THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508060194
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB HUTCHINSON
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines
Between 1970 and 1984, Virginia anglers earned an average of more than 600 citation awards a year for big gray trout from the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament.
From 1989 through 1994, they earned just 26, none at all in 1994.
The bottom line is that the gray trout, also known as weakfish, is in big trouble.
Three years ago, when that trouble became widely apparent, Jack Travelstead, head of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission's fishery-management division, predicted that it would become the hottest topic ever handled by fishery-management officials.
``If you think the striped bass plan has been controversial, you haven't seen anything yet,'' he said.
How right he was. Federal fishery officials say that East Coast gray trout stocks continue to plummet even though limitations have been enacted on both the commercial and recreational catch.
Now the National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed a ban on all gray trout fishing in federal waters, which start 3 miles off the coast and go out to 200 miles.
While such a ban would have but slight effect on recreational fishermen, it would severely impact commercial fishermen, especially off North Carolina. There, wintering trout are pursued by a fleet of gill-net and fly-net fishermen. The government estimates that 68 percent of the total gray trout catch is made off North Carolina by these two fisheries. It also estimates that as more than 80 percent of that catch is made by a fleet of about 15 fly-net fishermen, operating with large boats and nets that can catch 40,000 or more in a single sweep.
Federal officials say the proposed ban had been receiving overwhelming support, especially from the recreational community.
Understandably, the staunchest opponents have been members of the North Carolina commercial fishing community, although some of them have voiced approval.
Meanwhile, the National Marine Fisheries Service has added two weeks, until Aug. 15, to the period during which it will accept comments on the plan.
Certainly all saltwater species experience cyclical ups and downs, for reasons probably best known to the fish. But the gray trout is in serious trouble, and drastic steps may be needed to correct it.
If salvation means a total ban on trout fishing, commercial and recreational, inshore and offshore, then let's have a total ban.
GOOD IDEA: Kevin Farley, who operates the headboat Beverly B. out of Lynnhaven Inlet in Virginia Beach, is convinced that a lot of small gray trout could be saved if fishery officials did away with the 12-inch minimum size.
He said small trout, under 12 inches, were being killed needlessly by anglers trying to fill their four-fish bag with legal fish.
``If we didn't have a minimum,'' Farley said, ``people could catch their limit and quit. Heck, I can't even fish for trout anymore. We've lost them, even though we still catch some incidentally when we're fishing for spot and croaker.
``But we're talking about saving a resource, not about making a living. A lot of people won't like to hear it, but if the situation is so bad we need a total moratorium, let's have a total moratorium.''
BIG CROAKERS: This month and next, Virginia anglers could encounter some of the biggest croaker they've seen in years.
So far, only three croaker have met the 3-pound minimum for citation awards from the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament. But that could change over the next few weeks as big fish start moving out of the Chesapeake.
Last year, there was a splendid run of big croaker in the lower Bay between the the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and Cape Henry. Many weighed more than 2 pounds.
For the moment, at least, most of the big croaker are still in the upper Chesapeake and the major rivers, including the James, York and Rappahannock. But there has already been one 3-pounder boated at the bridge-tunnel. The citation total could exceed 50 if some past years can be used as a barometer.
BILLFISH TOURNEY: An event with the potential to become one of the area's largest fishing tournaments has been set for Rudee Inlet Aug. 25-26.
It's the eighth annual Ducks Unlimited Billfish Release Tournament, and it'll be headquartered at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center.
The entry fee will be $400 for boats 30 feet and under, $500 for those over 30 feet. These with the top catches will receive both cash and trophies. Ducks Unlimited, an international waterfowl conservation organization, will keep 25 percent of all registration fees.
This will be the third year for the contest in Virginia. The first four were based at Pirate's Cove Marina, near Nags Head. You can get details from Bill Richardson at 491-6807.
500 TAGS: More than 500 fish have been tagged and released by volunteers in the Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program.
The 500th was a speckled trout caught, tagged and released July 29 by Tommy Heinz of Nassawadox, on the Eastern Shore.
Tags have been placed in 190 tautog, 137 spadefish, 69 speckled trout, 43 black drum, 39 red drum and 33 cobia, a total of 511.
Some 26 fish already have been recaptured: 13 spadefish, 11 tautog, one cobia and one speckled trout.
The tagging is being done by 64 volunteers working with the Marine Resources Commission's Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament and the Sea Grant program of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Funding is from the state's saltwater recreational fishing license.
SHORT CASTS: Hunters participating in Virginia's resident Canada goose season next month will not need the special permits, known as validation cards, required last year. Nor will they have to keep hunting logs. However, a state hunting license and a federal waterfowl stamp will be required. The season will run Sept. 5-15, statewide. . . . A special deer-hunting season for the physically challenged will be offered again at the New Kent Forestry Center near Providence Forge, Va. Dates will be Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 27-30. For details, contact the New Kent Forestry Center, 1-804-966-2201. . . . About 40 boats are expected for the Great Chesapeake Bay Schooler Race, Baltimore to Norfolk, Oct. 18-22. . . . Robert Conrad of Rockville, Md., won a recent tuna tournament staged by the Chincoteague Island Anglers. His bluefin weighed 111 pounds. Second went to Keith Weygant of Pasadena, Md., at 102 and third to Everett Lewis of Chincoteague, also at 102. . . . Andy and Kevin Mooney of Virginia Beach released six tarpon estimated at up to 135 pounds and a permit estimated at 25 on a recent trip to Islamorada, in the Florida Keys. They were out of Bud 'N Mary's Marina with skipper Vic Gaspeny, a Virginia Beach native. Newport News and Lyle Varnell of Gloucester were winners in the recent National Whitewater Open canoe championships on the Youghiogheny River in Ohiopyle, Pa. by CNB