Official Derby Rules
DERBY DATES and TIMES:
The 2011 Derby begins at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2011 and ends at 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2011.
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 juniors 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/she may enter his/her 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 length 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.
e.g. - Fish caught from a boat tied to Oak Bluffs Steamship
Pier will be considered a Boat Fish.
e.g. - 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.
- Any material(s) including, but not limited to, fishing tackle,
fishing line, hooks, weights, seaweed, wire, ice, rocks, sand,
dirt, or rope attached to a fish, on a fish, or inside a fish’s
mouth shall be removed by the angler (or person(s) weighing
the fish in) PRIOR to weigh-in. If any such material is not
visible to the angler or person(s) weighing the fish in and is
discovered after weigh-in, this material shall be examined by
the Derby Committee and, if deemed to be inside the fish
prior to it being caught, the weight of such material(s) may
be deducted from the official weight of the fish, and the fish
allowed. If, however, the Derby Committee deems that the
material was intentionally introduced to the fish prior to the
weighing in of that fish, additional action may be taken including,
but not limited to, the disqualification of the fish.
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 angler must present his/her 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 angler 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 angler attests to all information
given.
- An angler may enter only his/her largest fish of each
species into each category (boat or shore) on any one day.
- AAt 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:
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 an
angler may win only one first, one second, one third and one
fourth daily prize for each species, category and division. If
an angler qualifies for a prize he has already won, he/she will
be awarded the highest prize for which he/she 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 an angler who wins first,
second, third, and fourth Daily Prizes in a category. A special
pin will be awarded for this achievement. 1 per person,
per species.
WEEKLY:
Weekly awards will be given to the largest fish in each category of each division and species, including False Albacore (Little Tunny), for each week of the Derby. The weeks end after the last weigh-in on each of the following days: (Saturday, September 17; Saturday, September 24; Saturday, October 1; Saturday, October 8; Saturday, October 15).
OVERALL AND GRAND:
At the end of the Derby, overall prizes will be awarded for the
three largest fish in each category of each division and
species, including False Albacore (Little Tunny).The largest
fish of each species from boat and shore, regardless of division,
will also be awarded the Grand Leader Prize for the
category and species. Winners of the species grand prizes
will also receive their divisional grand prizes.
GRAND SLAM:
This category is open to all divisions. There will be separate
awards for All Tackle and Flyrod Divisions. At the end of the
Derby, first, second and third awards, both boat and shore, in
both divisions, will be made to the angler who weighs-in the
heaviest aggregate (total weight) of the four species of fish in
the tournament – Stripe Bass, Bluefish, Bonito and False Albacore.
Anglers who achieve a Grand Slam will be awarded
a special pin.
TOP ROD:
Awarded to the individual who wins the highest number of
Daily pins in the All Tackle Division by the close of the
Derby. Separate awards for Boat and Shore categories
and Junior Division.
FALSE ALBACORE (LITTLE TUNNY):
False Albacore (Little Tunny) are eligible for weekly, overall,
grand and grand slam awards. They are not eligible for daily
or mystery awards. False Albacore length limit is 25”.
- 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”.
IN THE EVENT OF A TIE:
The first registered fish wins.
UNCLAIMED PRIZES:
Prizes not claimed from the Derby Chairperson by
December 31, 2011 will be forfeited.
COMMITTEE RIGHTS:
- Each contestant expressly agrees that he/she 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 filleted fish will not be
accepted. 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/Derby Committee |
| 101-500 | Larry's Tackle - Edgartown |
| 501-1100 | Dick's Bait & Tackle - Oak Bluffs |
| 1101-1800 | Coop's Bait & Tackle - Edgartown |
| 1801-2100 | Capt. Porky's Bait and Tackle - Edgartown |
| 2101-2300 | Larry's Tackle Shop - Edgartown |
| 2301-2500 | Menemsha Texaco |
| 2501-2800 | Dick's Bait & Tackle - Oak Bluffs |
| 2801-3000 | Shark’s Landing Bait and Tackle - Oak Bluffs |
| 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 | Shark’s Landing Bait and Tackle - Oak Bluffs |
| 4376-4425 | Capt. Porky's Bait and Tackle - Edgartown |
| 4426-4500 | Derby Headquarters - Edgartown |
Download a pdf of the 2011 Derby Rule Book.
