THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502190168
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB HUTCHINSON
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
You'll have a chance to let the Marine Resources Commission know what you want in striper and flounder seasons for 1995.
The Marine Resources Commission has scheduled three sessions on stripers prior to setting the season, while the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce has set a flounder-scoping meeting.
The striper sessions will be held Feb. 27 at the Lake Wright Hotel in Norfolk; March 1 in Waterman's Hall at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at Gloucester Point; and March 2 at the Northampton County Circuit Court at Eastville on the Eastern Shore. The meetings will start at 7 p.m.
Wilford Cale of the VMRC said the meetings would give recreational fishermen a chance to let the commission know what their preferences are within the announced federal framework for the 1995 rockfish season.
The 32-day season of the past three years will be expanded to somewhere between 107 days and 125 days, depending on what minimum size anglers prefer between 18 and 22 inches.
``People should not come to argue for a longer season,'' Cale said. ``We want to know what minimum size they prefer, whether they want a spring season for a trophy fish and what season dates they prefer.''
David Parker, director of the Eastern Shore chamber, said present plans were to hold the flounder meeting March 6 at the organization's headquarters on U.S. 13 near Melfa.
Flounder rules for 1995 will be discussed by William A. Pruitt, head of the VMRC, and by Jack Travelstead, the agency's chief of fishery management. Other panel participants are expected to be announced later.
Parker said he hoped the meeting would lead to either opening the flounder season as early as possible or doing away with opening and closing dates altogether.
``We want to bring out the awareness that having an opening date at all will have a serious economic impact on the Eastern Shore,'' he said. ``We're concerned about the resource. But we're also concerned that Virginia's recreational fishermen aren't getting a fair shake, since our information indicates that we've been well under the quota ever since we've had a recreational quota.''
CAMPER TIME: It's boats out and campers in at the Virginia Beach Pavilion.
The 42nd annual Mid-Atlantic Sports and Boat Show will close out a successful stand today at the facility at the east end of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, with campers and recreational vehicles going on display Friday.
That's when the 14th annual Tidewater Recreational Vehicle and Sports Show will open a three-day stand at the Pavilion, with more than 150 campers and RVs on display.
Units will include travel trailers, motor homes, pickup campers, fifth-wheels and conversion vans. In addition, a number of specialty vehicles, including some with 4-wheel drive, also will be exhibited, along with campgrounds and camping accessory firms. Most RV dealers in Hampton Roads will be represented.
Show hours will be 1 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 am. to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission will be $4 for adults and $2 for those under age 12.
FEVER CURE: The 3rd annual ``Cabin Fever'' fishing and tackle show will be held Saturday at the Moose Lodge in Belle Haven, Va., sponsored by the Eastern Shore chapter of the Atlantic Coast Conservation Association.
In addition to displays of fishing tackle and accessories, the day will feature the following seminars: Carl Herring on speckled trout; Dr. Jim Wright on wrecks; Jim Jenrette on offshore kites and chunking; Claude Bain and Jon Lucy on flounder; and yours truly on saltwater fly rodding.
Show hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and admission will be $3. The organization's annual fund-raising banquet and auction will be held that evening at 6:30, Tickets will be $13 for singles and $25 for couples. Reservations may be made by calling Jack Adams at 787-7206.
SHORT CASTS: Rick Morris of Virginia Beach and Woo Daves of Spring Grove are the only Virginians entered in the $271,000 BASSMASTER Georgia Top 100 tournament opening Wednesday on Lake Seminole. First place is worth $45,000. officers include Carl Taylor, Butch Eason, Mel Breedy, Cheryl Paige and Virginia Morton. ... Joe Mounie has been named president of the Portsmouth Anglers, with Andy Hawkins, Steve Tyree, Denny Dobbins, Ray Hollowell and John Meagher also serving. ... Carey Roberts of Onley, Bill Hall Jr. of Bloxom and Mike Parker of Wachapreague released sailfish on a recent trip out of Stuart, Fla. They were with skipper Ray Parker, who sails from Wachapreague during the warm months. ... A trail maintenance workshop, open to anyone, will be held March 4 at Seashore State Park in Virginia Beach. Registration will be $15. Details: Fred Hazelwood IV, 481-2131. ... Robert G. Bynum of Chesapeake caught grouper, mutton snapper, king mackerel and blackfin tuna on a recent trip out of Islamorada, Fla., on the charter boat Bounty Hunter. by CNB