- Division of Marine Fisheries
The Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby is underway! Entries must be caught on rod and reel, meet minimum qualifying weights and lengths, and be caught in state controlled waters and/or first landed in a Massachusetts port. Fish submitted for the weigh-in portion of the derby must be measured and weighed at a Division certified weigh station. Anglers participating in the catch and release portion of the derby are required to submit a picture of their fish on a measuring device. All eligible entries will receive a derby pin.
At the end of the derby year, trophies are awarded to anglers landing the heaviest or longest fish in each species category. Winners for the weigh-in entries are chosen in three divisions—men’s, women’s and junior’s (age 15 and younger). The catch and release portion of the derby has two divisions, adult and junior. Special annual awards are given out to the two anglers (adult and junior) who have the most derby winning fish: weigh-in, catch and release, or combined. Charter and head boat captains may be recognized with a skillful skipper award. Recently, we added a Top Shop Award for the tackle shop that sends in the most entries and a bonus prize for our skillful skippers. The winning shop and skillful skipper will receive free advertising in our saltwater sportfish guide. Further details, entry forms, and the leaderboard can be found on our web page www.mass.gov/saltwater-fishing-derby.
By John Boardman, Aquatic Biologist
