THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 29, 1994 TAG: 9408290166
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB HUTCHINSON, OUTDOORS EDITOR
LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
Allen Derby of Virginia Beach released a blue marlin about 65 miles off Virginia Beach on Sunday, but he did it the hard way.
Derby was with skipper Billy Carroll on the Tom Cat when he hooked the fish, estimated at 600 pounds. But he ended up finishing the battle from the charter boat Wrecking Crew, skippered by Sam Ashbee.
The story goes like this:
When it was hooked, the fish almost stripped all the line from Derby's reel. So another rod-and-reel was hooked to the outfit, with the first rig then tossed overboard. Derby now was fighting both the fish and the first rod-and-reel.
Then, something apparently became snagged in the Tom Cat's propellers. The Wrecking Crew, which was nearby, came to lend a hand. Instead, it loaned the entire boat. Derby and rod-and-reel No. 2 were transferred to the Wrecking Crew, and he finished the battle by releasing the fish.
Oh, yes. Carroll got his rod-and-reel back, intact. Now the question is which boat gets credit for the fish.
On Saturday, the Demolition Man, skippered by Tim Seery of Virginia Beach, won a two-day billfish tournament out of Rudee Inlet by releasing four white marlin, two sailfish and a blue marlin estimated at 300 pounds.
The 40-boat contest was staged by the Virginia Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and was headquartered at Fishermans Wharf Marina.
Five of the Demolition Man's fish were claimed Friday, when anglers on the boat scored a grand slam, releasing two whites, two sails and the blue marlin.
Also, what is believed to be the largest blue marlin caught in Virginia this year, an estimated 800-pounder, was released by Bob Cozzens of Virginia Beach, fishing on the charter boat Outer Limits, skippered by Harvey Shiflet IV.
Friday also produced the largest tuna registered in Virginia this season, a 245-pound bigeye landed by Janet Martin of Chesterfield. She was aboard the boat Bay Lady.
Here's a rundown of some recent catches: [For complete list of catches, see microfilm] by CNB