THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 12, 1996 TAG: 9609120620
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bob Hutchinson
LENGTH: 30 lines
With a little luck, this could turn out to be the best year for big spot in Virginia since 1980. But that's not saying a lot. We haven't had any real good years since then.
At least that's what is indicated by one of the state's best barometers, the records of the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament.
To date, 10 anglers have entered spot meeting the contest's 16-ounce minimum. Since 1980, the best year was 1995, when 16 anglers recorded spot that big.
But there's more to the story. The last really big year was 1977, when 978 anglers caught fish large enough to earn tournament awards.
The total fell to 553 in '78, 487 in '79 and 478 in '80 before plummeting to only 10 in '81.
Still, the bottom line is that there are a few big fish around, most of them apparently just inside Rudee Inlet. Could the fish be there again this weekend? Good question. They could, or the biggest could again show off Ocean View, around the islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel or in the surf at Nags Head. MEMO: For complete report see microfilm. ILLUSTRATION: Color map by CNB