Healthy Grin Sport Fishing

Bluefin, yellowfin, blackfin, dolphin, wahoo, and even a few bigeyes are being caught offshore out of the Outer Banks right now. Our report from yesterday is a bit different. Went to Hatteras and sat at the dock for half the day. Decided the fog was never going to lift, ran out anyway. The fuel pump on Charle Southall’s Albemarle started making a funny noise so we came back in. The hour we jigged the 230 rock resulted in 9 false albacore and 1 bonita. Gabe Sava caught the bonita.

I just got back from Hatteras today. I fished on the Tuna Tracker with Jim & Billy and Milton Hudgins. Thursday we went north up to Diamond Shoals area. Found a good weed line and current break. We caught 9 dolphin. Then on Friday we went south past the rock pile. Found another grass and current rip. We caught 5 more dolphin and 4 wahoo. Heard on the radio the black fin bite was good but no one had any yellow fin that we knew about. All gaffer dolphin except about 4 we slung over the side.

We fished the Triangle Reef area today. We caught 29 tautog. We did best on crab. When we ran out of crab and had to use clam, the sea bass just ate us up. We did not catch any big fish, lost a couple of nice ones. Over the radio, it sounded like some big togs were caught in the area.

Just went to the Tiger this morning as we wanted to be close to Rudee when the predicted bad stuff blew through. It turned bad about 11 am and blew us off of the wreck. We caught 10 tautog. None were big. The largest was 17 inches.

George Poveromo visited Virginia to film an episode of his “George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing” television series. This episode is about Virginia’s trophy striped bass fishery. The show will air this week on NBC Sports Network. It will be shown on both Friday and Saturday:

Friday, March 2nd at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)
Featured airing: Saturday, March 3 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time)

I have not seen any of the footage yet. In addition to fishing, we discussed fisheries management, science, the IGFA, PSWSFA, Virginia’s Trophy Fish Program (George caught a Citation), VMRC, NMFS, and other fishy things that I am involved with. We even talked about dentistry (George’s dad and brother are dentists). We talked about Virginia as a world-class fishing destination and Virginia Beach as a year-round tourist location.

I have no idea what made the actual 22 minutes of footage. If I look stupid or something, I blame editing. If they make me look good, I claim full credit. Regardless, Virginia and Virginia Beach should show well. We caught some nice fish.

George and his production crew are very happy with the show and they have said that they will be coming back to Virginia.

From one of George’s facebook pages: Trophy striped bass anglers: This weekend’s “World of Saltwater Fishing” on the NBC Sports Network (Friday – 2:30 p.m., and Saturday – 11:00 a.m., eastern standard time) will feature Dr. Ken Neill III and me fishing out of Virginia Beach and catching monster bass up to 50-pounds! We baited with live eels and bested the fish on Penn Squall 30 lever drag reels filled with Sufix Superior 30-lb test monofilament, and Penn Bluewater Carnage rods. Did I mention it was frigid cold out there on that mid-December evening?! For more information on the shows, visit: www.georgepoveromo.com  

Here in Hampton Roads, NBC Sports Network is on Cox Cable channel 34 and on Direct TV channel 603. Check your local provider to find NBC Sports.

www.facebook.com/george.poveromo?sk=wall

www.facebook.com/people/George-Poveromo/710842670

Dr. Ken Neill, III
IGFA Representative
President, Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association, Inc.
www.igfa.org
www.pswsfa.com
www.vbsf-hookedup.net/healthygrin/

Slower day for us on the tautog. Caught a dozen, mostly on the Tiger Wreck. Lots of little sea bass. No big ones today. Photo is of Bernie Sparrer (Gloucester). It was a short fishing day for us so not a lot of structure covered.

The annual awards banquet of the Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman’s Association was held on February 24. Many awards were presented to celebrate the 2011 fishing year.

The most prestigious award presented each year is the George C. Robertson Memorial Trophy. Originally called the “Fisherman of the Year” Award, it is presented to the individual that has done the most in service for recreational fishing. This year’s winner is Frank Kearney. Frank is a long-term officer of the PSWSFA and of the Coastal Conservation Association of Virginia. You will find Frank in Newport News at meetings of the Virginia Marine Resource Commission and in Richmond speaking with Virginia’s General Assembly, championing the causes of recreational anglers. Frank volunteers each year for the Children’s Free Fishing Clinic held on the James River Fishing Pier and for every event that the PSWSFA participates in. Thank you Frank Kearney for your service for recreational anglers.

Outstanding Contribution Awards were presented to two individuals for their volunteer work. One was Richie Moore of the York County Sherriff’s Department. The other was Rick Wineman.

The top “fishing” honor is the Angler of the Year Award. The winner for the 2011 fishing Year is Rick Wineman. Rick won the award for his many catches of trophy-sized fish of multiple species.

Fish of the Year was won by Wes Blow for his 144 inch, 6-gill blunt nose shark that he caught and released at the Norfolk Canyon.

Critter of the Year was presented to Deven Simmerman for his catch of a web burrfish.

The Dr. Boatwright Rockfish Trophy was won by Tabb Bridges for his 52-inch striped bass.

Throughout the year, the PSWSFA holds a number of tournaments. The Wilcox Bait and Tackle Triple Threat was won by Wes Blow with a 148.75 inch combined length of his red drum, black drum, and cobia. The Youth Flounder was won by Hayden Head with an 8 pound doormat. Youth Croaker was won by Jackson Stratton with a 1lb 5oz fish. Ladies Flounder was won by Angie Rinck with a 7lb 8oz flounder. Ladies Croaker was won by Kay Uhler with a 1lb 3oz fish. The Grafton Fishing Supply Spot Tournament was won by Steve Martin with a .74 pound spot. The Don Forman Cobia Tournament sponsored by Bishops Fishing Supply was won by Wes Blow with a 46lb 2oz fish. The Bishops Fishing Supply Rockfish Tournament was won by Rick Wineman with a 49 pound striped bass.

Young anglers receive special recognition at the PSWSFA. These individuals received a variety of Youth Awards: Hayden Head, Deven Simmerman, Jackson Stratton, Baylor Rinck, Caroline Bingham, Johnathan Bingham, Spencer Elford, Madeline Hatok, Lexi Sava, and Adelle Hudgins.

Annual Species Winners:

Amberjack: Rick Wineman: 53”
Blackbelly Rosefish: Rick Wineman: 16.5”
Black Drum: Hayden Head: 48”
Blackfin Tuna: Rick Wineman: 25”
Bluefin Tuna: Jody Linthicum: 68”
Bluefish: Jody Linthicum: 42.75”
Blueline Tilefish: Steve Martin: 32”
Channel Bass: Jody Linthicum: 52.5”
Cobia: Hayden Head: 56”
Croaker: Dawn Carper: 18.5”
Dolphin: Rick Wineman: 54.5”
False Albacore: John Hunt, Sr.: 32”
Flounder: Ken Neill, III: 30”
Golden Tilefish: Steve Martin: 40”
Sailfish: Milton Hudgins: 78”
Sea Bass: Deven Simmerman: 24”
Shark: Wes Blow: 144”
Snapper: Barclay Sheppard: 15”
Spanish Mackerel: Rick Wineman: 20”
Speckled Trout: Hunter Southall: 34.5”
Spot: Darlene Hunt: 11”
Striped Bass: Tabb Bridges: 52”
Swordfish: Ken Neill, III: 60”
Tautog: David Agee: 25.5”
Triggerfish: Barclay Shepard: 20”
Wahoo: Dylan Moore: 49”
White Marlin: Deven Simmerman: 90”
Whiting: Rick Wineman: 15.5”
Yellowfin Tuna: Rick Wineman: 49.5”

Many other awards were presented, a lot of food was eaten, and multiple prizes, donated by the sponsors, were won.

The PSWSFA Awards Banquet was sponsored by: George Poveromo, Guy Harvey, Fishing Tidewater (Don Lancaster), Sport Fishing Magazine (Doug Olander), J Henry Holland, Multi-Print Inc., Yorktown Transmissions, 1st Advantage Credit Union, The Pizza Shop, Grafton Fishing Supply & Seafood, Appomattox River Co., Cactus Restaurant, Mountain Breeze Taxidermy, Olivia’s Restaurant, Bishops Bait and Tackle, Wilcox Bait and Tackle, Newport Marine, West Marine Hampton and Gloucester Pt., Dare Marina and Yacht Sales, Dave’s Sinkers, Village Engravers, Yorktown Pub, Golden Creation Jewelers, Chesapeake Angler, Sea Tow Lower Chesapeake, Wallace’s Marina, Affordable Marine, Back River Outfitters, Rev. Art Wolz, Andrea’s Italian Restaurant, Bite Me Charters, Piney Ridge Boat Works, Breakwater Inn, The Flounder Bowl.

It was beautiful in the ocean today. We fished until we ran out of bait: 250 clams and about 4 dozen crabs. Hunter Southall showed up this morning talking smack. He and his dad, Charles, had a bet going on which would catch the largest tog. The loser had to wash the winner’s truck. When Hunter jumped out to an early lead, Charles said that we were not going in until he caught a larger tautog. It only got worse from there as Hunter soon caught a tog that turned out to be our largest of the day. Fish bit both the clam and crab baits. The clam caught the most and the largest fish. We ended up catching 49 tautog up to Hunter’s 9 pound 8 ounce fish. 9 of the fish had previously been tagged. We also caught a good number of sea bass, some dogsharks. a nice hake, 2 cunners, 1 large toadfish and an impressive conger eel. We did not catch any cod.

There is a lot of Virginia in the March issue of Salt Water Sportsman magazine. “Life on the Edge” is an article by George Poveromo that features his striped bass trip to Virginia Beach this winter. There are two photos from that trip in the article. “The Ultimate Spring Striper Tour” by Nick Honachefsky has the Chesapeake Bay and the CBBT as the first stop. Captains Chandler Hogg and Pete Dahlberg are listed as the “Who”. In the “Traveling Fisherman”, Virginia is the 1st choice with Maryland being 2nd for striped bass.

http://www.saltwatersportsman.com/techniques/rigs-and-tips/fishing-edge

Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament
2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor
Newport News, VA 23607
(757) 491-5160
For Immediate Release
February 15, 2012

State Record Striped Bass Shattered

A 74-pound striped bass, caught on January 20th by Cary Wolfe of Bristow, VA, has been certified as the new Virginia State Record by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Wolfe’s catch surpassed the existing record of 73 pounds, caught nearly four years ago to the day by Fred Barnes of Chesapeake.

Wolfe made the record-setting catch in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Henry, where they were but one of an estimated 100-boat flotilla while fishing with Captain Tim Cannon aboard the charter boat Bada Bing. The trophy striper hit a trolled tandem parachute rig, consisting of a pair of 2-ounce big-mouthed nylon skirted jigs, paired with 9-inch rubber shad bodies and trolled from a custom rod mated to a Penn 114H, spooled with 80-pound Ande monofilament line. When the fish hit, Wolfe pulled the rod from its holder and began reeling after the striper made an initial but brief run. After an uneventful 15 minutes, the fish broke water near the back of the boat, where the captain realized the fish was likely too large for the net. Wolfe was instructed to lead the fish head first into the net. As the angler strained the 80-pound mono to lead the fish the mono snapped and the hook fell from the fish’s lip. Momentum carried the fish across the waiting landing net, where the fish rested briefly. A flick of the tail and the fish would be gone but the huge striper relaxed. Its head slumped into the net and was hauled into the boat by Wolfe and Captain Cannon. Several pictures were immediately taken and the group figured the fish was at least 50 pounds.

Tournament Director Lewis Gillingham viewed the official weigh-in at Long Bay Pointe Marina by its weighmaster Connie Barbour. “The fish seemed very long for its girth, with a large head and not much in its stomach. Captain Cannon indicated the fish had spit-up several medium-sized eels after it was brought onboard,” noted Gillingham. The trophy striper was hustled to the Richmond Boat Show later Friday evening, where it was on display through Sunday. Wolfe, an X-ray technician employed at Manassas Hospital, also allowed the removal of the big striper’s otilith (ear bone) after the display by a member of the VMRC biological sampling program so its age could be determined. At the time the otilith was removed it was determined the fish was a female with a reasonably large egg mass but its gut was empty.

The record striper’s otilith was taken to Old Dominion University’s CQFE Ageing lab where it was determined the fish was 26 years old, making it a member of the 1986 year class. The 26 year old fish ties as the oldest otilith aged striped bass. The other fish, taken in 2011, weighed 61 pounds and was a member of the 1985 year class. Interestingly, the outgoing state record striper, was determined to be 22 years old but that was in 2008, making it a colleague of the new record fish as another member of the 1986 year class.

The 74-pound, record-setting striper measured 56-3/4 inches in length and had a girth of 31-1/2 inches. The prior state record of 73 pounds was caught in the Atlantic Ocean about one-half mile north of the 4A buoy, which is located off Fishermen’s Island, by Frederick Barnes of Chesapeake on January 23, 2008.
For more information, contact Lewis S. Gillingham, Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2600 Washington Avenue Third Floor; Newport News, VA, 23607, (757) 491-5160, vswft@mrc.virginia.gov