Congratulations to all the members of Martha’s Vineyard Surfcasters who participated in the second annual Striper Cup, a 20-week long striped bass fishing tournament organized by On The Water. The MV Surfcasters delivered a 10-fish total of 466.88 points, clinching fifth place out of 54 clubs registered in the tourney.

Special recognition goes to MV Club member Morgan Taylor, the Striper Cup Shore Angler of the Year! Morgan boasted a five-fish cumulative weight of 187.5 pounds, one of which weighed in at 52 pounds. This monstrous linesider not only cemented the MV Surfcasters’ high placement, but it also made Morgan the shore division’s winner for the month of June. Morgan received a new Van Staal reel for his monthly win and was allotted a coveted spot in the grand prize drawing for the 2007 Toyota Tundra alongside the other nine monthly winners from the boat and shore divisions. At StriperFest on September 30, Morgan accepted his trophy for Shore Angler of the Year from Jamey Douglas of The Black Dog, then took the stage with his fellow monthly winners to draw for the Tundra. Upon opening their prize boxes, it was revealed that Morgan’s box held the golden key, winning him the 2007 Toyota Tundra! On October 18, OTW publisher Chris Megan drove the Tundra off the ferry and up to Larry’s Tackle to award Morgan his well-earned prize.

Other notable anglers fishing with the MV Surfcasters included Larry’s Tackle employee Julian Pepper, who landed an impressive 43.2-pounder, and last year’s Shore Angler of the Year, Patrick Toomey, who brought in a 35.7-pounder.

Of these island anglers, On The Water’s Striper Cup operations manager Will Berthold offered much praise. "The members of the MV Surfcasters can be easily identified at the party. They have a friendly, easygoing nature about them that represents Vineyard life and is matched only by their professional skill at capturing huge fish from shore. Larry’s Tackle and Dicks Bait & Tackle were both outstanding weigh stations and kept in constant communication with us throughout the tournament to ensure accurate and timely update. I look forward to seeing the MV Surfcasters return for the 2008 tournament."

At StriperFest on Sunday, September 30, Linesiders Bass and Brew, the 2006 Striper Cup winners, handed the trophy to Striped-Bass.com at the Harpoon Brewery in South Boston. Nearly 3,500 anglers, fishing enthusiasts and their families came to celebrate this great gamefish and the camaraderie it inspires throughout the Northeast. Those who attended enjoyed Harpoon beer, delicious food and live music while sharing stories about 2007’s spectacular fishing season. In addition to Morgan’s Toyota Tundra and prize pack, other fantastic prizes were awarded, including a 21-foot NorthCoast boat and a fully outfitted kayak.

1.Striped-Bass.com 534.17

2. Team Jersey Shore 497.36

3. Team Striper 483.28

4. Team Dicks 475.96

*5.Martha's Vineyard Surfcasters 466.88*

6. Linesiders Bass & Brew 411.20

7. Sandwich Basin Yacht Club 381.1 pts

8. Rhode Island Mobile Fisherman 376.62

9. RISAA 366.23

10. Jersey Shore Surfcasters 348.47

1) Morgan Taylor, 67.60 (52.0) shore

2) Julian Pepper, 56.16 (43.2) shore

3) Morgan Taylor, 50.44 (38.8) shore

4) Patrick Toomey, 46.41 (35.7) shore

5) Ron Domurat, 45.37 (34.9) shore

6) Charles Loiselle, 43.16 (33.2) shore

7) Julian Pepper, 42.90 (33.0) shore

8) Jim Fraser, 39.13 (30.1) shore

9) Charles Wendell, 39.05

10) Charles Loiselle, 36.66 (28.2) shore