THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 2, 1997 TAG: 9702020265
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C13 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Hutchinson
LENGTH: 151 lines
When the doors of Hampton Coliseum close today on the Bass and Saltwater Expo '96, many eyes will shift to the Virginia Beach Pavilion.
That's where the granddaddy of all Virginia outdoor expositions, the Mid-Atlantic Sports and Boat Show, will open a nine-day stand Saturday.
This will be the 44th annual show, which began in the old Norfolk City Arena, moved to Scope when it opened two decades later and has been at the Pavilion for the past decade.
More than 200 boats are expected in and around the Pavilion with the first craft to arrive Thursday.
``We think we're going to have a good, representative show,'' said John Ridenour, who directs the show for the sponsors, The Virginian-Pilot and the Norfolk Waltonians.
``We're going to be featuring the size and type of boats that have long been popular in Hampton Roads, where there's heavy emphasis on small and medium-size fishing craft and family runabouts. We'll also have some specialty boats, including those popularly known as jet-skis. We'll even have a few sailboats, although I'll admit that there won't be as many as I would have liked.''
Also, various boating, fishing and outdoor clubs and organizations will staff booths with local and regional experts, some professionals.
One of this year's special attractions will be the exhibit of the Glacier Bay catamaran, which last year set a powerboat record for speed and fuel efficiency on a run from New York to Bermuda.
All major lines of outboards will be exhibited, Ridenour said.
``A number of dealers will be displaying the new 4-cycle outboards, which are supposed to be quieter, more efficient and more environmentally friendly,'' he said. ``They seem to be attracting a lot of attention.''
The show will run through Feb. 16. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. both Saturdays, noon to 7 p.m. the first Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. the final day and 6 to 9 p.m. weekdays.
Admission will be $6, free to those under age 12 when accompanied by a paying adult.
TUNA TIME: If you're planning to charter a boat for the phenomenal wintertime bluefin tuna run off Hatteras, N.C., there's good news: lots of openings and lots of big fish.
But if you're planning to take your own boat, you'd better hope it's small enough to trailer. Marina slips are getting scarce.
Lorris Tolson, assistant manager of Teach's Lair Marina in Hatteras, said the fishing ``just can't get'' much better.
``We had a boat catch and release 45 fish the other day,'' Tolson said. ``It's just been phenomenal. The fish have been running from 125 pounds up. We've had reports of a few over 500 pounds.''
Tolson said all his slips had been rented for the winter season.
``We don't have an opening until early April, unless someone pulls out,'' he said. ``And we have a waiting list. But the charter bookings aren't running as good as they were at this time last year. I think that's because of the new limits.''
The outstanding action that has developed off Hatteras in the past few years has been described as ``the world's greatest fishery.'' It really exploded last winter, when boats and anglers from throughout the country converged on Hatteras Island.
The season opened with federal limits of two fish per person, provided the tuna were at least 27 and not more than 59 inches long. Additionally, each boat was allowed to keep one fish of less than 73 inches a day, plus one a season of more than 73 inches, known as ``giants.''
To protect the beleaguered fish, those rules were changed twice during the season. Finally, the only legal fish were giants, with the one-a-season restriction.
This year began with much more stringent rules: one per boat per day between 27 and 73 inches; one per boat per season of 73 inches or more.
Meanwhile, some six-passenger charter boats are charging more for tuna trips, with more fares ranging between $900 and $1,000 a day.
Tolson said he didn't think the money was keeping charters down.
``It's being limited to keeping just one fish,'' he said. ``That's too bad, at least for business. But maybe it's good for the fish.''
WATERMAN'S WELFARE: Each year, some inexplicable measures come before the General Assembly. Many end up being approved.
That probably will happen with a measure offered by Del. W. Tayloe Murphy, D-Warsaw. Murphy has proposed exempting from buying state license tags all vehicles transporting harvested seafood.
A similar exemption exists for farm vehicles. However, those vehicles are limited to a 10-mile-radius of the farming operation.
Still, what's to stop pulpwood haulers, log trucks or any other type of specialty-vehicle owner from asking for equal treatment?
Taking that a step farther, why not an exemption for the recreational angler when transporting his trailered boat to and from a launching ramp? Or a boat dealer when delivering a new rig?
NO PULLOUT: Virginia apparently will not withdraw from the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission after all.
Last year, Del. Murphy sponsored a measure that would have pulled Virginia out of the pact, an umbrella group representing all East Coast states.
Member states agree to abide by majority decisions involving such migratory species as flounder, bluefish and striped bass. Any state found out of compliance could have all fishing for the involved species banned by the federal Commerce Department.
Murphy thinks the plan is unconstitutional. However, his measure, passed last winter, would not have become effective until July 1, 1997, giving the General Assembly time to reconsider.
The House of Delegates took the first step in that direction Thursday, when the Committee on the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tributaries voted 13-2 to overturn Murphy's withdrawal. The measure was sponsored by Del. Harvey Morgan, R-Gloucester.
Incidentally, if you want to let your delegate or senator know how you feel on any issue before the legislature, the toll-free number for recording your opinion is 1-800-889-0229.
DEER RECORD: Virginia's Hunters for the Hungry program provided a record 127,500 pounds of venison from the recent deer season.
Under the program, hunters donate their unwanted deer meat, which is prepared by various packing houses and distributed free to the needy.
The total was 24,000 pounds above the previous record, from the 1995-96 season, according to David Horne of Big Island, Va., the program's founder.
Horne said that while the program has grown tremendously since it began in 1991, more can and should be done. He said 200,000 pounds could be handled if funds could be found to cover processing costs.
You can get additional information by calling 1-800-352-4868.
STILL STRIPERS: Striped bass are still hitting in coastal waters of Virginia and North Carolina, although action can't be classified as hot.
The most recent catches off Virginia Beach were made about a week ago, according to John Crowling, manager of the Virginia Beach Fishing Center at Rudee Inlet.
``There were a few fish, on occasion, at Cape Henry,'' Crowling said. ``But it was better a good ways south of here. Unfortunately, the fish are concentrated about 10 miles offshore, where they're illegal. But once in a while they'll move inshore.''
Striper fishing is banned in federal waters, which begin 3 miles off the oceanfront and extend 200 miles out to sea.
Meanwhile, stripers are still making occasional forays into the surf of Hatteras Island, especially at Cape Point at Buxton, according to Bob Eakes of the Red Drum tackle shop there.
Eakes says the latest thing is fishing for them with No. 13/0 tuna circle hooks, like those used by commercial longline fishermen.
``A couple of locals, Don Willard and Ed Silver, pioneered using the hooks,'' Eakes said, ``and they say the difference is that you just don't miss many strikes.''
SHORT CASTS: Eric Burnley of Virginia Beach will host two all-day saltwater fishing workshops in March. The first will be March 1 at Salt Ponds Marina in Hampton, the other March 15 at Marina Shores in Virginia Beach. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the cost will be $25 for men, $20 for women and those under age 16. Topics will range from striped bass to knot-tying. For details, contact Burnley at 430-1903. . . . Ron Bennett and Pete Bregant will will conduct a free seminar Feb. 12 on saltwater fly-fishing and fly-tying for marlin at tuna. It'll be at West Marine on Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach. For details, contact West Marina at 496-9996. . . . The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, an umbrella group that includes Virginia and North Carolina, has adopted an emergency measure holding shad regulations at present levels or below. . . . For the second consecutive year, an Ohio group, Save the Doves, has failed to get the 103,000 signatures necessary to call for a statewide referendum to ban dove hunting. . . . What's the most deadly animal in the United States? It's the whitetail deer. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 130 deer-related fatalities are recorded in the nation each year.