Derby fishermen line our beaches or pile into boats trying their luck at one of the daily, weekly or grand prizes for the largest fish. But the thrill of the Derby is not in the contest or the prizes but rather in the lifelong friendships made during late-night fishing trips to deserted beaches or while hanging out at the weigh station in Oak Bluffs on the harborfront where young and old come to present prize catches and brag about the bigger fish that got away. Interested spectators should not hesitate to visit the weigh station which opens its doors to tired fisherfolk for two hours at 8 am and 8 pm. On a good fishing day, the shed will be crowded with fishermen delighted to relate the tales of their battles with the one that didn't get away. Or, stop into any local tackle shop.
Bonito are strong, fast fish with keen eyesight and require a minimum of tackle.
They feed primarily on sand eels and make excellent raw eating. False Albacore are frequently confused with Bonito because they have similar feeding habits. But they should be easy to distinguish because they lack the Bonito's wavy scale patterns. Bluefish are difficult to release because of their sharp teeth. Use pliers when removing hooks.