The Virginian-Pilot
© May 12, 2012
The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament has announced its newest Master and Expert anglers from the 2011 fishing year.
Eleven anglers earned Master Level I status for registering 25 citations since the program began in 1996. Anglers must have a minimum of five species each year and a maximum of one per species per year.
The new Masters are: Stephen Grimes of Hampton, Bob Lee of Portsmouth, Jody Linthicum of Poquoson, Kevin Whaley of Norfolk, Michael Gray of Midlothian, Mark Ashton of Chesapeake, Susan Smith of Virginia Beach, Randy Price of Norfolk, Dave Wineman of Suffolk, George Jones of Virginia Beach and Stephen Martin of Williamsburg.
Two anglers earned Level II status for reaching the 50 citation mark. They are:
Brandon Bartlett of Yorktown and David Barnhart of Virginia Beach. Jamal Esfanhani of Virginia Beach reached Level III with 75 citations.
Rob Collins of Norfolk reached 100 citations to make Level IV.
To become an Expert, anglers must register at least six citations of different species in a one-year span. Anglers can earn Expert as many years as they want.
The 2011 Experts are: Jamal Esfahani, Julie Ball, David Barnhart, David Cohn, Beth Synowiec, George Jones, Nathan Walker, Neal Taylor and Roger Burnley, all of Virginia Beach; Jody Linthicum and Charles Southall, of Poquoson; Ken Neill of Seaford; Brandon Bartlett, Rick Wineman and David Jenkins of Yorktown; Dave Wineman of Suffolk; Wally Veal and Wes Blow of Newport News; Rob Collins and Jeremy Raynal of Norfolk; and Stephen Martin of Williamsburg. Esfanhani registered the most species of any angler in 2011 with 12 – seven captures and five releases. Ball was second with 11 – two captures and nine releases.
PUBLIC HEARING
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission will hold a public hearing May 22 to discuss potential changes to several fisheries rules.
Changes to tautog limits will be the most important aspect to the recreational angling community.
Current regulations include a closed season from April 16 through Sept. 23, a 3-fish limit and 16-inch minimum size. The proposed change is to open the season on Aug. 1 and increase the bag limit to four fish for the remainder of 2012.
Comments can be sent to Rob O’Reilly, VMRC Fisheries Management Division, 2600 Washington Ave., Newport News, Va., 23607.
The public hearing on May 22 will begin at noon in the VMRC’s fourth floor board room located at 2600 Washington Ave., in Newport News.
FAWN TIME
This is the time of year when doe give birth to their young – known as fawns.
Many times after birth, the mother will leave her fawn alone for extended periods of time while see feeds to maintain her strength while feeding her young.
They also spend time away from their babies to keep predators away from the fawns.
Unfortunately, many people see the fawn alone and think it has been abandoned. Animal wildlife groups receive dozens of fawns every year.
More often than not, the fawn has not been abandoned and is nearby. This type of activity takes place usually through the end of July.
Game department officials annual urge the public to leave the fawn along and give it a wide berth, and resist the urge to “rescue” the animal.
CHARITY BASSIN’
The 11th annual Steve Gambill Cancer Classic freshwater fishing tournament will be held June 10 out of West Landing Marina in southern Virginia Beach on the banks of the North Landing River.
There are divisions for largemouth bass only, and open for bass, crappie and catfish combined weight. Registration for each is $25 for adults and $15 for juniors.
Fishing is from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a weigh-in, awards ceremony and cookout.
For more information, contact Chris Vitovich at cvitovich@daparak.com or go to: www.cancerclassic.org
MORE BASSIN’
The bass clubs of Virginia Region Seven will hold a Wounded Warrior Bass Fishing tournament on June 3 out of Munden Point Park in southern Virginia Beach.
The tournament will pair 50 Wounded Warrior participants with 50 local largemouth bass fishermen in a tournament, followed by a picnic, music, prizes and family activities.
Region Seven officials are looking for sponsorships to help with the event.
For more information, call Randy Trout at 757-320-7465.
BLUEWATER SEASON OPENER
The mid-Atlantic billfish tournament season gets under way May 15-19 with the 18th annual Hatteras Village Offshore Open out of Hatteras Village.
The event also is the first in the seven-tournament series known as the North Carolina Governor’s Cup Saltwater Fishing Tournament. The HVOO is one of only two Cup events held along the northern portion of the coast. The Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament in August is the other, and the final event in the Cup series.
The HVOO has grown from 25 boats and a $3,000 prize to 64 boats and $144,000 total purse.
Fishing in the HVOO is any three of the four days. There are several entry levels which determine prize money.
Teams will be able to weigh fish at several North Carolina inlets – Oregon, Hatteras, Ocracoke, or Beaufort. State certified scales will be located at Pirate’s Cove Marina, Hatteras Harbor Marina and Big Rock Landing in Morehead City.
Tournament festivities will take place at the Hatteras Village Civic Center.
For more information, go to www.hvoo.org
RESULTS
From the Flounder Bowl held out of the Peninsula: 1. Paige II with Capt. Craig Paige, 25.23 total pounds, $11,000; 2. Healthy Grin, 21.28; 3. High Point, 19.82.
