr. Thomas a brief spot on the leaderboard.
“I’ve never weighed in anything on the first day,” Mr. Thomas said. “It’s been 10 years in the making – trying to get one on the first day. Let alone the first fish.”
Mr. Thomas has been fishing the derby since before he can remember and caught the bonito at 6:45 that morning. He joined hundreds of other competitors across the Island who started fishing as early as midnight to kick-off the start of the annual tradition.
Steve Amaral, left, John Custer, center and Ed Amaral ring the opening bell.
Steve Amaral, left, John Custer, center and Ed Amaral ring the opening bell.
“I [was] surfcasting, on a blind cast out of nowhere,” Mr. Thomas said. “I missed it twice and [it] came back for a third time. I was lucky enough to have the patience and leave the lure there for it.”
He also caught a brown shark nearly five feet long at the Edgartown Lighthouse that morning. He hoped his luck would be a harbinger for a successful tournament, which runs through Oct. 18.
Mr. Thomas lives in West Tisbury and learned to fish with his grandfather, Bob Graves, who owned a bait and tackle shop on-Island.
The first weigh-in took place at 8 a.m. on Sunday, and the event started with a ceremonial bell-ringing. Derby hall of fame honorees Ed and Steve Amaral flanked derby president John Custer in front of the headquarters’ doors, each with a bell in hand.
A kayajer fishes off State Beach before dawn.
A kayajer fishes off State Beach before dawn.
“This bell that I will proudly ring was given in memory and honor of our friend Ed Jerome,” Mr. Custer said.
Mr. Jerome was a longtime derby president, who died in 2018. His final moments were spent quahaugging off the shores of Sengekontacket Pond with friends from the derby.
The two bells rung by the Amaral brothers were retired on Sunday after heralding the start of this year's derby.
Both Ed and Steve Amaral participated in the first derby in 1946 when they were 10 and nine years old respectively. Their dad, Gus Amaral, weighed-in the very first fish of the 1946 inaugural derby, one he caught off Little Bridge.
“As kids back then, you know, we were in awe about everything,” Steve recalled.
Steve, who is now 88 years old, said he has only missed the derby once throughout its history. When drafted to the army during the Vietnam War, Steve was stationed at Fort Devens in Massachusetts and would hitchhike to the Vineyard just to compete.
“If I could get a ride, that’s what I did,” he said. “Never could do anything like that today, boy I’ll tell ya.”
Steve said the derby has meant a lot to his family over the decades and his favorite memory was seeing his name on the leaderboard beside his father’s in the 1970s.
He said it’s remarkable to see the competition he fell in love with as a young boy now in its 80th year.
“It’s unbelievable and I’m glad that I’m still part of it, that’s for sure,” he said. “It’s an Island tradition I can’t see ever stopping.”
Add new comment