Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993                   TAG: 9309020024
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Bill Cochran
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DID EMILY SWAMP MARLIN RUN?

The big question to be answered: Did Hurricane Emily ruin the best marlin run along the Virginia-North Carolina coast in recent memory?

Before the blow, boats out of Nags Head's Oregon Inlet were cranking in amazing numbers of marlin. The action started with a 30-marlin catch Aug. 22. The next day, that jumped to 52 whites and three blues. The Sea Toy released 13 whites that day. Then came a 100-day catch, 110, 70, 40-plus, 53 and 100, followed by Emily.

Boats out of Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach also reeled in excellent catches.

As the fleets test the waters today, what are the prospects for a return of the breakneck pre-storm action?

"You can toss a coin for the answer," said Claude Bain, director of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament.

It could be that the peak of the run developed earlier than usual, and when the storm hit, the fish headed south for the year. Or the fishing may pick up again once the water settles, Bain said.

Most observers were fearful that the storm spoiled the party for good.

The first task will be to locate the fish, if concentrations still are in the region. Emily's winds likely broke up the weedlines and the schools of baitfish where the marlin were feasting. It also probably changed the composition of the water temperatures.

Among the Roanokers who enjoyed marlin catch-and-releases before the storm were Michael Chaney and John Swim.

\ FOR THE BIRDS: The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has set a three-segment duck hunting season: Oct. 6-9, Nov. 25-27 and Dec. 27-Jan. 18. The limit of three birds daily can include no more than one hen mallard, two wood ducks, two redheads, one black duck and one pintail.

The Canada goose season is Nov. 16-27, Dec. 3-11 and Dec. 13-Jan. 20. The limit is one per day until Dec. 11 and two daily after that date.

The snow goose season is Oct. 26-30, Nov. 1-Feb. 10. The tundra swan season was shortened to Dec. 3-Jan. 1.

\ DOUBTS AT DOUTHAT: In many ways, it has been a season of disappointment for fishermen at Douthat Lake. For one thing, state officials had promised that a 3.5-mile stretch of Wilson Creek below the lake in Douthat State Park would be operated as a pay-fishing area this season. But only three-quarters of a mile were stocked.

The next promise was that the pay-fishing program in the 60-acre lake would be extended a month, to Sept. 30. Now comes word that no more trout will be stocked this season. That's because warm water and low dissolved-oxygen levels have made the water inhospitable for trout.

Fishing for warm-water species continues at the lake, which is located near Clifton Forge.

\ MORE CLAYS: After our recent Outdoor Page feature on sporting clays, we learned about another range. Called Virginia-Carolina Shooting Sports Inc., it is located off U.S. 220, south of Ridgeway. The operator is W.E. Prillaman Jr., who is a National Sporting Clays Association certified instructor.

Denny Hudson of Danville holds the course record, with 88 out of 100.

The range is open Monday through Saturday, dawn to dusk and Sundays 12:30 p.m. to dusk. There are 10 stations, and the fee is $30 for 100 targets. Reservations are required; call 956-4778.