Outdoors report: Satellite tags yield information on striped bass

An experiment using satellite research tags with striped bass is already yielding results.

Dr. John Graves of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science placed 10 satellite tags in striped bass from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2. Using eels, five fish were caught on conventional "J" hooks, while the other five were caught on circle hooks.

The tags remain in the fish for 30 days, recording information on movement and depths reached in the water column.

After 30 days, the recording portion of the tag pops off and floats to the surface, where it transmits the information to a satellite.

Graves then is able to obtain the information.

"We've heard back from eight of the tags," Graves said. "Getting 8 of 10 isn't bad. It's hard to say what happened to the other two.

"But we're getting a huge amount of data and it's still being summarized."

Graves said he expects to recover at least four of the tags; scientists will be able to retrieve 100 percent of the recorded information from each. The other four tags will yield between 20 and 80 percent of the recorded information.

In addition, Graves said the recovered tags can be re configured to be used again for just $800. New tags cost $4,000.

One tag is somewhere on Parramore Island on the ocean side of the Eastern Shore. The other is on Sandy Point, midway up the Chesapeake Bay.

"We'll be having people go out and look for them," Graves said.

Charity paddle

The Pirates of Lynnhaven will hold the Buccaneers on the Bay distance paddle on Saturday.

The 20-mile endurance test is from Kiptopeke State Park on the Eastern Shore to Alexander's on the Bay at Chick's Beach in Virginia Beach.

Money raised will benefit the Special Olympics of Virginia.

Registration is $25 and the paddle starts at 7 a.m. Paddlers are asked to raise at least $50 through pledges.

For more information, go to www.piratesoflynnhaven.org.

Recreational Crabbing

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has eliminated its recreational crabbing license.

In a meeting last week to help reduce the crab harvest by 34 percent, the commission adopted stringent rules for the state's commercial crabbing industry.

Minor changes also were made for recreational crabbers.

Recreational crabbers used to be able to drop as many as five crab pots. But now, with no licenses issued, the limit for recreational crabbers is two pots.

Recreational crabbers are limited to a bushel of hard crab or two dozen peelers a day.

Tournament changes

Officials with the Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament have announced that they will limit the 2008 field to 75 boats.

Tournament director Paula Owen said that 42 teams already have registered for the fifth annual edition of the event, to be held Aug. 20-23 out of Rudee Inlet.

Last year's event featured a tournament-record 73 boats. Teams caught and released 190 billfish. Cash prizes totaled $388,500.

For more information on the event, call Owen at (757) 652-8409 or Deirdre Bell at (757) 287-4932.

Upcoming

- The Virginia Beach Sail and Power Squadron will perform free boat-safety checks today at the following locations: Bay Point Marina, Long Bay Pointe Marina, Lynnhaven Marine Boatel, Crab Creek Municipal Boat Ramp, Little Creek Marina, Portsmouth City Park and the Marina at Marina Shores.

Safety checks also can be scheduled by calling Peter Schreiber at (757) 363-0722 or Fred Pflum at (757) 481-0211.

- The Sticks & 'Staches surfing contest will be held by clothing company Local Movement this Saturday in Virginia Beach. The event will benefit the American Cancer Society.

For more information, call Rebecca Gaster at (757) 493-7956.

- The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will hold outdoors classes for women May 17 at Munden Point Park in Virginia Beach.

The classes will include instruction on the basics of archery, fly-casting, kayaking, outdoor cooking, wilderness survival, wildlife watching, backyard habitat, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking and an introduction to shotguns.

Participants can take any one of the classes, which run from 9 to 10:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., 1 to 2:30 p.m. or 2:45 to 4:15 p.m.

The $50 cost covers instruction, program materials, use of demonstration equipment and lunch.

For more information, call (757) 385-4461.

-The fifth annual Steel Pier Classic and Surf Art Expo will be held May 24-26 at the First Street jetty at the Oceanfront.

The event, sanctioned by the Virginia Longboard Federation, helps raise money for the Virginia Beach Noblemen, a charity that helps underprivileged children in Hampton Roads.

For more information, call Mary Knight at (757) 409-1363.

- The Virginia Beach Department of Parks and Recreation will hold a free family fishing clinic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 7 at Munden Point Park.

Registration is now open. For more information, call (757) 385-4461.