THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 6, 1996 TAG: 9610050317
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bob Hutchinson
LENGTH: 30 lines
ROBERT ``DEE'' LARCH
VIRGINIA BEACH
``When I hooked the fish, it fought so hard that I was sure it was a rockfish (striped bass). Then when I got it to the surface, I couldn't believe how big it was. It was tremendous.''
What: Larch recently boated a 5-pound, 1-ounce croaker to take the species lead in the annual Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament. It's the largest caught in the state since 1983, when the Virginia record 5-13 croaker was boated by Jim Mitchem.
Where: Larch was bottom fishing almost against the rocks of the Third Island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. He was aboard his boat, ``Big Boy.''
How: He was using a two-hook bottom rig and was employing a combination of minnows and squid for bait. He had a spinning reel with 15-pound-test monofilament and a 3-ounce sinker.
Personal: Larch, 57, is twice retired, first from the Navy and second from Civil Service. He and his wife live in the Bradford Terrace section. They have two grown sons and three grandchildren. He is a native of Ohio. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by CNB