Changes in Catchin’ for Kids Rockfish Tournament

One of the most notable tournaments of the year is this weekend.

And there are a few changes in store for the ninth annual Catchin’ for Kids Rockfish Tournament.

The event has been moved from its longtime headquarters to Vinings Landing Marina inside Little Creek Inlet, just off Shore Drive.

“We’ve been growing so big and there was a need to take it to the next level,” said Catchin’ for Kids’ Rick Williams. “And we needed to step up and make room for more people.

“But let’s be clear ... we never could have gotten to the point where we are now without Oceans East 2 Tackle. They’ve been a tremendous help to us right from the beginning and we can’t thank them enough.”

Moving to the marina will afford teams the opportunity to weigh fish in by boat. Teams also will be able to boat to weigh stations inside Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets.

“Three weigh stations should help us a lot,” Williams said.

Catchin’ for Kids has donated nearly $250,000 worth of cash and toys to the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots campaign and other local charities.

“We’ve done a lot of good for the community and we couldn’t do it without all of the volunteers and sponsors,” Williams said. “Even when the economy has been down, these people come through.”

Williams said the tournament fielded 50 teams last year.

“We’d like to see 75 or 80 this year and I think having the three weigh stations and being able to weigh in by boat will help,” Williams said. “But the economy is still bad and you never know how it’s going to effect fundraising events.”

Another change this year is that fishing on Saturday and Sunday is from 6:30 a.m. to lines-out at 2 p.m. each day. Previous tournaments have featured around-the-clock fishing. There will be an oyster roast after Saturday’s weigh-in and a barbecue and awards ceremony after the final day of fishing Sunday.

Registration is $200 and a new toy, or $225 without a toy. There also are two other “skill-level calcuttas.” And for non-anglers who just want to help, there are toy drop-off boxes located throughout South Hampton Roads.

For more information, email Williams at CaptainRick@CatchinForKids.org or call him at (757) 408-0224.

MORE ROCKIN’

The second Toby’s Dream Foundation Rockfish Tournament will be held Friday and Saturday out of Marina Shores Marina inside Virginia Beach’s Lynnhaven Inlet.

The event raises funds for children with life-threatening illnesses.

Registration is at 5 p.m. Friday, followed by a 7 p.m. captains meeting. Fishing is from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Registration is $400 a boat. Last year’s event raised more than $15,000.

For more information, visit: www.tobysdream.org

PARK CLOSURES

Lone Star Lakes Park will be closed Dec. 16 and 17 for Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries white-tailed deer quota hunts.

DOG PARK CHANGES

Red Wing Park’s dog park recently underwent renovations and has reopened.

The park is at 1398 General Booth Blvd., in Virginia Beach.

The dog park is a new location at Red Wing and has a 200-foot-by-100-foot open-space area, with new benches for owners, a shade structure, water source and doggie clean-up bags.

Dogs who use the park are required to be licensed with the city and have all their vaccinations up to date.

RECENT CATCHES

Speckled trout

-Mike Howard, Portsmouth, 8-8, Elizabeth River.

- David Mitchell, Portsmouth, 8-2, Elizabeth River.

Striped bass

- Anderson Miller, 17, Virginia Beach, 46-inch release, Chesapeake Bay.

RESULTS

- From a Within Limits largemouth bass fishing tournament held out of Bob’s Fishing Hole in Chesapeake:

1. Josh and Hunter Clark, both of Chesapeake, 8.66 total pounds (including the lunker-winner at 3.18); 2. Eddie Sapp and Paul Celentano, both of Chesapeake, 6.43.

- From the Black Friday largemouth bass fishing tournament held out of Bob’s Fishing Hole in Chesapeake:

1. Robert Stamey of Moyock and Chris Vitovich of Virginia Beach, 12.38 total pounds (including the 3.78-pound lunker-winner caught by Stamey); 2. Jeremy Gatewood of Virginia Beach and Steve Albertson of Chesapeake, 7.14.

-From the third regatta in the 2011 Fall Frostbite sailing series held each weekend out of the Old Dominion University Sailing Center:

1. Neil Ford, 6 total points (based on four first-place finishes and one second); 2. Robert Suhay, 13; 3. Mike Moore, 15; 4. Doug Keilor, 17; 5. Richard Biggs, 26.