Giant spadefish sets Va. record, eyes world title

After years of effort, Virginia finally has a new record spadefish.

Roland Murphy's 14-pound, 14-ounce giant was caught June 13 at the Cell. The Fredericksburg angler's catch was certified as the record last week.

His fish surpasses by almost a pound two fish that were tied for the mark. At 14-0, one was caught at the Cell in the Chesapeake Bay in 2006 and the other at Wolftrap Light in the Bay in 2007.

Several heavier fish - including a 15-pounder - were caught over the past several years, but none met record qualifying standards.

Murphy was fishing with Allan King on the Kingfish when he hooked his record. The fish measured 25-1/4 inches long and had a girth of 26-1/4 inches.

Murphy has applied for world-record consideration with the International Game Fish Association, which lists a pair of 14-pounders as all-tackle world records. One was a fish caught in the Chesapeake Bay in 1986 and the other was the 2007 spadefish caught at Wolftrap. Virginia's 2006 fish didn't pass the IGFA's stringent record process.

 ____

VMRC MEETING

There will be several important matters on the agenda when the Virginia Marine Resources Commission meets July 28.

Fisheries issues begin after lunch in the commission's fourth-floor conference room at 2600 Washington Ave., in Newport News.

One issue could help increase revenue for the department by establishing a nonresident addition to the Saltwater Fishing License. Currently, residents and nonresidents of the state pay the same yearly fee - $12.50.

Other states, though, charge nonresidents more for licenses. In North Carolina, for instance, residents pay $15, while outsiders pay $30.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and similar agencies in other states also charge more for nonresidents to hunt and fish.

There also will be a hearing on potential changes to striped bass size and bag limits.

 ____

STATE AWARD

Sgt. David Dodson, a hunter education coordination for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, was named the Professional of the Year by the International Hunter Education Association.

A master instructor since 1998, Dodson has worked for the department for 24 years and has taught more than 1,800 students.

In addition, senior fisheries biologist Paul Bugas has been given the Trout Unlimited conservationist of the Year Award for Virginia.

Bugas has worked for the game department for 32 years.

____

RESULTS

• From the Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament held last weekend. The tournament featured a total payout of $123,100: 1. Finseeker, 182.7 total pounds, $59,630; 2. Ocean Pearl, 181.9, $9,150; 3. Blue Dragon, 176.1, $3,660; 4. Virginia Beach Contender, 168.0, $3,750; 5. Gannet, 166.9, $22,450; 6. Canyon Express, 153.3, $13,300. Teams Gannet and Canyon Express won more money than the second- through fourth-place finishers because they paid into a higher entry division. Largest tuna: Electric Bill, 145.1 pounds, $7,500. Largest wahoo: Good Grief, 21.5, $1,830. Largest dolphin: Wave Bender, 22.2, $1,830.
• From the Virginia Bassmasters largemouth bass club tournament held last weekend on the Chickahominy and James rivers: 1. Craig Owens of Virginia Beach, five fish, 12.03 total pounds; 2. Keith Webb of Virginia Beach, four fish, 8.15 (including the lunker award winner at 5.05); 3. Reid Williams of Virginia Beach, four fish, 8.13. Top co-angler: Susan Owens of Virginia Beach, five fish, 6.08 total pounds.
•  From the Bob's Fishing Hole Wednesday night largemouth bass fishing series held on the Northwest River: 1. Al Napier and Bob Glass, both of Virginia Beach, 11.45 total pounds; 2. Bob and Chase Clark, both of Virginia Beach, 8.15.

____

UPCOMING

• The 13th Virginia Beach Invitational Marlin Tournament, Thursday through next Sunday out of Fisherman's Wharf Marina in Rudee Inlet. For information, call Paula Owen at (757) 652-8409.
• The Cobb's Marina-Tidewater Angler's Club annual flounder tournament, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday out of Cobb's Marina on Little Creek Inlet. Registration is $40 per boat, with winner determined by heaviest five-fish total weight. There also is a juniors (15-under) heaviest-fish contest.
• For more information, call Don Myers at (757) 640-8891.
• The Virginia Hunter Safety Class, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Branch 40 of the Fleet Reserve Association, 4060 Military Hwy., Chesapeake. Participation is free, but registration is required. For more information, call Gerry McGowan at (757) 771-1248.
• The Virginia Beach chapter of Ducks Unlimited will hold a "Sportsman's Day Out" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 1 at the Oceana Skeet and Trap Range on Oceana Boulevard. Registration is $25 and includes lunch and a year's membership to DU. For more information, call Joe Ficarra at (757) 434-8057 or John Lipscomb at (757) 434-7510.
• The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Paddle for the Bay will be held from 7 a.m. to noon Aug. 1 at the Ocean View Fishing Pier in Norfolk. Check-in is at 6 a.m. and registration is $40, or $50 on race day. The fee includes lunch. There will be divisions for outriggers, small boats and stand-up paddle boards. For more information, visit www.mapa1.org. n The 10th annual Fishing for a Cure Flounder Tournament will be held Aug. 1 out of Little Creek and Long Bay Pointe marinas. A captains' meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. July 31 at Bay Point Marina in Norfolk. The event benefits St. Jude children's Research Hospital and is part of the Hampton Roads Regatta taking place the same weekend. Registration is $160 per four-angler team, and $40 for each additional angler. Winners will be determined by the three-flounder total. For more information, visit www.hamptonroadsregatta.org.

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com