Virginia saltwater anglers behind on registration

According to NOAA Fisheries, Virginia saltwater anglers are lagging far behind other coastal states when it comes to a national law that requires registration with the National Saltwater Angler Registry.

In its first year, the registry is designed to help fisheries managers compile better catch information that is important to determining quotas and bag limits.

Virginia Marine Resources Commission spokesman John Bull said there are an estimated 750,000 saltwater anglers in Virginia. NOAA said that in the first six months of the registry, only 26,378 had registered.

That puts Virginia behind even Pennsylvania, which has only a small portion of coastal tidal water and a fishery consisting of only striper and shad.

Virginia anglers do not need to register if they are younger than 16; only fish on a licensed charter boat or head boat; hold a Highly Migratory Species Angling permit; or hold and are fishing under a valid commercial license. Virginia anglers who hold licenses in some other states also might not need to register.

Virginia recently passed a law that goes into effect Thursday that allows the VMRC to begin a Virginia registry that will comply with NOAA.

"But we won't have that up and running until the end of the fall at the earliest," Bull said. "There is no way we can do this in-house. So we're outsourcing it, and there is a process we have to go through.

"When we have our registry in place at the beginning of the year, we won't be charging our fishermen. NOAA starts charging (up to $25)."

Bull said word of Virginia's pending registry probably has many anglers confused about their need to register with NOAA.

"The bottom line is that they do have to register until next year, and Virginia is lagging way behind," he said, adding that Marine Police are in an "education mode" when they check boats and ask for licenses. "It's a federal law, so I'm not sure why we're doing so poorly. And who knows when the feds will order their people to start issuing tickets."

"With all of the people in this state that complain about current catch numbers and how they are determined, this law gives (NOAA) a tool in place to correct that data," Bull said. "It might not be the best way, but it's better than the system we have now."

Register at www.countmyfish.noaa.gov and follow the links to sign up.

WAITING FOR NEXT YEAR

Virginia Beach professional bass fisherman Rick Morris gave it one heck of a run at the end of the Bassmaster Elite Series.

Morris finished the eight-stop tour in a three-way tie for 40th place - just three out of a fifth trip to the Bassmaster Classic.

There is an outside chance that Morris still could make it.

BASS spokesman Doug Grassian said that five anglers ahead of him in the overall standings would have to double-qualify through Open Series events that conclude in October.

Morris finished the season finale in fifth, earning him $14,000. He finished in the money in half the competitions. And by moving into 40th place in the standings, he earned an additional $5,700 in the Angler of the Year race.

"I had an awesome finish to the season," Morris said. "That last tournament was a $20,000 event because of the end-of-the-year money. I had two top-five finishes this year when I usually average a couple of top-12 finishes. So it was good, and I'm excited about next year."

Morris also secured his spot in next year's Elite Series. He will continue to fish during the summer in Professional Anglers Association tournaments that start next week. Morris finished fifth overall in last year's PAA tournament series.

CANCER CLASSIC ROLLS ON

The ninth annual Steve Gambill Cancer Classic raised about $11,000 for the American Cancer Society. Since founder Chris Vitovich started the tournament to honor his best friend who died of cancer, the event has raised $85,000.

Since its inception, the freshwater fishing tournament has been a labor of love for Vitovich - who ran the inaugural event mostly laying down because of back problems.

"After watching my best friend go from being healthy to dying in six months, it really weighed heavy on my heart," Vitovich said. "I wanted to do something to keep his memory alive. So I told the American Cancer Society that I wanted to start a fishing tournament in his name."

Vitovich had 15 months to plan the first event, which had humble beginnings and raised $2,030. From there, the tournament grew to three divisions - even one for bank fishermen - and this year's total of 78 anglers.

RESULTS

-- From largemouth bass tournaments held out of Bob's Fishing Hole on the Northwest River:

June 19 - 1. Eddie Sapp and Paul Celentano, both of Virginia Beach, 12.31 total pounds (including the lunker winner at 6.37); 2. John Goodman of Virginia Beach, 11.18; 3. Chris Carlesi and Bob Holt, both of Suffolk, 10.68.

June 20 - 1. Perry Zyzak and Greg Dick, both of Chesapeake, 10.68 total pounds.

June 23 - 1. Kevin Mills of Chesapeake, 8.55 total pounds (including the lunker winner at 3.74); 2. Joe and Tyler Glazebrook of Chesapeake, 7.64.

-- Winners from last weekend's Cock Island Race that was hosted by the Portsmouth Boat Club and held on the Elizabeth River:

Spinnaker Division - Class A, Cyrano with Capt. Bob Mosby; Class B, Stingray Racing with Capt. Don Deloatch; Class C, Bow Movement with Capt. Martin Casey.

Non-Spinnaker Division - Class 1, Black Widow with Capt. Leo Waldrup; Class 2, Wiki Wiki with Capt. Rodney Paice.

Cruising Division - Class 1, Black Dog with Capt. James Beaudry; Class 2, Finns with Capt. Thomas Edwards; Class 3, Joie De Vie with Capt. Russell Seltzer; Class 4, Content with Capt. Ron Peterman.

UPCOMING

-- The Virginia Beach Angler's Club will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Foundry United Methodist Church, 2801 Virginia Beach Blvd. For information, call Bob Stuhlman at (757) 374-7372.

-- The sixth annual Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament is accepting registration for the July 7 to 10 event that will be held out of Marina Shores inside Lynnhaven Inlet. Registration is $400. Last year's tournament paid out more than $123,000. Boats can weigh in either in Rudee or Lynnhaven inlets. Information, call (757) 222-2983 or go to www.vbtuna.com.

-- A pre-registration party for the Virginia Beach Invitational Marlin Tournament will be held at 7 p.m. July 8 at Fisherman's Wharf Marina on Rudee Inlet. The tournament is July 22-25. For information, call Paula Owen at (757) 652-8409.