- Division of Marine Fisheries
The Massachusetts Saltwater Fishing Derby has a longstanding history that adds a splash of competition to every fishing season in Massachusetts. The Derby, previously known as the Governor’s Cup, was hosted by the Division of Tourism until 1983, when it was passed on to the Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF).
The 2024 Derby concluded on November 30. There was a lot of enthusiasm, and we wrapped up the season with a total of 30 winners. There were some exceptional catches entered this season, including several large tautog, bluefish, and false albacore, which was no surprise given the size of the albies off southern Massachusetts this year. There were several return winners this year, with Tom Moynihan repeating as Adult Angler of the Year and Lola Crisp repeating as Junior Angler of the Year. Captain Jason Colby took home the Skillful Skipper title for the second year in a row, after guiding his clients to many qualifying entries, including three derby winning fish.
Our annual Derby awards ceremony was held on January 11, 2025, at the New England Boat Show in Boston to celebrate the winners. Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea, DMF Director Dan McKiernan, and DMF Recreational Program Leader Ben Gahagen presented awards and certificates to the winning anglers. An ice cream social followed for the lucky anglers and their families.
The 2025 Derby started January 1. Beyond a new year and blank leaderboard, DMF is excited to share changes to the Derby that range from how fish can be entered to a brand-new name, along with some other surprises. Make sure to keep an eye on our social media and your inboxes as we get closer to spring! Until then, it’s a good time to come up with a strategy for catching a pin fish or storming the leaderboard to unseat last years winners. Let’s hope the new season brings us excellent fishing weather and plenty of anglers on the leaderboard!
By John Boardman, South Shore Recreational Fisheries Biologist
