Just read this on the mvderby.com site. I wonder if they'll be adjusting the award structures along with the new rule. Last year there were weekly prizes for albacore and of course both boat and shore grand slams which go on the same badge. Folks will need to use their 3 albies wisely.

Seems to be a bit of interest/feedback developing on mvderby.com. Thought folks here would be interested as well since so many of us fish this wonderful tournament. Personally, I would have liked to have seen the issue addressed a bit differently, but would like to hear some comments from the elders here.

Seems to make sense to me.

Few if any people eat them, so it's a crying shame what you see at the weigh-in station. Beautiful albies left to rot - for what, a stupid pin to hang on your hat?

Don't get me wrong, I love the Derby, but at least you can donate your blues and bass to a worthy cause on the Island. Although people say cooked albie is edible, nobody will touch it.

Actually, you'll hear me say this a lot - it's delicious RAW as long as it has been bled and gutted and iced promptly (right after catching) but that would mean you couldn't weigh it in.

If you keep your three and don't want to eat them, go out of your way to give them to an island shark angler.

I fish the derby every year. I'm happy to see this rule. Albies aren't good eating and its too bad that you have to kill one to weigh it in. It's difficult to get one 25'' or more. I also have read in the gazette how under sized fish were attempted to be weighed in just about every day last year.

This is a pic of an albie I caught and released last year during the derby.

I am actaually opposed to it but I can live with anything they choose to do. I understand their postion. *****IMO***** there are no problems with albies. They are not comm'ly fished and are mainly a rec fish. Most fish you reel in...die anyway, esp on a fly rod. They may swim away and make you feel good you let him go but they die shortly afterwards because they nearly fight to the death. Many are bleeding when landed....they also die.

I would like to see *consistancy* and *simplicity* with all fish in the derby, that is the same awards structure for each fish. As far as the dead fish go, there are MANY GOOD USES FOR THESE FISH. Up till now the lobstermen have been taking them but last years was a banner albie year and the derby provided more then they could use. I know someone said there was an interested party that would take every dead fish or carcus they have...for organic fert. There are other uses....besides few albies actaully swim this far north and the biomass of albies is more then healthy enough to support a few hunderd fish killed that go to a positive use.

Some would like to see albies removed just because they are not eaten...I think this would be a huge mistake. They are a great sport fish and there are not ***that*** many fish taken in the derby period that would do ***ANY*** harm to the overall population. Scientists have said this. IMO this is more to please the environmental whackos.

Last year was a banner year for Albies :) Great fighting fish from the beach or with a fly rod. And a great looking fish as well.
We did eat one a few years back,a friend from Taxas thought it was great!
As for the 3 catch derby rule. In my 20 years I have never taken 3 Albies to the weigh in station, or do I know of anyone who has? We all try to catch the 29incher and release the rest, I have seen ton's released. You only need one for the grand Slam award.

As for removing them from the derby, You do not have to be in the derby to catch them, When they removed the bass from the derby years ago I was hurt and stopped paying for the derby but still fished for bass.

I just hope they show up again this year like they have the last few years :)

VB

PS.what they should do is make the min 27 inches NOT 25

I agree with vineyardblues on the size limit. IMO that would remove a fair amount of the albies from weigh-in. Last year most of my fish were 23-25", with an occasional 27" thrown in.

Removing them from the Derby would turn away participants. So many flyfisherman enter specifically for the albie fishing.

I like the fact they imposed a bag limit per entrant, but I would have preferred an increase in size instead.

Vineyard Blues just said what myself and my friends who fish the derby every year said last year. Raise the minimum length to 27"'s. I can't tell you how many times I casually mentioned that the fish that the person was about to start racing of the beach with would not garner a prize because it just barely measured 25"s. Many contestants especially first timers and some veterans still do not realize there are no daily prizes for albys.

What this does must mean though that is disconcerting somewhat is that someone could take a weekly, with a 15 # fish the first week of the derby, and take every weekly until the derby ends. That would kind of bite, get it, bite, or is that bight.

I always admired the courage and dedication to the "sport" of fishing the derby committee had when it took the bass out of the derby knowing that many people would not come to the island to fish the derby, because of that decision. So out of respect for that toughness I'll stand by their decision as far as the albys are concerned.

One more thing, only a fool would say that albys don't taste good when they never smoked one and ate it.