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75thAnniversarySilverSailfshDerby10The1980x19sCharlieBouchardx19sx18Ruthiex19wasaDerbyregular.TibbyBartramRodmanLeaslandJohnMooneyaboveweretrophywinnersin1985.Capt.BobRastJamesMurrayIIMichaelReaSmallboatparticipationwasnotallowedinmanysailfishtournamentsofthedayhoweverDerbyorganizersembracedtheirinvolvement.InfactSilverSailfishDerbyrulesweremodifiedduringthiserainanefforttokeeptheplayingfieldaslevelaspossiblenomatterwhatsizeboatyouwerefishingfrom.Alimitoffourlinesandallowingtheuseoffishingkiteswerejustsomeoftherulemodificationsmadeinordertogivethesmallerboatsacompetitivechance.Centerconsolesbecamearegularpartofthefleetaslivebaitfishingbecamethenorm.TheDerbyalsoexperimentedwithavarietyofnewawardcategoriesincludingax18FlyFishingx19award.SincenooneevercaughtasailonflytackleduringtheDerbytheawardwasshortlived.SeparatePrivateBoatandCharterBoatdivisionswerebrieflyestablishedbutorganizersfounditincreasinglydifficulttodistinguishbetweenthetwo.BytheendofthedecadeDerbyparticipationhadwanedtothepointwhereorganizershadevenconsidereddiscontinuingthetour-nament.Theywerecomingtotheharshrealizationthatthemulti-weekformatwasjusttoooutdatedforthetimes.Bigchangeswereonthehorizon.The1970x19sFrancesDoucetCapt.JackMorrowJohnJolleyinthelabAstheregiongrewDerbyorganizersfoundthemselveshavingahard-ertimemaintainingthetournamentx19spopularity.Moreformsofentertainmentandawidervarietyofsportingeventswerenowavailabletoseasonalvisitorsaswellasfulltimeresidents.AdditionallythereweremoresailfishtournamentsonthecalendarthaneverbeforemanyspawnedasaresultoftheDerbyx19ssuccess.OutsidepromoterswerecomingtotheareaproducingeventsthatofferedbigprizemoneyadeparturefromthetraditionaltrophytournamentformatthathadputtheDerbyonthemap.TheDerbyfleetwasshrinking.Themakeupofthefleetwaschangingaswell.OncecomprisedentirelyofprofessionalcharterboatstheDerbynowhadmoreprivatecraftonitsroster.Thecharterindustrywasevolv-ingnolongerwerecaptainstheownerandoperatoroftheircraftbutrathertheboatswereincreasinglyownedbycorporationsusedastaxsheltersprovidingbenefitsforcompanystaffandclients.Gasolineshortagesandinflationwerealsoerodingpar-ticipation.DespiteitalltheDerbystucktoitscoreformat.ThededicatedserviceoflongtimedirectorFrancesDoucetaDerbyfixtureatInletAnniex19sDockcollectingscoresheetswithhercanepoleandclothespinwasthegluethatkeptthetourna-menttogether.TheDerbyalsohadplentyofloyalfollowerstokeepthetraditiongoing.Fisheryscientistswerecontinuingtousetournamentstomonitorthecondi-tionofsailfishstocks.TheDerbywasoneofthebestforthispurposebecauseofitsdecadeslongtenureandmeticulousbaselinedata.DerbycatchratesrevealedwideyearlyfluctuationsbutnooveralldecliningtrendinsailfishabundanceaccordingtoscientificpaperspublishedbyayoungbiologistbythenameofJohnJolley.