THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 13, 1994 TAG: 9407120136
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JODY R. SNIDER
STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
The 10th annual Smithfield Kiwanis Club Fishing Tournament is scheduled Aug. 13, with headquarters and weigh-in site at the new boardwalk at Smithfield Station restaurant in Smithfield.
Fishing lines may be dropped in the water starting at 6 a.m., and all catches will be weighed by 4:30 p.m., said Paul G. Youngk III, tournament chairman.
Entry fee is $50 for each boat, four persons per boat. For each boat holding more than four anglers, an additional $12.50 per person will be charged.
Anglers may pick their own areas in which to fish but contestants may also fish from the docks for $12.50 per person.
There are no age requirements for participation. Plaques and cash prizes will be awarded to the top 12 anglers, Youngk said.
First and second prizes for the heaviest fish will be awarded for six categories: Flounder, trout, croaker, spot, catfish and bluefish.
Youngk said the biggest fish caught in last year's tournament was a flounder weighing more than six pounds, reported to have been caught at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
He said 35 boats and about 150 anglers participated in last year's tournament. ``This year we're gunning for more than 200 people and 50 boats,'' Youngk said.
Youngk said that last year, the largest croaker caught weighed two pounds and it was caught by someone fishing off the Gatling Pointe dock.
``What that lets people know is that everyone's caught a two-pound croaker sometime in their life,'' he said.
A captain's meeting, for boat captains and for anyone wanting to register for the event, will be held at 6 p.m., Aug. 12, at the boardwalk at Smithfield Station.
``There's a lot of big talk,'' Youngk said, with a laugh, ``but that's all a part of the fishing.''
Although anglers are allowed to register the morning of the tournament, Youngk said he prefers to have everyone registered at the captain's meeting, the night before the tournament.
All proceeds from the tournament benefit about 20 local charities, Youngk said.
Youngk said the goal is to attract 50 boats and 200 people.
``Depending on the weather, that will be hard or easy to do,'' Youngk said. ``But we're hoping to draw some out-of-towners into Smithfield for the tournament,'' he said.
``We want the event to grow,'' Youngk said. ``And we're very proud of our town. We want to show it off,'' he said.
After the tournament, Anglers can retreat to Smithfield Station for a hot dog and hamburger cookout.
``The theme,'' Youngk said ``will be `The One That Got Away.' The big one that was almost hooked. That's just the way it is,'' Youngk said. MEMO: [For a related story, see page 7 of The Citizen for this date.]
ILLUSTRATION: Besides flounder, anglers catch rockfish, trout, red drum,
croaker, spot and catfish from the pier.
by CNB