Celebrating the End of 71st Annual Derby
Derby committee president Ed Jerome.
Derby committee president Ed Jerome.
Outpouring of appreciation for Amy Coffey, who presided as weigh station manager for 20 years.
Outpouring of appreciation for Amy Coffey, who presided as weigh station manager for 20 years.
Mini junior champs: Sabrina McArt, Paige Smith, Jocie Smith, and Aubrey Warburton.
Mini junior champs: Sabrina McArt, Paige Smith, Jocie Smith, and Aubrey Warburton.
Junior champions.
Junior champions.
Flyrod winners.
Flyrod winners.
While fish were scarce this year, record number of fishermen registered for derby.
While fish were scarce this year, record number of fishermen registered for derby.
The 2016 grand leaders.
The 2016 grand leaders.
Evan Hammond finds out he is the winner of a new fishing boat.
Evan Hammond finds out he is the winner of a new fishing boat.
Mr. Hammond: "If you make a good plan and you work hard and you stick to it, you can do it."
Mr. Hammond: "If you make a good plan and you work hard and you stick to it, you can do it."
Ed Amaral and Ed Jerome react as Mr. Amaral wins a new truck.
Ed Amaral and Ed Jerome react as Mr. Amaral wins a new truck.
Mr. Amaral, 81, fished in the first derby back in 1946. "I got lucky, then the expertise, that takes over," he said.
Mr. Amaral, 81, fished in the first derby back in 1946. "I got lucky, then the expertise, that takes over," he said.
The 71st Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby came to an official end Sunday with the annual awards ceremony. The tent at Farm Neck was filled with cheers and well-wishes as awards were given for all divisions. There were also cheers for retiring weigh station manager Amy Coffey.
The eight grand leaders took the stage to draw keys and find out who would take home a 22-foot Eastern Boats fishing boat and a new Chevrolet truck. Evan Hammond’s 15.11-pound bluefish was the best catch from shore in the bluefish division. It also won him the fishing boat. Ed Amaral, 81, weighed the largest bluefish of the tournament caught from a boat, at 17.83 pounds. He also drew the right key, and went home with a new Chevrolet truck, donated by the Clay family.