We have (Derby) winners!

Michael Mulcahy and Preston Butler win the grand prizes of the MV Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.

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Preston Butler, center right, reacts with his mother Donna after winning a pickup truck with the fourth and final key. — Photo by Michael Cummo


And on Sunday, the fishermen rested. And for those who’d fished best there were prizes. In the end, Michael Mulcahy, the shore bluefish grand winner,  won an Eastern 22 Outboard, with trailer, compliments of Eastern Boats. Preston Butler, who’d hauled in the biggest bluefish from a boat, came away with the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado 4×4 (compliments of the Clay Family Dealerships).

By 12:30 pm, the parking lot at Farm Neck Golf Club was already full, as an expectant crowd — many whom were bleary eyed fishermen — gathered for the awards ceremony of the 69th annual Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.

During the five-week contest, 3282 fishermen (a record number) caught 2,305 fish, weighing a total of 19,520.23 pounds. They caught more bluefish than anything else: 946, weighing 7,632 pounds. Bonito were the next most popular catch (561 fish; 2,678 pounds ), followed by false albacore (520 fish; 4181 pounds) and striped bass (288 fish; 5022 pounds).

Vinny Iacono reeled in the biggest bass from a boat, at 39.77 pounds. From shore, Creanga L. Cosmin took the biggest bass, weighing 38.63 pounds. Bluefish winners were Preston A. Butler from a boat (15 pounds) and Michael J. Mulcahy from shore (15.20 pounds). Prize bonito were caught by Norman E. Bouchard, Jr. from a boat (10.47 pounds) and Sebby Keefe from shore (7.87 pounds). Mason Warburton caught the contest-winning albacore from a boat (13.17 pounds) and from the shore, Mary Anne Angelone reeled in the biggest albie  — 14.65 pounds. The eight grand leaders will won a framed Ray Ellis print, a $500 check, a Vineyard Vines jacket and a chance at the Grand Prize.

Junior winners were Mason Warburton, Xavier Clark, Zak Potter and Chase Toomey.

“Poco Loco,” the father son team of David and Dylan Kadison won the team boat competition, hauling in a 32.75 pound striped bass, a 14.72 pound bluefish, a bonito weighing 9.17 pounds, and a 12.04 pound false albacore.  Even though they were a bonito short of a grand slam, “The Woodpeckers,” Don Scarpone and Cosmin Creanga, won the team shore competition, with a 8.7 pound bluefish, a 38.63 pound striper, and an 8.53 false albacore.

Complete results, including kayak winners, are at mvderby.com.