DATE: Monday, June 9, 1997                  TAG: 9706090135

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C9   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY BOB HUTCHINSON, OUTDOORS EDITOR 

                                            LENGTH:   63 lines

WEEKLY FISHING

In the weekly battle between humans, fish and nature, nature was the big winner, with but a few exceptions.

Once again, anglers were victimized by unseasonably cold, strong northeast winds, making fishing improbable for many, impossible for most.

Some charter boats along the coasts of Virginia and North Carolina have not sailed for a week, with the economic impact also being felt at tackle shops and marinas.

Still, a few exceptions developed.

Colburn Dize of Onancock recently took the red drum lead in the annual Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament with a massive 60-pounder, boated in the Chesapeake Bay between Onancock and Pungoteague creeks on the Eastern Shore. He was aboard the Blue Heron.

Son Andy Dize of Onancock scored in the same area with a 43-pound, 1-ounce fish on the Cliff Hanger.

The weather apparently had some unnerving effects on fish as well. Striped bass between 18 and 28 inches showed up around Harrison's Pier at Ocean View, where rockfish catches are hardly the norm. The hottest action developed Tuesday through Thursday. But some rockfish were still hitting Sunday, according to a pier spokesman.

The weekend's blustery weather prompted the folks at West Marine in Virginia Beach to delay their Family Fishing Tournament until Saturday. You can get tournament details by calling 496-9996.

Another tournament, the Cat Fight, will also be held Saturday and will be limited to anglers fishing from catamarans. Eligible species will include dolphin, bluefish, black drum and flounder. It'll be sponsored by Todd Marine in Virginia Beach, with details available by calling 412-4000.

Here's a rundown of recent catches by anglers from Virginia and North Carolina:

VIRGINIA BEACH INSHORE: No outstanding catches reported.

VIRGINIA BEACH OFFSHORE: Sea bass: Greg Huntington, Virginia Beach, 5 pounds, 8 ounces, caught from the boat Wet Dream.

LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY: No outstanding catches reported.

EASTERN SHORE: No additional outstanding catches reported.

OUTER BANKS INSHORE: No outstanding catches reported.

OUTER BANKS OFFSHORE: Sailfish release: Richard Fritzke, Petersburg, Va., caught from the boat Marlin Mania. Wahoo: Chuck Teseneer, Pfafftown, N.C., 46-0, Release.

FRESHWATER: Largemouth bass: Paul W. Sayron, Portsmouth, 24 inches, caught at Lake Prince; Ron Clarke, Virginia Beach, 23 1/2 inches, Prince; Mark Ashton, Chesapeake, 22 1/2 inches, Prince; Steve Marinier, Virginia Beach, 22 inches, Prince; Wes Warren, Virginia Beach, 6 pounds, 12 ounces, Lake Smith; and Penny Hall, Virginia Beach, 6-4, Smith. Chain pickerel: George Rowe, Windsor, 24 1/2 inches, Prince. Channel catfish: Stephen Stacey, Chesapeake, 15-12, private pond. White perch: Marie Boos, Portsmouth, 1-8, Western Branch Reservoir. Yellow perch: Karen S. Holland, Newport News, 13 inches, Prince; and George Rowe, Windsor, 12 3/4 inches, Prince. Shellcracker: Cindy Gore, Como, N.C., 1-6, 1-2 and 1-1, Prince; Michael Williams, Yorktown, 1-3, Western Branch; Harold Gore, Como, 1-1, Prince; and James M. Bradshaw, Suffolk, 1-0, Lake Meade.

TOURNAMENTS: Winners in Sunday's Kids Freshwater Tournament, staged by the Virginia Beach Anglers Club (all winners were from Virginia Beach): Fry division: 1. Bennett Wales, 15 points; 2. (tie) Christopher Baker and Sarah Wray, both 8 points. Guppy: 1. Phillip Caruana, 25; 2. Crystal Harvey, 23. Junior: Matthew Floyd, 13. No second.

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