The 80th Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby passed its halfway point and as of Thursday morning the total amount of shore fish is just over 230, with only 31 albacore weighed in. By boat over 820 fish have crossed the scales so far.
Sport fishing has long been a male-dominated activity, but on the Vineyard the participation of skilled female anglers has continued to grow and form tight bonds over the decades.
The 80th annual derby is off to a busy start with more than 570 fish weighed-in during the first five days.
Summer for local businesses was a mixed bag, with July a bit slow and August on fire.
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.
The 80th edition of the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby commences at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 14, with fishermen heading out in the dark to test their luck by boat or casting from the shoreline.