Legends of the Line: Every Derby Starts With A Story
Legends of the Line: Every Derby Starts With A Story
A Fishy Lecture Series. Stories of the Derby, told by Local Legends.
This Fall at MVM
Legends of the Line: Every Derby Starts With A Story
Honoring the Derby: Stories from the Vineyard
Wednesdays, September 23 – October 14, 2026
The stories of the Derby are as much a part of the tradition as the fish themselves.
Following last year’s celebration, the Museum invites you back for another season of Legends of the Line. Over four evenings, we’ll sit down with some of the Island’s longtime anglers, weigh-masters, and fishing families to hear the stories that have stayed with them over the years.
These are the stories you might hear on the dock, at the weigh-in, or around the kitchen table. Some have been told many times. Others may be new to you. Together, they offer a personal look at the Derby and the people who have made it such a lasting part of life on Martha’s Vineyard.
Come listen to the stories, share a few laughs, and hear a little more about the people behind the Derby.
Individual Tickets:
MVM Member: $15; Non-Member: $25
Show your Derby badge at the door for Member pricing.
THE SCHEDULE
September 23
Buddy Vanderhoop: Tales from the Tomahawk
Join Capt. Buddy Vanderhoop, a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah and owner of Tomahawk Fishing Charters, for an evening of stories from more than six decades on the water. In this Legends of the Line talk, Vanderhoop reflects on charter life, memorable catches, Island adventures, and the knowledge of Martha’s Vineyard waters passed down through generations.
Mingle 4-5pm | Lecture 5-6pm
September 30
Mike Cassidy: A Constant Champion of the Derby
For more than 30 years, Mike Cassidy has helped make the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass & Bluefish Derby happen. A 2019 Derby Hall of Fame inductee, former Derby chairman, and longtime weighmaster, Cassidy shares stories from behind the scenes, including the traditions, characters, challenges, and moments that have kept him coming back year after year.
Mingle 4-5pm | Lecture 5-6pm
October 7
From First Cast to Hall of Fame: Ron Domurat
Join 2025 Derby Hall of Fame inductee Ron Domurat for stories from more than four decades of tournament fishing. Domurat has fished the Derby since 1982 and earned more than 100 daily pins along the way. He will reflect on the people, places, and memorable catches that shaped his Derby life, as well as the enduring pull of fishing on Martha’s Vineyard.
Mingle 4-5pm | Lecture 5-6pm
October 14
More Than Bait & Tackle: Pete Sliwkowski
Join Pete Sliwkowski, owner of Larry’s Tackle Shop, for a look at the Derby and Island fishing culture from behind the counter and out on the water. Drawing on years of fishing, helping generations of anglers prepare for their next outing, and advocating for public beach access, Sliwkowski shares the people, places, and traditions that keep fishing central to Island life.
Mingle 4-5pm | Lecture 5-6pm
