THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, July 1, 1996 TAG: 9607010135
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB HUTCHINSON, OUTDOORS EDITOR
LENGTH: 152 lines
Recent fishing has been marked by splendid bluefin tuna action off the Virginia coast and good white marlin action off the North Carolina Outer Banks.
Inshore, there was a marked increase in cobia catches in the lower Chesapeake Bay, along with a few big flounder and good numbers of red drum and black drum.
Several boats sailing to the 26-Mile Hill, northeast of Cape Henry and southeast of Wachapreague, reported limit catches of eight bluefins several days.
The charter boat Gannet, operating out of the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center near Nags Head, released six white marlin Friday. The boat is skippered by Richie Howell, a Virginia Beach native.
The weekend's biggest cobia was an 80-pound, 14-ounce trophy boated in the lower Chesapeake Bay by Todd Brown of Virginia Beach on the boat Big Crab.
Freshwater action continued to be marked by good catches of largemouth bass, including an 8-pound, 2-ounce lunker pulled from Western Branch Reservoir in Suffolk by George Madison of Suffolk.
A rundown of recent catches:
VIRGINIA BEACH INSHORE: King mackerel: Gregory Cooner, Virginia Beach, 25 pounds, 8 ounces, caught from the boat Lucky Seas.
VIRGINIA BEACH OFFSHORE: Blue marlin release: Will Wittmann, St. Louis, No Problem. White marlin releases: Wayne Terry Fager, Chesapeake, Melvin Oldham, Virginia Beach, and Gregory C. Taylor, Portsmouth, all from the Fat Rat. Tautog: Kurt Toehlke, Virginia Beach, 9-4, Big Time. Yellowfin tuna: Nancy Harris, Ashland, Va., 80-0, Seabird. Dolphin: James Smith, Virginia Beach, 20-0, Ocean Rebel. Spadefish: Marty Porter, Newsoms, 7-4, Lee-Ann.
LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY: Cobia releases: William C. Branche Jr., Suffolk, no name on boat; Wayne Couch, Virginia Beach, Plan Sea; Robert Schetkek, Richmond, Better Yet; James C. Wright, Virginia Beach, Therapy; and Walter R. Potter, Virginia Beach, and Jef Ford, Virginia Beach, both from the Thalia Pointer. Cobia: Jody Matisovsky, Norfolk, 71-0, and Byron Farlow, Norfolk, 64-8, both from the Wild-A-Beast; Jeff Scott, Virginia Beach, 65-0, My Sher; Mark A. Coose, Virginia Beach, 62-0, Battlewagon; Dean Norton, Virginia Beach, 56-4, Shooting Star; Dana V. Gibboney, Virginia Beach, 52-0, My Dream; Wayne Couch, Virginia Beach, 51-0, Plan Sea; and Scott Jones, Virginia Beach, 45-2, Capt. Morgan.
Red drum releases: Julie Ball (3), Chesapeake, Spoiled Rotten; Arthur Hungerford III, Richmond, Louis Berry, North Charleston, S.C., and Jared Kuka, North Charleston, all from the Forever Young; and Kai Lysaght, Virginia Beach, Sea Cave. Red drum: David Trax III, Virginia Beach, 50-0, Aquatrax; and Butch Parkerson, Virginia Beach, 40-8, Shooting Star. Black drum releases: David McKay, Chesapeake, Chrysta B.; Brian Hauser, Virginia Beach, Starship; Curtis L. Gerfin, Norfolk, Bealm's Choice; and Adam Paige, Fenton, Mich., Kenneth Tackett, Wernersville, Pa., and Thomas Allen Potter III, Virginia Beach, all from the Prowler. Spadefish: David Vachet, Portsmouth, 7-8, Big Crab. Shark release: W. James Parker, Virginia Beach, Crown Royal. Flounder: Alan Stampone, Norfolk, 6-12, Lazy Bonz; Al Chewning, Virginia Beach, 6-10, Gypsy; and Jin S. Chen, Chester, 6-6, Freedom.
EASTERN SHORE: Cobia: William W. Maguire, Silver Spring, Md., 68-0, Piscophile; Kevin Jamerson, Ellicott City, Md., 57-11, Beverly Eliazbeth; Iva Lee Caplinger, Mechancsville, Va., 55-0, no name; Michael Callighan, Norfolk, 51-12, Intimidator; Steve Quarrels, Quinton, Va., 46-8, Free Time; and Myron Strong, Weems, Va., 46-0, Buccaneer. Lemon shark release: Curtis Commander, Chesapeake, Gotta Go. Flounder: Mary Creamer, Baltimore, 6-12, Se Ya. Spadefish: Skip Santti, Virginia Beach, 8-12, Fin-Lander; Steve Leathery, Front Royal, Va., 8-1, Piscophile; and Ralph Lapradd, Fawn Grove, Pa., 7-2, no name.
OUTER BANKS INSHORE: Cobia: Benjamin Tongier, Kitty Hawk, 47-0, no name. Sea mullet: Jeffrey Hardy, Colfax, N.C., 2-3, caught from the surf; Christine Medlin, Buxton, 1-12, surf; and Harold Taylor, Manassas, Va., 1-8, surf.
OUTER BANKS OFFSHORE: Blue marlin releases: William T. Chick, Virginia Beach, Top Billin'; William J. Young Jr., Shelby, N.C., Tuna Duck; John Jones, Poquoson, On Top; Don Garrett, Hampton, Free Spool; Joseph Parker, Richmond, Pelican II; Jack Rutz, Alexandria, Connector; Robert Guynn, Norfolk, Hog Wild; Rick Hurley, Moyock, Bounty Hunter; Nanette Eubanks, Powhatan, Va., Country Girl; and Jeff Reid, Hampton, Hooker.
White marlin releases: Mark Dineen (2), Woodbridge, Va., Kevin Jackson (2), Purcellville, Va., Gary Rule, Chester, Va., and Dirk Venables, Williamsburg, all from the Gannet; Daniel Campbell, Virginia Beach, David Hayes, Norfolk, Sandra Meadows, Newport News, and Glenn Meadows, Newport News, all from the Right Hook; James Thomas, Morganton, N.C., Flying Fisherman; Carl Jones, Virginia Beach, High Seas; John Tucker, Petersburg, Va., and Alan Latham, Mocksville, N.C., both from the Rebate; Jean Bailey, Chesapeake, James Roberts, Virginia Beach, and Bryan Beck, Chesapeake, all from the Hooker; Stephen Sunderland, Virginia Beach, and Michael Kimener, Virginia Beach, both from the Middle Seas; Frank Meredith, Virginia Beach, Marshall Meredith, Virginia Beach, and Vince Juliano, Virginia Beach, all from the Pelican; Donnie Bryant, Roanoke, and Monte Kidd, Salem, Va., both from the Dream Girl; John Cannon, South Boston, Va., and Steven Carter, Camden, N.C., both from the Tuna Fever; William B. Iddings, Manassas, Va., Big Eye; Audrey A. Gray, Midlothian, Va., Wahoo; Doug Mullins, Manassas, Va., Chris D. Seward, Virginia Beach, and Bryan P. Hietpas, Virginia Beach, all from the Top Billin'; Jerry W. Wood, Knightville, N.C., Hukabuck; George H. Poffenberger Jr., Ruther Glen, Va., Tuna Duck; Amanda Langdon, Fuquay-Varina, N.C., Chapin; Richie Hardin, Mooresville, N.C., Gambler; Sumner Bell, Virginia Beach, Sea Creature; John ``Boy'' Smith, Chesapeake, Bull Frog; George McGhee, Richmond, Arch Dixon, Dillwyn, Va., Paul McWirter, Richmond, and Jack Hall, Newport News, all from the Harper's Folly; Kevin Cook, Yorktown, and Joseph Stout, Mechanicsville, Va., both from the Marlin Mania; David Keech, Moyock, Finnatic; David Stavar, Kill Devil Hills, no name; Robert Wood, Midlothian, Va., Connector; Billy Wilburn, Hatteras, N.C., Ladyfish; Michael Riedel, Richmond, Ralph English, Altavista, Va., Charles Edwards, Altavista, and Ginger Farmer, Virginia Beach, all from the Tar Heel; Gus Risso, Stafford, Va., For Play'n; Jack Eubank, Powhatan, Va., Country Girl; Charles Neyer, Virginia Beach, Sea Slammer; Carl Skinner, Mineral, Va., Virginia Breeze; and Ron Nicastro, Chesapeake, Outer Limits.
Sailfish releases: Peter Janson, Virginia Beach, Top Billin'; Patrick C. Cooper, Elizabeth City, Hera; W. Scott Story, Woodbridge, Va., Big Eye; Zack B. Draper, Wilson, N.C., Wahoo; Gary Graham, Summerfield, N.C., Will Power II; Joseph Parker, Richmond, Pelican II; David Keech Jr., Moyock, Finnatic; Jeff Thompson, Kennersville, N.C., Nancy K.; Jimmy Richards, Richmond, Vaughan Turner, Richmond, and Maurice Lewis III, Glen Allen, Va., all from the Marlin Mania; Christopher Hall, Newport News, Harper's Folly; Henry Hoffman III, Chesapeake, Tar Heel; Dennis Gardner, Chesapeake, Outer Limits; Calvin Hanchey Jr., Norfolk, Juggernaut; Greg Turner, Sandston, Va., Pompano; Barrett Leipertz, Richmond, and Jason Beacham, Kitty Hawk, both from the Oneiros; Glenn Sherman, Virginia Beach, Right Hook; Travis Evans, Richmond, Fishing Frenzy; and Danny Greeson, Kill Devil Hills, Marlin Fever.
Yellofin tuna: John Tucker, Petersburg, 92-0, and Jason Lanier, Advance, N.C., both from the Rebate. Wahoo: Mark Oldham, Midlothian, Va., 50-0, Sea Jay IV; Kerry Hunt, Markham. Va., 46-0, Miss Hatteras; Greg Elmore, Newcastle, Va., 44-0, Fight-N-Lady; and Gonzalo Mejia, Montpelier, Va., 42-0, Country Girl. Dolphin: Susan A. Marshall, Hatteras, 56-0, Country Girl; Tim Newton, Newport News, 45-0, Work Less; and Hugh Chappell, Haymarket, Va., 40-0, Tuna Fever. Spanish mackerel: Charles A. Woodard, Hertford, N.C., 7-7, no name.
FRESH WATER: Largemouth bass: Mike Brickner, Virginia Beach, 26 inches, caught at Lake Prince; Martin Carter, Windsor, 24 1/2 inches, Prince; John Moore, Portsmouth, 24 1/2 inches, Western Branch Reservoir; Tony Blackburn, Hopewell, Va., 23 1/2 inches, Western Branch; Bruce Sheppard, Portsmouth, 23 1/2 inches, Western Branch; Mike Bradley, Portsmouth, 23 1/2 inches, Western Branch; Henry Shaver, Hopewell, Va., 23 1/4 inches, Western Branch; Bill Green, Portsmouth, 23 1/4 inches, Western Branch; Kent Morris, Suffolk, 23 inches, Western Branch; Jay Palmer, Portsmouth, 23 inches, Western Branch; George Parsons, Virginia Beach, 23 inches, Lake Whitehurst; Pam Loggains, Virginia Beach, 22 3/4 inches, Western Branch; Joey Doxey, Suffolk, 22 1/2 inches, Prince; Steve Elgin, Virginia Beach, 22 inches, private pond; Lorrie Elgin, Virginia Beach, 22 inches, private pond; Rick McMurtrey, Holland, 7-4, Western Branch; David Reynolds, Suffolk, 7-0, Prince; Carson Hodge Jr., Windsor, 6-8, Western Branch; Dan Collins, Norfolk, 6-13, Prince; Paul Douglas, Smithfield, 6-5, Prince; and Jay Crawford, Tom Free, Ky., 6-4; Prince. Bream: Sarah Worrell, Suffolk, 11 inches, Prince. Yellow perch: John ``Bo'' Taylor, Portsmouth, 14 inches, Prince; Sarah Worrell, Suffolk, 13 inches, Prince; and George Rowe, Windsor, 1-4, Prince. Shellcracker: Pete Rose, Suffolk, 1-6, Prince; Rick Barker, Chesapeake, 1-6, Western Branch; G.L. Pittman, Portsmouth, 1-5, Prince; Jethro Mason, Suffolk, 1-4, Western Branch; Robert C. Taylor, Virginia Beach, 1-3, Western Branch; Ryan Branham, Portsmouth, 1-2, Prince; Mark Goff, Chesapeake, 1-2, Prince; E.W. Mallard, Chesapeake, 1-2, Prince; J.A. Johnson, Virginia Beach, 1-1, Prince; Neil Applewhite, Chesapeake, 1-1, Prince; Robbie Canipe, Chesapeake, 1-1, Prince; W.D. Blankenship, Windsor, 1-1, Western Branch; David Brooks, Portsmouth, 1-1 Western Branch; Walt Snyder, Ivor, 1-0, Western Branch; Charles Grifeo, Portsmouth, 1-0, Western Branch; Anthony Parker, Portsmouth, 1-0, Western Branch; and Terry Clements, Chesapeake, 11 1/4 inches, Western Branch. by CNB