Official Derby Rules

DERBY DATES and TIMES:
The 2007 Derby begins at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, September 9, 2007 and ends at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 13, 2007.

ELIGIBLE FISH SPECIES:
Eligible fish are Striped Bass, Bluefish, Bonito and False Albacore (Little Tunny), hereinafter referred to as the species.

DIVISIONS and ENTRY FEES:
An individual may register only once in each division for which he/she is eligible.

ALL TACKLE DIVISION: $45.00 (Seniors $20.00)

The All Tackle Division is open to adults using any type of rod and reel including flyrod. Persons who have reached their 65th birthday on or before the opening day of the Derby will be registered as Seniors.

JUNIOR ALL TACKLE DIVISION: $20.00

The Junior All-Tackle Division is open to persons who have not reached their 15th Birthday on the opening day of the Derby. Mini Juniors are 4-8 and Juniors age 9-14. There will be special Grand Awards for Mini Jr. Juniors may use any type of rod and reel including flyrod. Except where noted, the Junior Division will follow the rules of the All Tackle Division.

The M.V. Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby Committee strongly discourages parents from taking children out of school to go fishing. For many years we have had an unwritten rule that no junior may fish during school hours. It is unsportmanlike to do so when all other junior are attending school. We expect all parents to enforce this commitment to education and to good sportsmanship.
FLYROD DIVISION: $45.00 Adults $20.00 Juniors and Seniors

The Flyrod Division is open only to persons using flyrods. Flyrod Division competitors will be issued a separate Flyrod badge and number and will fish under the rules of this Derby and the I.G.F.A. (Maximum tippet strength twenty (20) pounds). If a Flyrod competitor is also entered in one of the All Tackle Divisions, he may enter his fish as All Tackle. The decision to enter a fish in either division (but not both) must be announced to the Weigh-Master PRIOR TO THE WEIGHING OF THAT FISH. That fish is then eligible for the Grand and Grand Slam Awards, regardless of the division it is entered in. Fish may not be entered in the Flyrod Division measuring less than Derby length limits. Juniors fishing in the Flyrod Division will be considered as adults and must meet the same minimum weight requirements as adults

PAYMENT OF ENTRY FEES: Payment of Entry Fees may be by cash or personal check. There will be a $25.00 service charge for returned checks which, along with the Entry Fee must be paid in cash. Failure to do so will disqualify the entrant from further participation in the Derby and forfeiture of any prizes.

METHODS OF FISHING and BOUNDARIES:
A Competitor must be registered in the Derby BEFORE commencing to fish. From the moment a fish strikes or takes a bait or lure, the angler must hook, fight and land or boat the fish without the aid of any other person except that another person may grasp the leader in order to gaff or net the fish.

SHORE: All fish entered as shore fish must be caught from the shores of Martha’s Vineyard or Chappaquiddick Islands. Fish caught from rafted boats along Memorial Wharf in Edgartown, accessible by the general public, will be considered shore fish.
BOAT: Fish caught from a private boat anchored to the shore or tied to a dock will be considered boat fish. In the event that there is a question as to whether or not a fish is to be considered a boat or shore fish, the Derby Committee will determine the category and that decision will be the final. All fish entered as boat fish must be caught from a boat which is within the posted bounds of the Derby. The bounds are delineated on the enclosed map. An eligible fish must not be transported outside the bounds. Each boat participating in the Derby must be in compliance with the U.S. Coast Guard safety regulations. No fish caught from a boat may touch any land except Martha’s Vineyard. Boats may refuel in Falmouth and Nantucket Harbors, but fish must remain on board.
eg. - Fish caught from a boat tied to Oak Bluffs Steamship Pier will be considered a Boat Fish.
eg. - Edgartown Water Barge is considered a boat.

WEIGHING OF FISH:
The Weigh-In station for all fish entered in the Derby will be at Edgartown Jr. Yacht Club.

The weigh-in periods will be between 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 - 10:00 p.m. on each day of the Derby. All state and federal laws governing the catch of eligible species must be complied with by participants in the Derby.
All fish must be weighed-in within 12 hours from the time of being caught.
Fishing method known as yo-yoing is not permitted in the Derby. High-grading of striped bass is against Massachusetts law, and therefore not permitted in the Derby. Please read Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries regulations for all Derby-eligible species, as well as any species used as bait. These regulations also apply to Derby participants.
New Lengths for Fish
Striped Bass 32” Bluefish 22”
False Albacore 25” Bonito 21”
Measure from tip of lower jaw to tip of tail.
At time of weigh-in the fisherman must present his badge or card and provide the Weigh-Master with full and certified information as to when and where the fish was caught, the type of tackle, lure or bait used, and any other requested information relating to the catch.
The fisherman must declare the division into which the fish is to be entered prior to the weighing of each fish. By signing the weigh-in slip, the fisherman attests to all information given.
A fisherman may enter only his largest fish of each species into each category (boat or shore) on any one day.
At time of weigh-in the Weigh-Master and/or the Derby Committee reserve the right to inspect, test, open, photograph (for publicity reasons and otherwise), hold or reject any fish entered.

AWARDING OF PRIZES:
1. DAILY:
First, second, third and fourth prizes will be awarded on a daily basis for each species, division and category, except False Albacore (Little Tunny). During the run of the Derby a fisherman may win only one first, one second, one third and one fourth daily prize for each species, category and division. If a fisherman qualifies for a prize he has already won, he will be awarded the highest prize for which he is eligible. Other winners that day, in order of their eligibility, will be adjusted to receive prizes left vacant.

A Hat Trick will be awarded to a fisherman who has already won a first, a second, a third and a fourth daily prize in a category and then weighs-in the largest fish of the day for that category, 1 per person, per species.

There is now a bag limit of False Albacore. Only three False Albacore are allowed per registration during the Derby. This includes any False Albacore presented to the Weigh-Master, even fish under 25”.

COMMITTEE RIGHTS:

Each contestant expressly agrees that he shall have no right or standing to contest any action of the Derby Committee, or otherwise make any claim against the Committee in any court of law or other forum. Each contestant entering the Derby does so at his own risk. The Committee’s decisions are definitive and final.
Grievances must be presented, in writing and signed, to the Weigh-Master and/or to the Committee within 48 hours. The Committee will investigate all grievances and reserves the right to call witnesses, to question them and all parties involved, and if considered necessary, to have any or all involved parties submit a polygraph test.
The Committee may disqualify from the Derby (or any portion thereof) and/or from any or all future Derbies, any person or persons who falsify information, violate the Derby Rules, act in an unsportsmanlike manner, or falsely testify for or against any person.

FILLET PROGRAM:
The fillet program is offered by the Derby to provide free fish for the Island elderly. Fishermen may donate any or all of their catch to this program. Previously fillet fish cannot be accepted for health reasons. Fishermen are asked to keep their catch as fresh as possible whether they intend to donate it to this program or not.

PROPERTY RIGHTS:
In return for the generosity of property owners, it is expected that Derby participants will leave all land and beach in the same conditions, or better than those found.

No gates be left open.
No fences be damaged.
No shrubbery be damaged.
No rubbish or refuse be left on land or beaches.
No camping be done nor any fires lighted without proper authority.
No damage to dunes or dune vegetation be done by over-sand vehicles.
Drive your vehicles only on designated paths throughout the dunes.

REGISTRATION POINTS: (by Badge Numbers)

All Tackle

1-100	Larry’s Tackle Shop/DerbyCommittee
101-500	Larry’s Tackle Shop – Edgartown
501-1100	Dick’s Bait & Tackle – Oak Bluffs
1101-1800	Coop’s Bait & Tackle – Edgartown
1801-2100	Capt. Porky’s Bait & Tackle – Edgartown
2101-2300	Larry’s Tackle Shop
2301-2500	Menemsha Texaco
2501-2800	Dick’s Bait & Tackle – Oak Bluffs
2801-3000	Derby Headquarters – Edgartown
3001-3200	Dick’s Bait & Tackle – Oak Bluffs
3201-3600	Derby Headquarters – Edgartown

Flyrod

4001-4125	Larry’s Bait & Tackle – Edgartown
4126-4200	Dick’s Bait & Tackle – Oak Bluffs
4201-4325	Coop’s Bait & Tackle – Edgartown
4326-4350	Menemsha Texaco
4351-4375	Derby Headquarters – Edgartown
4376-4425	Capt’ Porky’s Bait & Tackle – Edgartown
4426-4500	Derby Headquarters – Edgartown

Download a pdf of the Derby Rule book.