At first light on July 5th, 2025, thirty-five anglers pushed off from Sakonnet Harbor in pursuit of long fish and short stories. The eleventh annual David A. Brayton Memorial Fishing Tournament once again brought together a cheerful crowd for a laid-back, single-morning, catch-and-release competition. The stakes? Modest prizes in four categories, a few bragging rights, and, of course, the satisfaction of doing some good while pursuing some fish.

The tournament honors the late Dave Brayton, a longtime Little Compton resident who rarely missed a chance to take a kid fishing, teach them how to cast a line, or hand them a deck brush on one of his two swordfish boats—the Xiphias and the Harry Glenn. If Dave had a philosophy, it might have been: “Teach a kid to fish, you’ve got a crew for life.”

As in previous years, 100% of tournament proceeds and donations went to the Little Compton Food Bank, which provides weekly groceries to more than sixty families in Tiverton and Little Compton. Operating out of the Little Compton Wellness Center, the food bank serves over 60,000 meals a year, making it one of the most quietly essential institutions in our small, coastal community.

Saturday delivered perfect conditions for a fishing tournament—or, depending on your luck, a quiet morning boat ride. The skies were clear, the seas flat, and the breeze gentle. Unfortunately, the fish didn’t seem to get the memo. Despite enough gear to launch a minor expedition, the competition was more about patience than productivity. Still, anglers fanned out across the water with bait, jigs, lures, umbrella rigs, and high hopes and some met with great success. 

By 11:00 a.m., the group returned to the Sakonnet Point Club for a well-earned lunch, some sunburn checks, and the traditional swapping of fish stories—many of which improved with each retelling. After lunch, Jack Haire shared fond memories of Dave Brayton and reflected on the harbor’s rich fishing history, when boats like the Andiamo, Xiphias, and Poppy lined the piers, and a good day on the water meant more than just the size of the catch.

Jack also thanked the competitors for their support of the Food Bank, reminding everyone that even a slow day of fishing can still make a meaningful difference.

Tournament Results:

• Boat/Troll Class: Rob Goulart reeled in the top prize with a monster 35.5" striped bass.
• Fly Fishing Class: McLane Cover landed a 17.5" incher guided by his brother-in-law Henry White.
• Spinning Class: Peter Gnazzo spun his way to victory with a 24.5" fish.
• Youth Champion: The day’s biggest splash came from local prodigy Hayes Weber, whose 24" bluefish secured bragging rights and maybe a future sponsorship deal.

In total, the DAB Derby raised over $8,000 for the Little Compton Food Bank—proof that competitors came for the fish but stayed for the porpoise.

Saturday, July 5, 2025
6:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Open to all town of Little Compton residents,
summer-folks, and SPC members
Entry Fee - FREE this year to Members/Guests
Kids under 12 are Free! (accompanied by an adult)
Awards Luncheon to follow

SUPPORTING THE LITTLE COMPTON FOOD BANK
Accepting donations of Cash, Checks, and
Non-Perishable Food Items
100% Tax Deductible -- All proceeds to the Food Bank
Donation Receipts for Tax are available
Advance Donations to:
Little Compton Food Bank, PO Box 509, Little Compton, RI 02837 (EIN 85-4309915)
 

Four Tackle Categories (PRIZES!)
Fly-fishing
Spin-fishing
Bait-fishing
Kids Category – Under 16 years old

FREE AWARDS LUNCH
11:30am at the Sakonnet Point Club
All registrants welcome
Please register in advance!!
“Xiphias Trophy”

REGISTRATION:
Please email the Names(s) of Competitor(s) to
SPC Events [email protected]

You will receive a confirmation email from David and be billed to your SPC your account.
 

RULES OF COMPETITION:

1. LEAVE DOCK AT ANY HOUR OR FISH FROM SHORE – no need to check in before you go, register your fish with Oz at lunch.
2. FISH CAUGHT 6:00 AM – 11:30 AM – “Scoring fish” must be caught between these hours.
3. FOUR COMPETITIVE CATEGORIES – (1) Bait/Tow, (2) Spinning, (3) Fly Fishing, and (4) Youth (under 16)
4. SPECIES: Bass (all), Blues, Tuna, Mackerel, Squeteague, Tautog, Flounder, Bonito, Albacore, Cod ‐ NO SHARKS
5. LENGTH ONLY (BY QUARTER INCH) ‐ This is a Catch & Release tournament so measure your fish’s length along the lateral line ‐ See figure below. Measuring Tapes at the Dock office.
6. CATCH & RELEASE ‐ Take a picture with the tape or simply report the number. You may keep a Striped Bass that qualifies by RI State rules – (28 to less than 30 inches for Striped Bass) No need to kill the fish!    

For further information about the David A. Brayton Memorial Derby, please contact David Osborn:
[email protected]