Charity · Blues for DU (4th) / calendars may say 1st DU Derby

DU Derby (Blues for DU)

Bahia Marina’s early-June bluefish derby benefiting Ducks Unlimited—$200 boat entry (up to four anglers), kayak options, added bluefish Calcuttas, and dockside awards after the scales close.

June 5–7, 2026 (captain’s meeting June 5; verify banquet date)

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Confirm entry fees, lines-out times, and public weigh-in access with organizers before you travel. Status uses US Eastern calendar dates.

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About this tournament

Bahia Marina’s June charity weekend is published two ways on 2026 calendars: Ocean City Fishing Center lists a “1st Annual DU Derby,” while Bahia’s own tournament page calls the same June 5–7 window the “4th annual Blues for DU,” a bluefish tournament benefiting Ducks Unlimited. Trust Bahia’s live packet for species, fees, and edition numbering—and expect the short name “DU Derby” on regional lists.

Published entry: $200 per boat for up to four anglers; additional anglers $50 each up to a six-angler maximum. Kayak single is $50; kayak tandem $100. Optional added levels include $50 / $100 / $150 bluefish categories (heaviest bluefish 1st–3rd, 50/30/20) plus a $200 winner-take-all Bonus Bluefish Calcutta. If no qualifying fish is weighed in a Calcutta, Bahia states participating boats are refunded in full.

Captain’s meeting and final sign-up run at Bahia Marina on Thursday, June 5—sign-up from 4:00 p.m. with the captain’s meeting at 7:00 p.m. At least one team member must attend. Awards banquet programming is listed after scales close—confirm the live 2026 packet for the exact banquet clock.

Trophies and prize money go to heaviest bluefish 1st–3rd, with a prize pack for top junior angler. Bluefish are a classic early-summer Mid-Atlantic target—still verify Maryland size, season, and creel rules on fishing regulations before you ice fish for the scale.

Bahia Marina sits on the bayside midtown corridor at 2107 Herring Way—summer marina parking and Fish Tales restaurant traffic start early even before peak July billfish weeks. Pair a derby weekend with inshore bay backups if weather stacks against a canyon plan later in June.

Same early-June stretch leads into Tuna & Tiaras the following weekend—crews stacking both should lock lodging and trailer plans before Memorial Day crowds clear.

At a glance

  • Host: Bahia Marina
  • Venue: Bahia Marina
  • Address: 2107 Herring Way, Ocean City MD 21842
  • Format: Multi-day bluefish charity derby for Ducks Unlimited—$200/boat (4 anglers), kayak entries available, optional bluefish Calcuttas; captain’s meeting June 5 at Bahia; trophies for heaviest bluefish and top junior.
  • Target species: Bluefish, Junior angler category (verify)
  • Phone: 410-289-7473

For spectators

  • Dockside energy centers on Bahia’s marina campus and Fish Tales—confirm whether evening scales are open to non-entered guests.
  • Awards banquet seating is typically aimed at entered teams; ask Bahia if visitor tickets exist before you promise dinner to friends.

For anglers & crews

  • Bring cash/card plans for the $200 boat fee plus optional $50–$200 Calcutta rungs—refunds apply only when a Calcutta has no qualifying fish.
  • Kayak anglers: confirm launch sites, measurement vs weigh rules, and whether tandem entries share a single fish limit.
  • At least one team member must attend the June 5 captain’s meeting (7:00 p.m.).

Planning tips

  • Pad marina and Route 50 minutes—tournament weeks compress West Ocean City and inlet corridors.
  • Book lodging early; billfish and tuna weeks stack with summer beach demand.
  • Confirm weigh-in windows and public viewing rules with the host marina before you promise kids a “scale night.”
  • Midtown bayside parking fills on warm June evenings—arrive early for sign-up and stay flexible for dinner.
  • Bluefish chew through light wire and leaders; pack extras if kids are fishing the junior category.

Map (approximate)

Open larger map (OpenStreetMap) — Approximate location; confirm exact gate or venue with organizers.

Tickets, registration & official links

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FAQs

Does OCEANCITY.MD sell entries for the DU Derby?
No—register only through the official tournament or host marina channels linked on this page. We publish planning context, not entry desks.
Will this tournament affect my recreational charter day?
Often yes near host docks—weigh-in crowds, trailer traffic, and reserved slips can slow staging. Ask your captain, and keep a non-tournament backup window. See charter trip picker and marinas.
Is this a bluefish tournament or a mixed-species derby?
Bahia Marina’s page frames Blues for DU as a bluefish tournament with heaviest-bluefish prizes and bluefish Calcuttas. Always re-read the live 2026 rules in case categories expand.
Why do some calendars say “1st Annual” and Bahia says “4th”?
Regional lists (OC Fishing Center / OceanCity.Guide) have used “1st Annual DU Derby,” while Bahia markets “4th annual Blues for DU” for the same June dates. Use Bahia’s packet for fees and rules; treat edition labels as marketing variance until organizers unify the name.

Sources

OCEANCITY.MD does not operate these tournaments. Always verify rules, fees, and public access with organizers.

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