THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503260366
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB HUTCHINSON, OUTDOORS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
Plans for an expanded 1995 striped bass season have been drafted by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, and the bottom line is: If you're going striper fishing, you might want to take your lawyer along.
Now that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has declared the rockfish ``completely recovered'' after being almost wiped out 20 years ago, East Coast states will be allowed to relax their regulations. But the rules have not been simplified by the commission, which regulates striper fishing along the coast.
Still, the Virginia commission's staff has recommended expanding the basic season from 32 to 107 days, with an additional 15-day ``trophy-fish'' season. The basic bag limit will remain at two fish per day, with an 18-inch minimum in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and a 28-inch minimum in coastal waters.
The package will be brought before the voting Virginia commission members Tuesday, and few changes are anticipated. The commissioners also are expected to call for a single public hearing at the agency's April 25 meeting, when the regulations are to be finalized.
The basics of the staff proposal:
The season in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries would be divided into two segments, May 16-June 15 and Oct. 17-Dec. 31. The basic bag limit would be two fish, with an 18-inch minimum. During the early segment, the maximum legal size would be 28 inches.
A coastal season running May 6 through Dec. 31, with a two-fish bag limit and a 28-inch minimum.
A ``trophy-fish'' season of May 1-15, with a 32-inch minimum and a bag limit of one fish, covering all waters during the overlap days of May 1-6. There would be no combined bag. You could not keep two ocean fish and two bay fish.
Anglers would be required to report their catch during the ``trophy-fish'' season as a means of measuring how many big fish are kept in Virginia.
Jack Travelstead of the Virginia agency said this reporting was of extreme importance, since Virginia, Maryland and the Potomac River had been given a maximum target of 25,000 big fish.
``I don't really think we'll exceed the target,'' Travelstead said. ``Maryland had a trophy-fish season in 1994, with a target of 5,000 fish, which they never came close to. But for future planning, it's important that Virginia fishermen provide us with the information. Otherwise, would could lose the trophy-fish season for 1996.''
Travelstead said Virginia's proposed dates were based on information received from the commission's advisory board, three public-information sessions and a questionnaire mailed to several hundred recreational fishermen.
``We were extremely pleased with the public's response,'' he said. ``There were not many scenarios offered, and the one which was developed, we are confident, has the support of the majority of recreational fishermen involved.''
But before Virginia's recreational fishing season for rockfish can open, it first must close. Both Virginia and North Carolina were allowed to have a coastal-waters striper season, starting last December. That season will close in both states at midnight Friday.
While several small fish have been caught in North Carolina, Virginia catches have been few. Only one striper has been entered for a citation from the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament, which opened March 1. And that fish was released. by CNB