David Pothier caught the largest trout, which was a 16.5-inch brook trout. —Dena Porter 
Gunner Harlow caught this 14-inch brook trout. —Dena Porter 
Kurstin Moore went into Duarte’s Pond to detangle fishing lines. —Dena Porter 
Kurstin Moore went into Duarte Pond to detangle fishing lines. —Dena Porter 
Ten-year-old McCabe Neadow won third prize for catching a 13.5-inch brook trout. —Dena Porter 
Twelve-year-old Colby Vought won first place for catching a 14.5-inch brook trout. —Dena Porter 
Rye Silva won third place in the 12- to 14-year-old category for catching a 13-inch brook trout. —Dena Porter 
During the awards ceremonies, Cooper Gilkes gave awards to young fishermen from all of the Island’s towns. —Dena Porter 
Stephen Hammond enjoyed spending the morning fishing with his sons, Kieran and Silas. —Dena Porter 
Eleven-year-old Hunter Gilkes caught the largest fish of any species, an 18.5-inch large mouth bass. —Dena Porter 
Buddy Vanderhoop hung out with his grandson Danny Nicholson at the tournament. —Dena Porter 
Hazel and Dayze were happy to get up before dawn to enjoy donuts, hot cocoa and hot dogs. —Dena Porter 
Many families and friends came out to help Cooper Gilkes (second from left) make this a special event. —Dena Porter 
Three-year-old Cameron Davies got a helping hand from his dad, Chris Davies. —Dena Porter 
Riggs Hale bravely picks worms to put on his fish hook. —Dena Porter 
Cliff Meehan coached his granddaughter Ryder Moore during the kid’s derby. —Dena Porter 
It was a beautiful morning on Duarte’s Pond. —Dena Porter 
Athena Flanders proudly showed her catch of a yellow perch. —Dena Porter 
Anthena Flanders’ yellow perch at the measuring table. —Dena Porter 
Five-year-old Athena and her dad, Christian Flanders, hi-fived it after she caught a yellow perch. —Dena Porter 
Christian Flanders unhooked the yellow perch that his daughter Athena caught. —Dena Porter 
Parents and children noticed a large snapping turtle trying to eat the trout. —Lisa Belcastro 
Gunner Harlow caught this 14-inch brook trout and took third place in his age category. —Dena Porter 
Hunter Gilkes carried on the family tradition, catching the largest fish with her 18.5-inch large mouth bass. Grandpa Coop and dad Danny cheered her on. —Lisa Belcastro 
David Pothier landed the largest trout of the day with his 16.5-inch brook trout. —Lisa Belcastro 
The Pachico family celebrated Isabella’s first prize win. —Dena Porter 
Winners Izzy Pachico and Hunter Gilkes showed off their tropies at the derby. —Dena Porter 
Five-year-old Izzy Pachico caught a 14.5-inch brook trout. —Dena Porter 
Three generations of the Gilkes family. —Carol Immelt 
Daisy Neadow weighed in the first fish of the 52nd Annual Kid’s Trout Derby. Daisy quickly released her 14-inch rainbow trout and went on to take second place in her division. —Lisa Belcastro
Under the bright light of the full Flower Moon, families and friends walked the perimeter of Duarte’s Pond, staking out their favorite spot for the 52nd Annual Kid’s Trout Derby on Saturday, May 2. Some brought chairs, some brought sleeping bags, some brought live bait, while others had Powerbait in their pockets.
Everyone brought the most important ingredient, kids.
Sponsored by the MV Rod and Gun Club, the Kid’s Trout Derby is a family event that oftentimes generations of anglers have competed in. Coop and Lela Gilkes have worked tirelessly on this event for decades. They brought their children and then their grandchildren.
On Saturday, while Lela manned the scoreboards, Coop was never more than five feet from his son Danny and his granddaughter Hunter. “She’s well versed in hot dogs and donuts,” said Danny Gilkes of the six years his daughter has participated in the Derby. “She finished off my coffee,” added Coop.
I watched Hunter’s rod bend, listened as Coop and Danny coached her when the
line got tangled in the invasive lily pads, and I nodded when Coop lovingly tied on a new
hook and assured Hunter she’d land the next one. While Hunter was waiting for the next bite, a shout rose from across the pond. A fish was on and enthusiasm rippled across the water. The sun was just beginning to crest the trees when 8-year-old Daisy Neadow carried her bucket to the official tent with the first fish of the Derby. Daisy placed her rainbow trout on the measuring board and smiled widely when Cooper Fersen measured it at 14 inches. Daisy released the trout seconds later and headed back to her parents, brother, cousins, and grandmother.
Daisy enjoys fishing, but she’d also like to spend her time swimming with the fish.
“My parents are going to get me a mermaid tail. I like the ocean. A lot. It’s beautiful,”
said Daisy, who finished in second place in her age division.
As I was talking with Daisy’s dad, Tom, who had fished the Kid’s Trout Derby when he was little, we saw a fish hit someone’s line in the crowd of people to our right. The fish was putting up a fight, but we couldn’t see who was reeling it in.
A couple of minutes later, David Pothier, last year’s winner, walked over with a nicely sized brook trout. David’s brookie measured 16.5 inches, setting a tough length to beat.
David went right back to fishing. He caught quite a few more and released them all as they were too short to beat his leading fish.
I asked David’s dad, DJ, if it was tough waking him up at 3 am for the Derby. DJ chuckled.
“Sometimes it’s hard to wake him up for school. But if I say, ‘Dude, want to go fishing?’ he jumps right up.”
I’m not surprised 9-year-old David loves to fish. It’s in his blood. DJ fished the Kid’s Trout Derby and is an avid fisherman now. And David’s grandfather, also named David, is a fisherman who serves on the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby committee.
While young David loves fishing, he’s also into dirt bikes and baseball. In fact, he
was racing from the Kid’s Derby to the opening day Little League baseball parade and
cookout, which started at 9 am. “His uniform is in the truck. He’ll change on the way,”
said DJ.
David has his sights set on playing short stop or pitcher. “I like short stop because it’s Little League and that’s where most of the hits go. But maybe pitcher. I asked my coach if I could pitch in the next game,” said David.
As the sun warmed the air and the surrounding trees were reflected in the pond, the bites slowed down. Donuts and hot chocolate and hot dogs were consumed in vast quantities, and folks started to wonder if there were any big hungry fish still out there. Coop put a live shiner on Hunter’s hook and said, “I think there’s another big one out there.”
Sure enough, Hunter’s rod bent. She reeled and reeled and yelled, “Grandpa get the net.” Coop scooped up Hunter’s fish and we all cheered. It was a big large mouth bass, her second one of the day. I’m not sure who was happier, Hunter or Grandpa Coop.
When the horn sounded at 8 am to end the competition, David had won the largest trout and Hunter had won the largest fish with her 18.5 inch bass.
“I finally won,” said Hunter, 11, who’s in fifth grade at the Edgartown School. She enjoys fishing with her family, but she also likes “carpentry, sewing, and making food.”
The youngest division winner was 5-year-old Izzy Pachico, who landed a 14.5 inch brook trout. Izzy has participated in two previous trout derbies, but this was her first time placing. “I love fishing. I love to keep the fish,” said Izzy.
“She’d eat fish every day if she could,” said her dad John Pachico.
All-round sports enthusiast Jackson Lucier took home first place for his 14.5 inch rainbow trout in the 9 to 11-year-old division. Jackson, who’s in fourth grade, plays sports year-round. He’s on football, basketball, and baseball teams, and he’s taken up golf.
When I asked Jackson what he liked about fishing, he answered immediately, “Eating them.”
Does he have a favorite? You bet. “Bluefish are my favorite. I like bluefish pate.”
Right on, Jackson!
As families dispersed, children running and laughing, parents carrying trophies and holding little hands, and everyone smiling, I knew I’d spent a perfect morning fishing. Never held a rod, but I sure did land a great start to my day.
I hope to see you on the beach, maybe I’ll have my rod next time.
Results
Largest Trout: David Pothier, age 9, 16.5-inch brook trout
Largest Fish of Any Other Species: Hunter Gilkes, age 11, 18.5-inch large mouth
bass
8 Years Old and under
1st: Izzy Pachico, age 5, 14.5-inch brook trout
2nd: Daisy Neadow, age 8, 14-inch rainbow trout
3rd: Gunner Harlow, age 8, 14-inch brook trout
Ages 9 – 11 Years Old
1st: Jackson Lucier, age 10, 14.5-inch rainbow trout
2nd: Madelyn Ward, age 11, 14.5-inch brook trout
3rd: McCabe Neadow, age 10, 13.5-inch brook trout
Ages 12 – 14 Years Old
1st: Colby Vought, age 12, 14.5-inch brook trout
2nd: Christian Fisher, age 13, 14-inch brook trout
3rd: Rye Silva, age 12, 13-inch brook trout