David Gerhardt with his new Jeep Gladiator. —Nicholas Vukota 
David Gerhardt after his key opened the lock. —Nicholas Vukota 
David Gerhardt with his new Jeep Gladiator. —Nicholas Vukota 
David Gerhardt with his new Jeep Gladiator. —Nicholas Vukota 
Brothers Buddy and Tony D’Agostino celebrate receiving the David Furino Memorial Award. —Paul Bagnall 
Buddy D’Agostino, right, walks with Sherry Ann Mele to receive the Roland Perreault and Huff Langley Memorial Award. —Paul Bagnall 
The Beaulieu/Loud Memorial Award went to the Kurth family at this year’s Derby awards ceremony. —Paul Bagnall 
Winners congratulate each other. —Paul Bagnall
A giant bluefish caught by 44-year-old Louisiana native David Gerhardt netted him the grand prize at the 81st Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby Sunday afternoon.
Gerhardt’s winning fish was a 21.01-pound bluefish caught on the boat of Island resident Sandy Fisher. His winning fish was the only one Gerhardt caught last Tuesday and happened about 30 minutes into the all-day trip. This year was Gerhardt’s first time fishing in the Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.
“It felt overwhelming and surreal to say the least,” Gerhardt said after his key opened the lock. “Honestly, I was just excited to catch a bluefish.”
The tent for the awards ceremony at Farm Neck Golf Club in Oak Bluffs was quiet as the six grand prize winners waited to hear the highly anticipated click of the lock to win the Jeep Gladiator Mojave X, provided by Vineyard Vines.
Other contenders for the grand prize were Bruce Dew III with a 19.91-pound bluefish, Sherry Countryman with a 19.91-pound false albacore, Angela Fisher with a 13.70-pound false albacore, David Kadison with a 10.98-pound bonito, and Cameron Maciel with a 9.13-pound bonito. Countryman couldn’t make it for the award ceremony Sunday but made up for it with a cardboard cutout of herself present under the tent.
This year, the annual Derby had 3,044 participants, down slightly from the previous year of 3,200, said John Custer, president of the Derby.
“I always say as long as we get 3,000 registrants, that support allows us to do what we need to do, and we are grateful for that support,” Custer said.
In June 2026, the Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby awarded 12 Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School graduates scholarships totaling $115,000, which was the same as the previous year but still a record high.
