The Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby is celebrating its 75th anniversary. It is a huge part of Vineyard culture. One great thing about the Derby is that they gave my father a college scholarship. We are going to learn more about it all and post it here. Years back, my mom wrote an article about how the Derby distributes fish filets to senior citizens and leftover fish parts to local lobstermen--one of whom is my dad's cousin.

Fun Facts about the Derby

The Derby began as a way to bring more tourists to the Island.

The first prize used to be a $1,000. They also used to give out lots in Gay Head.

There used to be a Derby Queen and dance. Seventeen-year-old Jeanne Brown was the first queen in 1949.

Some people have won the Derby more than once, like Serge de Somov of Hampton Say, N.Y. He won in the 1963 to 1965 and again in 1969.

Weakfish used to be included.

Since 1987 the derby has given $64,000 in scholarships to Island high school graduates.

We still want to learn: the biggest and smallest fish weighed in. We are wondering how the Derby Headquarters can tell if a child really reeled in a heavy fish by him or herself. How does a striped bass get its stripes? Where did the name bass come from?

INTERVIEW: DERBY MEMORIES WITH CAPTAIN DAVID TILTON

The boys interviewed family friend and die hard fisherman, Captain David Tilton, to learn about some of his memorable Derby and fishing experiences.

BB: What was your most memorable Derby moment?

CDT: Probably the year 1956. The year I was living in Minnesota and flew back to attend my brother's wedding for a long weekend. I had three days to fish and caught a striper weighing over 45 lbs. Back then, 1st place in the Derby was a fishing camp in Gay Head on the water. At the time, The Derby had non-resident and resident prizes. Even thought I had caught the biggest fish, I was still classified as a resident since I lived on the Vineyard the year prior. I missed the first prize.

BB: How do you keep your fishing spots a secret?

CDT: Well, in the old days you could always tell someone the wrong location. That doesn’t work anymore. With GPS and electronics, if a boat sees you fishing well they can pull up after you leave or even come nearby and mark it on their electronics. At night, I can head towards Elizabeth Islands and turn around and go to Squibnocket and they can’t see you change direction.

BB: What is the biggest fish you have ever caught?

CDT: About 750 lb. tuna giant bluefin. That's live weight.

BB: Where were you ?

CDT: Fishing.

Laughter

CDT: No, I was 15 miles south of Nomans [Island where my family used to live]. I caught it with a harpoon.

BB: What is surprise you've had while fishing?

CDT: Here's one I remember. I was casting from the beach with plugs. I only use artificial lures when fishing for bass. I was cranking the line in. I was in my waders. A seal was a foot behind the lure looking at me. The seal could have won but it would have been a great fishing story.

Another time in the 1956 derby, I was using an old rod trying to hit a rock way out in the water. My line got caught around my lure's tail hooks, reversing the plug. I was knee deep when the fish took the plug. A 45 lb. striper took the plug a few feet from me! At first, my friend thought I was just splashing and faking. We didn’t have a gaff or a net with us so my friend ran in the water and grabbed the fish and threw it on the beach. I had expected the fish to make a run.

A last one-- Paul Moyer was once young boy who carved beautiful animals. He spent a lot of time with me fishing. One fall, he said, "Let’s go fishing, David. Let’s go to Parker’s Point." He said, "I’m going around the corner to fish." It was the 15th of November. Paul came back. He said, "There’s no fish here tonight." I had caught a striper over 40lb. and dragged it along the beach path. Paul kept insisting, "There's no fish here tonight." . . . We took it home and weighed it! The surprise was on him!