THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511260215
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB HUTCHINSON
LENGTH: Long : 132 lines
The rumor mill and how it functions is one of the ironies of life in these United States.
Trouble is, rumors are usually just that. Many contain no truth whatever, others just enough to keep the water flowing over the mill wheel.
Take the case of the striped bass.
Here we have not one but two rumors that recently have gained widespread circulation.
One is that fishery officials are planning to allow Virginia commercial fishermen to catch 3 million pounds of stripers in 1997. That's more than the record 2.8 million pounds reported in 1973.
Frightening, if true. That could start us on the road back to the rockfish shortage that first brought about limits on both the commercial and recreational catch more than a decade ago.
But while the rumor has had widespread distribution, it just isn't true.
The figure was generated by a computer that had been fed all sorts of information about the decline and subsequent rise of striper populations.
The truth is that fishery scientists and managers are waiting to see how the striper catch of 1995 and early 1996 works out before setting 1997 quotas.
So much for that one. It held no truth at all.
The second rumor is a little different in that it does contain some elements of truth.
This one says that the federal government is planning to open ocean waters to striper fishing, and that federal regulations will usurp state restraints on the catch. This would include the state's quota, who could participate in the fishery and, in Virginia's case, the successful tagging system for tracking commercially caught fish.
The states, incidentally, control ocean waters out to 3 miles. Between 3 and 200 miles offshore, ocean waters fall under the federal government.
The truth is that no new commercial interests would be allowed into the fishery, that fish caught in federal waters still would need state-issued tags, and that landings in any state would have to fall within that state's quota.
This proposal has generated more than a little confusion, according to Jack Travelstead of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
``There are several misconceptions,'' he said. ``While details are still being worked out, I can assure you that the federal government is not coming in with regulations that are outside what the various states already allow.
``When the plan for conserving striped bass was finalized in 1984, the member states, through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, wanted the federal government to protect ocean fish, too. So the National Marine Fisheries Service decided to ban all striper fishing in its waters, which are known as the Exclusive Economic Zone.
``Now that the states are starting to open their waters and relax their regulations, they would like for the federal government to do the same thing. That's all, nothing more. But it's generated a rumor which has confused a lot of folks.''
Ah, that rumor mill just keeps on grinding.
SHORT OF QUOTA: On the same subject, Travelstead said he would be surprised if this year's 876,000-pound commercial quota, up from 211,000 pounds in 1994, is met.
He said he also would be surprised if the quota is met in 1996, when it is to increase to 1.3 million pounds.
``We haven't met the quota since we started issuing the tags three years ago,'' Travelstead said, ``so there's really no reason to think we'll do it this year.
``There are a lot of reasons. Foremost, I suspect, is that for various reasons, not everyone who gets tags actually ends up fishing. Someone may die or get sick or simply decide not to fish.''
Virginia's commercial fishermen received 41,496 tags in 1994 and 143,095 in 1995. They could receive 228,398 for 1996.
TUNA PERMITS: There's some good news for thousands of anglers, charter skippers and commercial fishermen concerning special federal permits for yellowfin and other tuna.
If you already hold a federal permit to fish for bluefin tuna, as is the case with most charter and commercial skippers and many private-boat anglers, you will not need an additional one.
Otherwise, you'll need the permit to fish for yellowfin, skipjack, bigeye tuna and false albacore. The regulation became effective for charter and commercial boats Nov. 15 and expands to cover all boats on Jan. 1.
The permits are available from: Permits Section, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1 Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, Mass. 01930.
HOT CRABS: Pete and Janie Nixon of Norfolk suspect that some recreational fishermen are robbing their Elizabeth River crab and eel pots to get bait for fishing.
``I've never seen it happen,'' Pete Nixon said, ``but that's who it has to be. It happens at night and I know they're headed to one of the bridge-tunnels to fish for rockfish.
``It's hard enough to make a dollar from the water, let alone when someone steals your crabs and eels and then leaves the pots open so they can't catch anything.''
VENISON COLLECTION: Hunters for the Hungry, which hopes to collect a record 100,000 pounds of venison this year, has set up four special collection points.
Hunters may participate by donating their unwanted venison, which then is distributed to the needy.
The following four collection points are equipped with refrigerated trailers to hold the donated meat:
Allen Thacker's Shop and Checking Station, Isle of Wight, telephone 1-804-357-3966.
Spencer's No. 9, Sussex, 1-804-834-9801.
Sandy Point Superette, Charles City, 1-804-829-2537.
Dinwiddie's Convenience Store, Powhatan, 1-804-598-8124.
Venison may also be donated at Central Meat Packing. at 1120 Kempsville Road, Chesapeake, 547-2161.
SHORT CASTS: The field of the $196,000 Bassmaster Georgia Invitational includes Rick Morris, Ivan Morris, Les Ore and Jim Sumrell, all of Virginia Beach, Phil Parker of Suffolk and Ron Stallings of Franklin. The contest on Lake Lanier pays $35,000 for first place. Dates are Nov. 30 through Dec. 2. . chairman of an advisory committee to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries. The agency is a compact of East Coast states that develops management plans for migratory fish. Ernest Bowden, a net fisherman from Chincoteague, is a committee member. . . . A reminder that the late archery season in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and the eastern section of Suffolk opens Saturday, while the late archery season west of the Blue Ridge Mountains opens Dec. 4. . . . The North Carolina General Assembly has made $1 million in grants available to those with ``innovative ideas that would enhance our coastal fishery resources.'' . . . Virginia's Division of Parks is looking for volunteers for its 1996 Campground Host Program and new Park Host Program at one of 17 state parks. Participants would be allowed to camp free for up to three months of service. . . . The popular dike/trail through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia Beach will be closed Dec. 1 through Feb. 29 to protect wintering wildlife. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
DREW WILSON/The Virginian-Pilot
Al Holmstrup of Alexandria displays a striped bass caught Tuesday on
the Outer Banks.
by CNB