History

A tribute to The van duzer’s

We would like to dedicate this history of the Cape Cod Tuna Club to the Van Duzer family of the Barnstable Marine Service, the original organizer of the Club. How fortunate the Club members and crews have been in having the Van Duzer’s give unstintingly of their time for over twenty-two years. They were always the behind-the-scenes, capable, untiring workhorse who kept the wheels rolling from year to year.

We are indebted to them for their good sportsmanship and the friendship they gave to all of us.

— Ken and Midge Daly

A Cape Cod tradition

by Ken and Midge Daly

The Cape Cod Tuna Club got its start after an incredible bluefin tuna season in Cape Cod Bay in 1948. That year, thousands of tuna were taken from Cape waters, including fish weighing several hundred pounds and some over 1,000 pounds. Recreational anglers alone landed about 187,000 pounds of bluefin on rod and reel. The excitement surrounding the fishing made it clear that Cape Cod had become an important destination for tuna fishermen. In 1949, local guides and fishermen including Floyd Van Duzer, Captain Joe Eldridge, Captain John Peterson and Captain Charlie Mayo organized the first Cape Cod Tuna Club tournament.

Over the years, the Club built a reputation for great tuna fishing, friendly competition and good sportsmanship. The tournaments brought together anglers and captains from around the Cape and produced some impressive catches, including bluefin weighing 800, 900 and more than 1,000 pounds. Women were an important part of the Club as well, with anglers such as Claire DeWolfe, Jeanne Wood and Midge Daly winning tournaments and setting some remarkable records of their own. Through the years, the boats, fishermen and fishing conditions have changed, but the tradition has remained. The Cape Cod Tuna Club has been an important part of Cape Cod’s sportfishing history for generations, bringing people together through a shared love of tuna fishing and the waters around Cape Cod.