Commissioner Griffin, a Derby Winner and Director Diodati at the 2008 Awards Ceremony

Each year January 1 through November 30 the MarineFisheries conducts the Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby. This is a free derby, meaning no entry fees. Fish entered must be caught by hook and line and measured and weighed at a MarineFisheries-certified official weigh station. All entries will receive a derby pin and at the end of the derby year, trophies will be awarded to anglers who landed the heaviest fish in each species category. Winners are chosen in three divisions - men, women, and juniors (age 15 and younger). There is also a "Skillful Skipper" award, which is presented to a for-hire captain who has three derby winning fish caught on their boat.

In 2012 there were 37 winners in the Weigh-In Derby and 3 winners in the Catch and Release Derby. The awards ceremony takes place in early February at the Eastern Fishing and Outdoor Expo in Worcester, MA. One Skillful Skipper award went to Captain Dave Niemi from Captain John & Son, in Plymouth.

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= New State Record in 2013

For more information about this fishing derby, please contact John Boardman