Martha's Vineyard Monster Shark Tournament

Monster Thresher Sharks Tip Scales in Oak Bluffs at Annual Tournament

Mark Alan Lovewell | Tuesday, July 25 2000 - 1:43pm

A 393-pound thresher shark was caught on Friday in waters south of the Vineyard. The fish, caught by Allen Bradley of Weatherfield Conn., was a record breaker for that species in the 14th annual Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament.

A total of 82 boats from all along the Eastern Seaboard showed up for two intense days of fishing. They started fishing early in the morning and quit by 3:30 p.m. Most of the boats were home by late afternoon.

Monster Shark Tournament

Sharks

Magellan Out of Harwich Takes Home Top Prize in Shark Contest Article updated

Call it beginner’s luck, offshore fishing skill or maybe a combination of both.

Big Game Fishermen, Big Crowd of Spectators Gather for Shark Tournament

Olivia Hull

A 429-pound porbeagle shark was the winning catch on the first day of the Monster Shark Tournament Friday.

Big Crowds, Police Presence Expected for Shark Tournament

Olivia Hull

The 27th Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament is set for this weekend, and will likely be the last tournament of its size to be held in town following years of debate and controversy.

Sponsored by the Boston Big Game Fishing Club, the tournament begins Friday and continues Saturday. The tournament’s home base is the Oak Bluffs marina.

Shark Release Ballot Question Passes

Sara Brown

Oak Bluffs voted in favor of catch-and-release shark tournaments, West Tisbury approved a new police station and Edgartown approved two spending projects during annual town elections last week. Voter turnout was sparse, between nine and 13 per cent, and few races were contested. Oak Bluffs voters approved a nonbinding referendum that would make shark tournaments in town catch and release only by a margin of 225 to 186.

The annual Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament, which offers prizes for the largest shark caught, is held at the Oak Bluffs harbor every summer.

Oak Bluffs Voters Have Their Say, Catch and Release Is Humane Way

Ivy Ashe

Monster Shark Tournament organizer and president of the Boston Big Game Fishing Club Steven James will takes steps to control the crowd at the controversial Oak Bluffs event, he told selectmen at a meeting Thursday afternoon.

Mr. James’s visit before the board was a condition of approval for the harbor use permit issued by the selectmen for the event. The event will take place July 18 to 20.

From a Shark Tournament Captain

I am a captain of a boat that participates in the shark tournament. We have been fishing this tournament for a long time. I first will say I really do enjoy the town of Oak Bluffs and usually things seemed to go off without a hitch. I frequent the town as well with my family and friends for dinner and drinks and shopping multiple times during the summer season.