Sometimes I think the fish God's forget about all of the pain and suffering that we Derby Fishermen have endured. I hope this thread serves as a reminder of our efforts and maybe the Gods will see fit to offer us a chance at redemption. So give us your worst, your broken knots, slipped hooks, missed ferries and outright horrible timing.

I don't fish it, but I have a good friend who does seriously and has won the boat flyrod division for bass and bluefish several times.

Several years ago, after he had already weighed in a 20 something bass and a 8 something bluefish, we were fishing in Woods Hole and he got into small bass on every cast with his flyrod against pine island on one side of the boat while I was into big (10-13#) bluefish on every cast using plugs on the other side of the boat. I told him he should take a minute and upgrade his bluefish for the derby but he was having too much fun with little bass.....and a big blue in current on a flyrod is not enjoyable....to be bothered. Well in the following weeks he went on to catch a big albie and then lucked into a bonito behind Squibnocket. This lead to him leading the prestigious flyrod grandslam until the last day or two when he was beaten out in total weight by 2oz..........and thus providing me with years of "I told you so" satisfaction.

I was sitting down casting for Albies on East with my back on fire pain after fishing Wasque all night in pain

Its about the journey, not the destination. There are no fails fishing the derby.
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About 10 years ago I was fishing bait at Quonsoo with heavy surf. After several small fish I hook a slob. I am finally able to ride her to shore on a big wave and there she is, high and dry, 35+(I could make the story better and say it was a certain derby winner...but it wasn't). As I spike the rod, the hook falls out. I go running down to grab the fish as I see the next line of rollers bearing down on us. I can't get a hand in the gill or mouth so I just put a bear hug on her as the waves break over and pummel me. I guess you can figure out this one ends......

farmed two bones shore fishing with the fly rod in a year when there were exactly zero shore caught bones for the entire derby,to quote Coop "that had to hurt"...still does

farmed two bones shore fishing with the fly rod in a year when there were exactly zero shore caught bones for the entire derby,to quote Coop "that had to hurt"...still does

"farmed"??????
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