THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 8, 1995 TAG: 9501080184
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB HUTCHINSON, OUTDOORS EDITOR
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Denny Dobbins of Chesapeake has become only the second angler to win double titles in the annual Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament.
Dobbins has been named both angler of the year and release angler of the year for 1994 by the state-sponsored contest, which closed out its 37th year Dec. 31.
The contest's other top award, non-resident angler of the year, went to C.L. Marshall of Pocomoke, Md., marking the third consecutive year that someone from that Eastern Shore city has won the title.
The top awards go to anglers who earn the most plaques, popularly known as ``citations,'' for outstanding catches or releases. Whether released or weighed, qualifying catches must meet certain size minimums. The only exceptions are for released billfish and tarpon.
Dobbins set a tournament record with releases in nine categories: amberjack, black drum, blue marlin, cobia, red drum, sailfish, shark, striped bass and white marlin. He also tied H. Wayne Perry's all-time total with citation winners in 14 categories, weighing in award-winning bluefish, dolphin, sea bass, tautog and wahoo. Perry, also from Chesapeake, set his mark in 1991.
Bill Hall Jr. of Bloxom on the Eastern Shore has been the only other double winner in the angler-of-the-year program, which completed its fifth year. Hall won his two titles in 1992.
Dobbins, an attorney with offices in Portsmouth and Virginia Beach, said he didn't begin the fishing season with a goal of winning the top awards.
``But I caught a couple of citation-winners early in the season,'' he said, ``and then I settled a couple of nice legal cases, so that afforded me the free time to do a lot more fishing than I usually do.''
Dobbins said he also received a tremendous amount of help from his fishing buddies, including some members of his fishing club, the Portsmouth Anglers.
``I took advantage of some real experts,'' he said.
Dobbins added that he probably would not consider going after either title in the future.
``If it happens, it happens,'' he said. ``But with all the competition, you have to spend a lot of time fishing. And you have to be lucky.''
Dobbins' awards were among the 2,785 earned from the 1995 contest, a function of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
For the third time in six years, more than half of all citations were for fish that were measured and released. Some 51 percent of all 1994 catches were set free, according to Claude Bain, tournament director.
White marlin and amberjack were the easiest touches for anglers out to win citations. White marlin accounted for 449, with all but two fish released. Amberjack were second with 435 entries, including 419 releases.
This year's winners included one state-record catch, a 109-pound wahoo. It was caught by Delmo Gene Dawson of Zuni. The catch bettered the old record - a 97-pounder caught in 1975 by Bob Matthias of Virginia Beach - by 12 pounds.
Dobbins and Marshall will receive special trophies for their accomplishments, and special citations will be awarded to the anglers with the biggest entries in the 24 categories.
A 25th category, spot, was the only one without a qualifying catch. by CNB