THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 23, 1997 TAG: 9702230339
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C15 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Hutchinson
LENGTH: 157 lines
If you would like a say in 1997 rules for catching Virginia flounder and striped bass, don't miss Tuesday's meeting of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
The agency will hold public hearings on the topics beginning at noon. Proposals involving sea bass and gray trout also are on the agenda.
Striper recommendations from the agency's staff include:
Adding 13 days to the season by opening the fall fishery Oct. 4 instead of Oct. 17, as in the past.
Maintaining all other seasonal dates and bag limits.
Establishing a recreational quota of 1,701,748 pounds. (There has been no quota in the past.)
The flounder proposal would increase the daily bag limit from eight to 10 fish and would extend the minimum size from 14 inches to 14 1/2.
All these proposals are within a framework approved by Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, a coalition of all East Coast states.
This commission also has agreed on a 9-inch minimum size for all sea bass, a proposal the Virginia agency must now approve.
Meanwhile, the Coastal Conservation Association of Virginia, an organization of recreational fishermen, has asked the Virginia agency to maintain the present eight-fish flounder bag limit while endorsing the size increase.
Richard Welton of Virginia Beach, the association's president, said in a letter to VMRC commissioner Bill Pruitt, ``The guiding principle of the Coastal Conservation Association of Virginia is to conserve, protect and restore marine resources, and we strongly support this principle with respect to summer flounder populations.''
Welton asked Pruitt and his staff to work toward establishing a flounder quota for Virginia, independent of other states.
``The reasons are quite simple,'' Welton wrote. ``The minimum size limits implemented to control the harvest have had a disproportionately large impact in Virginia, causing severe economic hardship on Virginia's Eastern Shore.''
Most large flounder are caught north of Virginia, he said, which means the area's poundage catch is out of proportion to more northern states.
As for stripers, Virginia's share of the East Coast quota would be about 3.4 million pounds, divided equally between commercial and recreational fishermen.
The additional 13 days reflect a general liberalization in striper rules following strict management limits that helped bring the fish back from the brink.
Rob O'Reilley of the VMRC staff said the additional October days were hardly etched in granite.
``We've been given the days,'' he said, ``and the commission wants to hear from fishermen just where they want them. It really doesn't matter to those of us on the staff, and I don't think it much matters to the commissioners.''
The agency is expected to turn down, at least for now, a proposal to establish different minimum sizes and bag limits on gray trout, depending on the season.
The request comes from local headboat operators, who want a 12-inch minimum size and four-fish bag limit early in the season, reverting to the present 14-inch minimum and 14-fish bag limit by midsummer.
The commission is expected to delay any changes until perhaps June, waiting to see if the plan is approved by the Atlantic States agency, which meets in May. At that late date, it seems unlikely that the rules would be altered before 1998.
Anyway, the bottom line is that some important angling rules could be decided Tuesday. If you want a say, the meeting will be at agency headquarters, at 2600 Washington Ave., Newport News.
NOT DEAD: The two-year study aimed at revamping North Carolina fishery management is far from dead, according to two prominent figures.
The plan, fathered by a Moratorium Study Committee, recently was rejected 7-6 by a joint legislative body that also included private citizens.
Instead, the group recommended that the first steps should be directed at reorganizing and improving the Division of Marine Fisheries, which regulates sport and commercial fishing in the state.
``That was the right way to go,'' said Curtis Donaldson of Weldon, a former member of the state's Marine Fisheries Commission. ``The agency has a lot of problems that need to be straightened out.''
Similar sentiments were echoed by Damon Tatem, a steering committee member who operates Tatem's Tackle Box, a Nags Head tackle shop.
``The package isn't dead,'' he said. ``Too much time and effort and thought went into it to just cast it aside. But we really need to get the agency going in the right direction.''
The first move toward that goal was taken just a couple of days after the package was put aside. That's when Gov. Jim Hunt forced the resignation of Bruce Freeman, who had headed the division for about 18 months.
``Freeman had to go,'' Tatem said. ``He and I were friends, but the division is in shambles and when that happens, you have to start at the top.''
The agency also recently lost its top man in fishery management when Fentress ``Red'' Munden resigned after 29 years. He has since taken a job with the National Marine Fisheries Service in Florida.
The North Carolina agency is being headed on an interim basis by retired Army officer Michael Buhl. He has been with the division about six months.
Anyway, the bottom line is that you shouldn't be looking for immediate help for North Carolina's troubled fisheries. A turnaround is going to take time, perhaps years. In the meantime, let's just hope the fish survive.
FIELD TRIALS: If you think you have a great bird dog, here's a good way to find out just how good.
The Suffolk Field Trial Club will hold its annual spring competition next Sunday at the Cedric Pierce Farms shooting preserve near Ahoskie, N.C. Classes will include young puppy, advanced puppy, novice, gun dog and classic. Entry fees will range from $8 to $15, with competition beginning at 8 a.m.
You can get additional information from Joe Mumford at 986-3037 or Parker Russell at 986-4585.
TUNA TALK: Bluefin tuna continue to provide outstanding action off Hatteras, N.C., where herds of big fish are spending the winter.
Action this past week bordered the phenomenal. Reports of boats catching and releasing more than 25 fish a day were commonplace.
Mike Glaubke, skipper of the charter boat No Problem, based in the summer at Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach, said his fares released more than 30 fish one day. He said many were in excess of 400 pounds.
``We kept a 275-pounder,'' Glaubke said, ``and also had a yellowfin tuna, a blackfin tuna and a king mackerel.''
A similar report came from Kenny Sexton, skipper of the charter boat Sea Jay IV, normally based at Nags Head. Sexton released 34 bluefins one day last week.
``It's great, great fishing,'' he said. ``You really have to see it to believe it.''
BASS STOP: Seven Virginians will be in the field when the Bassmaster Top 100 largemouth tournament is held on Lake Sinclair, nearMilledgeville, Ga., March 6-8.
The professional field includes Rick Morris of Virginia Beach, Dave Dudley of Lynchburg and father/son combination Woo and Chris Daves of Spring Grove. David Drew Wheelbarger of Chesapeake is in the amateur division.
First place in the pro division pays $45,000.
FLOUNDER CONTEST: The seventh annual Wachapreague Spring Flounder Tournament will be held April 18-27, with headquarters at Capt. Zed's Tackle Shop.
More than $1,800 in cash and prizes will be offered, including $1,000 for the heaviest flatfish. The registration fee is $30.
The contest is hosted by Hotel Wachapreague, with details available by calling the hotel at 1-757-787-2105.
SHORT CASTS: Thursday's meeting of the new Hampton Roads saltwater fly fishing club has been moved to the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd on Laskin Road in Virginia Beach because of space requirements. This will be the group's second meeting. Open to anyone, it'll begin at 7 p.m. For details, contact Ron Russell at Anglers' Lab Outfitters at 491-2988. . . . Steve York, Peggy Davis, Danny Davis and Bryan Hartung of Portsmouth and Thomas West of Chesapeake were recognized Saturday night as the year's top anglers by the Portsmouth Anglers Club. . . . Largemouth bass guru Bill Schieman of Virginia Beach will talk on that subject at the March 6 meeting of the Virginia Beach Anglers. Open to anyone, the meeting will begin at 7:30 at the Marina at Marina Shores off Great Neck Road. . . . Today is the finale for the 16th annual Tidewater Recreational Vehicle and Sports Show at the Virginia Beach Pavilion. Hours are noon to 6 p.m., and admission is $5 for adults, $2 for those under age 12. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
DREW C. WILSON/The Virginian-Pilot
Virginia Marine Resources Commission striper recommendations include
extending the season by 13 days and establishing a recreational
quota.