The Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association held its annual awards banquet to celebrate the 2012 fishing year. Many awards and prizes were won but none more important than the Youth Awards.
Young anglers receiving special recognition for their angling accomplishments include: Spencer Elford, Hayden Head, Deven Simmerman, Hanna Elford, Madison Hunt, Caleb Sava, Lexi Sava, Gaston Shepard, Bryce Fowler, Baum Hogge, and Morgan Cooper.
Many, many trophy fish earned awards including five new club records. There were a number of special awards presented. Of the fishing awards, the top trophy is the “Angler of the Year”.
The “Angler of the Year” award is won by the angler that earns the most points throughout the year. The point system is designed to reward the angler that is proficient at catching multiple species rather than the angler that is great at catching one fish. The winner of this award is Rick Wineman. Among the many fish awards he won for 2012, were the first place fish in 9 different species. Rick also set the club record for swordfish with an 86-inch swordfish. This is the second year that Rick has won “Angler of the Year” earning him the status of PSWSFA Master Angler for Life.
A “Critter of the Year” award is given for the most unusual rod-and-reel catch of the year. This year’s winner is Stan Simmerman for his catch of a sea horse. Stan said that the 6-inch monster put up a heroic fight.
The “Fish of the Year” award is given for the single most impressive fish caught during the year. For the first time since the PSWSFA was founded in 1957, this year’s award was made “Fishes of the Year”. Ken Neill, III won this award for three fish caught in 2012. His 72-inch tarpon was one of ten tarpon registered in the state of Virginia in 2012 and it is the new club record. His 58-inch king mackerel established a new club record and at 45 pounds 8 ounces, it was the largest king mackerel caught in Virginia in 2012. A 32-inch tautog also set a new club record. That fished weighed in at 24 pounds 3 ounces becoming Virginia’s state record and it is the 2nd largest tautog ever recorded anywhere.
The “Dr. Boatwright Annual Rockfish Trophy” was won by Ken Neill, III with a 52.5-inch fish that weighed 55 pounds.
“Outstanding Contribution” awards are presented to individuals and businesses that have provided exemplary service for the PSWSFA and recreational anglers. This year, these special awards were presented to three individuals and one business. The individual award winners are Katelyn Southall, John Hunt, Sr., and Amy Hatok. The business receiving the award is A B Z Rentals.
Dr. John Graves presented Certificates of Recognition from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to Ken Neill, III for contributions to fisheries research, education, management, and for the promotion of Virginia’s saltwater fisheries.
The most prestigious of the annual awards is the “George C. Robertson Memorial Fisherman of the Year” trophy. This award is not won by catching a lot or the largest fish. This award is given to the individual that has done the most for recreational anglers over the past year. There were many worthy individuals considered for this award, the highest honor bestowed by the PSWSFA. By unanimous decision, the George Robertson trophy was presented to Steve Martin.
The PSWSFA Banquet was sponsored by these outstanding businesses and individuals:
Guy Harvey, George Poveromo, Sport Fishing Magazine, West Marine, Dare Marina, Multi-Print, Yorktown Transmissions, 1st Advantage Credit Union, Bishop Bait and Tackle, Grafton Fishing Supply, The Pizza Shop, Appomattox River Co., Cactus Restaurant, Olivia’s Restaurant, Sam Rust Seafood, Newport Marine, Wilcox Bait and Tackle, Dave’s Sinkers, Village Engravers, Yorktown Pub, Golden Creations Jewelers, Sea Tow Lower Chesapeake, Affordable Marine, Wallace’s Marina, Sandman Hook and Tackle, Holland, Andrea’s Italian Restaurant, Flounder Bowl.
