102-pound blue catfish could be a state record

Virginia's first triple-digit freshwater fish has been caught. Tim Wilson of Natural Bridge landed the historic 102-pound, 4-ounce blue catfish while working the waters of the James River near Dutch Gap.

Wilson's fish is being considered for state-record status by a committee of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

The big blue easily tops the current state-record blue of 95-11, caught in 2006 in the James River by Archie Gold of Jetersville.

Confirmation of the record is expected within two weeks, according to game department officials, who long have said they expected the James to produce 100-pound and bigger cats in the coming years.

Wilson's fish measured 52-3/4 inches and had a girth of 41-1/2 inches. Wilson caught the fish on a 30-pound test line.

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Important meeting

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission on Tuesday is expected to delay any decisions on potential changes to the offshore tilefish and grouper fishery. The meeting will take place around noon at the commission's fourth-floor board room, at 2600 Washington Ave. in Newport News.

Fisheries managers were going to recommend that the commission change the bag limits to one grouper per vessel per day, and three tilefish per person per day - not to exceed 18 tilefish per vessel per day.

The current Virginia limits are one grouper per person per day and seven tilefish per person per day. At a meeting of the Finfish Management Advisory Committee, a wave of commercial, recreational and charter boat anglers asked the committee to request a delay.

Fisheries managers have agreed and will ask the commission to hold off on any changes.

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Offshore season begins

The Hatteras Village Offshore Open billfish tournament annually signals the official start of the North Carolina-Virginia offshore tournament season.

Last weekend, the 15th open drew 47 teams that caught a total of 13 blue marlin. All but one - a 581-1/2-pounder - were released. One white marlin and one spearfish also were caught and released.

Sizzler won the event with three blue marlin releases good for 1,200 points and nearly $27,000 in prize money.

Second with one blue and one white marlin release went to Reel Jim. The team's 600 points earned $16,142. The 581-pound blue caught by Everette Daniel earned the team on Fishing Partner $10,761 - plus $34,850 for winning the "largest blue marlin" special entry level.

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Results

 From the Black Drum World Championship last weekend out of Bay Creek Marina in Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore: 1. Team Eleanor Susan, 84.8-pound black drum, $3,000; 2. Team Galbraith, 71.22 pounds, $2,000; 3. Team Big Blue, 68.45, $1,000.

From the Bob's Fishing Hole Saturday largemouth bass fishing tournament series: 1. Jeff and Chris Chastain, both of Chesapeake, 8.15 total pounds (including the 5.2-pound lunker award winner); 2. Sterling Woodbridge of Chesapeake and Keith Jackson of Va. Beach, 7.05.

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UPCOMING

• The Great Bridge Fisherman's Association will hold an open house and monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Great Bridge Baptist Church, 640 South Battlefield Blvd. in Chesapeake. The club will serve free hot dogs and sodas before Capt. Craig Paige's talk on fishing for large flounder. For details, call Butch Pierce at (757) 287-0330.
• The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission will hold a meeting from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. Topics include potential interim rules for speckled trout and southern flounder while a fisheries management plan is being developed. The public is invited, but there will be no public comment period.
• A special archery competition will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Norfolk County Rifle Range at 4321 South Military Hwy. in Chesapeake. The format will feature 20 arrows shot from a distance of 40 yards, followed by 20 more at 50 yards and 20 more at 60. Entry is $10 for range members and $15 for nonmembers. For information, call Ed Suders at (757) 284-9532.
• Sportcast USA will hold an open long-distance casting tournament Saturday and Sunday behind the new Cracker Barrel at the Hillcrest Parkway exit off the Chesapeake Expressway. Practice and seminars will be held throughout the day Friday. Competition is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Casters in these events can throw a 4-ounce weight a distance of more than 830 feet. For information, call Frank Mitchell at (757) 717-8896.
• The eighth Steve Gambill Cancer Classic fishing tournament will be held from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. next Sunday out of West Landing Marina. The freshwater fishing tournament features youth and adult groupings in divisions for bass only and open (bass, crappie and catfish). Registration for either is $15 for children younger than 15, with the second child for free; and $25 for adults. There is a $5 boat launch fee for those fishing from boats. For information, go to www.cancerclassic.org or call Chris Vitovich at (757) 512-6831 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or at (757) 468-0972 evenings and weekends.
• The Virginia Beach Family Fishing Clinic is from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 6 at Munden Point Park. The event is $5 a child and is limited to 150 youths ages 5 to 14. Pre-registration is required at any Virginia Beach Recreation Center or at ezreg.vbgov.com (course number 88758).