THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 21, 1996 TAG: 9607200387
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB HUTCHINSON
LENGTH: 124 lines
Jack Travelstead was right some time ago when he said: ``You ain't seen nothing yet. Wait'll we get into managing gray trout.''
At the time, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and its staff were wrestling with how to manage a beleaguered supply of striped bass to the satisfaction of both recreational and commercial fishermen.
Travelstead heads the agency's fishery management division.
``As tough as this one is,'' he said of the striper situation, ``it'll be a lot worse when we get into weakfish (gray trout).''
History has proven Travelstead a prophet. Merely pleasing recreational fishermen has been tough enough.
And so for the third time the commission is considering new rod-and-reel bag limits and minimum sizes for the popular game and food fish, which continues to fight for survival along the East Coast.
The commission originally set the limit at 10 fish a day, with a 14-inch minimum.
But some anglers, charter skippers and headboat skippers objected to that size regulation, saying it was almost impossible to catch fish as large as 14 inches.
The commission lowered the minimum to 12 inches and the bag to four fish a day.
Seems no one likes that, either.
So the VMRC board will vote Tuesday on whether to hold a public hearing that could result in yet another change.
The problem is that Virginia and other East Coast states have agreed to restrict trout catches until the species can recover, which it seems to be doing, albeit slowly.
Three options are available:
Keep the present 12-inch minimum and 4-fish daily limit.
Change the minimum to 13 inches and increase the bag to six.
Change the minimum to 14 inches and increase the daily limit to 14 or fewer fish.
Travelstead expects the commission to call for a public hearing on all three proposals, rather that one selected by his staff.
``The bottom line is that the staff really doesn't care which it is,'' he said. ``All three are acceptable. We just want to give recreational anglers what the majority of them want.
``The trouble is that some people want one thing, some want another and some want still another. With a public hearing, probably at the commission meeting Aug. 26, everyone will have a chance to be heard.
``Then the voting commissioners can decide which way to go. Personally, I don't envy them, especially since we have five (of eight) new ones and this will be their first meeting.''
Tuesday's hearing on the matter will begin at noon in the commission's headquarters, 2600 Washington Ave., Newport News.
TROPHY TIME: The 10th annual Virginia Deer Classic will be held Aug. 9-11 at The Show Place, 3000 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Richmond.
Trophy deer heads from throughout the state will be judged by the Virginia Deer Hunters Association. It'll be a part of the Virginia Outdoor Show.
Antler classes range from 6 points and less to 12 points and more, with divisions for bowhunters, muzzleloaders, woman hunters, modern firearms and historical. Contestants must register by 5 p.m. Aug. 10.
More than 200 deer heads were displayed at the 1995 show, according to Denny Quaif, executive director of the hunters' association. Details: Quaif at 1-804-743-1290.
The annual Virginia Big Game Contest, another trophy competition for deer, bear and turkey, will begin with the Eastern Regional Sept. 14-15 at James Blair Middle School, Williamsburg. The statewide finals will be Sept. 28-29 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds in Harrisonburg. Details: Kenneth Pickin, 1-804-229-0490.
DUCK SEASONS: Hunters will be allowed to express their preferences for Virginia's 1996-97 waterfowling seasons at an Aug. 6 meeting of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
The meeting will be 7-9 p.m. in the agency's headquarters at 4010 West Broad Street, Richmond.
The agency's directors will meet Aug. 22 to select seasons for hunting ducks, geese and swan. The dates must fall within an as-yet-unannounced framework established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
VALUABLE FLOUNDER: There's an undersize flounder swimming in Virginia waters that could be worth $500 if you catch it.
Several hundred flounder were tagged earlier this year by scientists from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. It's part of a migration study the lab is conducting.
International-orange plastic tags were attached to young-of-the-year fish, at the time approximately 10 inches long.
Any tag returned to VIMS will be worth $2 to its captor. Additionally, all returns will be included in a drawing next spring. The drawing will produce one $500 prize, two $100 prizes and four $50 prizes.
You can get additional information from: Richard Kraus, VIMS, 1-804-642-7313.
RIVER CANOEING: If you've always wanted to try river canoeing and didn't know where or how to start, here's your chance.
A 20-hour course will be offered July 27-28 by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The $35 cost will cover materials (canoe not included), water instruction and a 7-mile canoe trip on the Appomattox River.
Details: Jeff Curtis, the agency's boating education coordinator, 1-804-367-0267.
COSTLY LADY: Hurricane Bertha was a pretty costly lady for Virginia and North Carolina boaters.
For one thing, many owners had to move their craft to safe harbor. For charter skippers, this usually meant at least three lost days, one moving, one during the storm and one moving back.
Additionally, Bertha caused an estimated $10 million in actual boat damage, according the BOAT/U.S., the country's largest boating organization.
While damage was reported from South Carolina to New England, the greatest losses were in North Carolina, especially at Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, New Bern and Sneed's Ferry.
SHORT CASTS: The Grady-White Owners Tournament will be held out of the Marina at Marina Shores Aug. 2-4, with divisions for adults and kds and awards for 12 saltwater species. Details: Norfolk Marine, 461-3391. . . . Eric Higgins of Virginia Beach has earned a citation award from the Key West, Fla., with a 22-pound dolphin, caught from the charter boat Linda D. . . . Regulations for speckled trout, bluefish, gray trout and striped bass will be on the agenda when the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission has an open meeting in Wilmington Thursday and Friday at the Holiday Inn, starting at 9 a.m. Thursday and 8:30 a.m. Friday. Details: Jess Hawkins, 1-800-682-2632 or 1-919-726-7021. . . . The Moratorium Study Committee examining North Carolina fishery laws will meet Aug. 1-2 at the Duke Marine Lab, Pivers Island, Beaufort, starting at 8:30 a.m. each day. Public comment will not be accepted. Inlet Fishing Pier Wednesday, compliments of the Portsmouth Anglers Club. Kids for the annual event will be selected by the Salvation Army. . . . The U.S. Senate has approved removing the 24.4 cents a gallon federal highway tax that recreational boaters pay for diesel fuel. Recreational boaters would be able to buy the same non-taxed diesel fuel used by commercial boaters and much more widely available. by CNB