THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 25, 1995 TAG: 9506250205
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB HUTCHINSON
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
Once again comes proof that if you want something confused, just let a federal agency handle it.
Earlier this year, the National Marine Fisheries service announced that it was changing and simplifying its rules for bluefin tuna fishing. It hoped to have the new regulations in place by the time fishing got started.
One reason for the proposed change, said Dick Stone, the agency's tuna specialist, was that present rules were so complex that even federal enforcement agents had trouble understanding them.
But when fishing for bluefins got underway off Virginia and North Carolina earlier this month, the old rules were still in place. Now comes word that it may be September or even later before the changes are finalized.
Meanwhile, fishermen will have to contend with the same convoluted laws of 1994.
Here's an abbreviated look at those laws:
First, bluefin tuna are divided by size into five classes: ``Young school'' means less than 26 inches, measured from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail; ``school'' is 26 inches to less than 45 inches; ``large school'' is 45 inches to less than 57 inches; ``small medium'' is 57 inches to less than 70 inches; ``large medium'' is 70 inches to less than 77 inches; and ``giant'' is 77 inches up.
The bag limits: Young school, none allowed on either party (charter) or private boats; school, one per angler per day on charter boats and two per boat per day on private boats; large school, two per angler per day on either party or private boats; small medium, one per boat per day on either party or private boats; large medium, one per boat per day on either party or charter boats; giant, one per angler per day on either party or private boats.
In addition, special ``angling category'' permits are required to fish for school, large school and small medium bluefins, with additional special ``general category'' permits required for large medium and giant tuna.
These permits are free and may be obtained by calling: 1-508-281-9305 or writing: National Marine Fisheries service, Office of Fisheries Conservation and Management, 1335 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, Md. 20910.
HOT START: As baseball great Yogi Berra said, ``it's deja vu all over again'' for Denny Dobbins of Portsmouth in the angler-of-the-year competition in the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament.
The attorney won the 1994 title by earning citation awards in 14 categories. With releases in nine categories, he also claimed the release-angler-of-the year title.
Dobbins already has entries in five categories. He has released black drum, cobia and shark and has boated a 26-pound dolphin and a 5-14 sea bass.
Dr. James C. Wright of Virginia Beach leads the release division with four species, amberjack, cobia, black drum and red drum.
Wright claimed the latter two on a fishing trip with Jimmy Kolb of Virginia Beach on the Starship a couple of days ago. That trip resulted in a Virginia inshore grand slam, since Kolb boated a citation-winning 72-pound cobia.
It is thought to be the first fishing trip that produced citation winners for all three fish, popularly known as Virginia's inshore big three.
TOP NAMES: The best name I ever saw on a boat was ``Last Boat IV,'' spotted somewhere along the Intracoastal Waterway south of Hampton Roads.
I've never seen it on another craft, although I suspect there was a Last Boat I, II and III.
The folks at BOAT/U.S., an organization of owners, recently surveyed its membership and found that the most popular boat name for 1994 was Obsession, followed by Odyssey and then Osprey.
Then came, in order: 4. Escape; 5. Liquid Asset; 6. Wet Dream; 7. Serenity; 8. Hakuna Matata; 9. Fantasea; and 10. Therapy.
The popularity of last summer's Disney's blockbuster film, The Lion King, was evident in this year's survey. ``Hakuna Matata'' was a song from the film.
SOCIAL RACE: Founder Mo Whitlow of Portsmouth called it ``a serious race for non-serious sailors and a non-serious race for serious sailors.''
The official name is the Cock Island Race and last year it attracted more than 300 sailboats to the Portsmouth waterfront.
This year's 8th annual match is set for July 15, when contestants will have to content with ships, tugboats and transient traffic moving up and down the Elizabeth River.
The starting line will be between the Portsmouth Seawall and Waterside in Norfolk, with various courses extending into Hampton Roads.
All PHRF and Cruising class sailboats will be eligible, as well as a special non-spinaker class. The race will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Sandwiched around it will be free entertainment and street dancing at Portside in Portsmouth.
The entry fee will be $50. Details and registration forms are available from Ports Events, 355 Crawford Street, Suite 101, Portsmouth, Va., 23507, telephone 393-9933.
SHORT CASTS: Christian Seay of Wilsonia Neck on the Eastern Shore has earned a citation from the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament with a 60-pound cobia. He was off Nassawadox Creek on the Sea Bell. . . . Louisiana is awaiting only the signature of Gov. Edwin W. Edwards on a bill which would effectively ban conventional gill nets. Additionally, the measure gives gamefish status to speckled trout and red drum. When signed, the bill will become effective March 1, 1997. . . . North Carolina hunters will receive a bonus July 1, when 1995-96 hunting licenses go on sale. Hunters will also receive a redesigned hunting digest featuring color maps of open hunting areas and seasons. . . . The 14th annual Eastern Shore Marlin Tournament will be held July 15-16 with headquarters at Wachapreague Marina. Details are available from the marina at 1-804-787-4110 or the new Town of Wachapreague Marina, 1-804-787-1930. . . . Up for discussion at Tuesday's meeting of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission will be a proposal to cap the commercial catch of speckled trout in Virginia at slightly more than 51,000 pounds. Recreational fishermen already are limited to keeping 10 specks a day. The commission also will consider a $7,500 appropriation to study the economic impact of commercial fishing. They money would come from the commercial fishing license fund. by CNB