ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 13, 1997 TAG: 9702130025
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: OUTDOORS
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
While it isn't anything like the ``good old days,'' Virginia's flounder fishing is making a welcomed rebound. Even so, fish officials are expressing concern that the flounder may need still more protection if full recovery is expected.
That is behind a proposal before the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to increase the minimum size limit from 14 inches to 14 1/2 inches and to lower the daily catch limit from 10 to eight. A public hearing Feb.24 in Newport News will address this plan, as well as proposed adjustments to striped bass, sea bass and gray trout regulations.
Flounder citations jumped to 214 during last year's Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. They had dipped to a scant 25 in 1989, which was the lowest count in the history of the 40-year-old tournament. The fishing was so poor in the late 1980s and early 1990s that Western Virginia anglers who once trailered boats to the coast or who rented charters gave up the effort.
The action has been rebuilding ever since the bottom-out season of 1989. Fishermen now can go to the Eastern Shore or the Chesapeake Bay and expect decent founder fishing, and the coming season should be no exception.
Still, you aren't going to be able to dock with scores of foot-long fish. Limits are low and minimum sizes are big. If that is what it has taken to help populations rebuild, then another adjustment should be welcomed.
While flounder have been on the return trail, the striped bass population quickly has recovered to the point that officials suggest the season can be liberalized. There is a Virginia Marine Resources Commission proposal to add 13 days to the length of the Chesapeake Bay season, which would give anglers a total of 120 days. Some fishermen say that is more than needed. They urge that caution be taken on behalf of stripers, so the proposal is expected to reap some opposition.
Even this late into the season, anglers continue to come across some striped bass along the coast of Virginia and North Carolina. The most productive spot has been Hatteras Island, especially Cape Point at Buxton. Some striper fishermen at the point are using huge 13/0 hooks, like those employed by commercial longline fishermen. The advocates of the new trend say you just don't miss many strikes with a 13/0.
Virginia's gray trout fishery continues to be alarmingly poor, and a proposal will be viewed to reconsider the current 12-inch minimum size and four-fish a day limit. There is talk of dividing the season into two segments with separate rules.
Also to be examined is a minimum size limit of 9 inches on sea bass, a popular target of bottom fishermen and party boats.
PHILPOTT IS HOT: While most lake and streams offer poor fishing results, experienced anglers at Philpott Lake have been reeling in limits of black bass. The productive fishing technique is to deep jig with a Hopkins lure.
``Experienced fishermen easily are catching limits of bass along with a few walleyes,'' said Judy Helms at Rakes Sports Center, a popular stopping-off spot for Philpott fishermen in Bassett.
The Hopkins technique also is paying off at South Holston Reservoir, where anglers are jigging up smallmouth bass along deep-water rocky points.
On the east side of the state, winter fishing at Chickahominy Lake has been ``unbelievable,'' said Ed Allen Jr., who operates a boat dock there.
Some fishermen are hooking as many as 10 bass per outing, with an occasional fish weighing up to 8 1/4 pounds.
Pickerel weighing 3 to 5 pounds also have been landed.
LENGTH: Medium: 66 linesby CNB