IGFA Website Improved

International Game Fish Association Website Updated:

IGFA Representative Update

Dr. Julie Ball

IGFA Representative, Virginia Beach

www.IGFA.org

During a recent chat with IGFA president, Rob Kramer, he filled me in on the new IGFA website under works. The updated site is now up, and it has a new look as well as new information.

The new format is very easy to navigate, and the graphics are much improved. There is an abundance of new links and information now available for anglers. One of the best new features is the new species database featuring detailed information and photos of the different IGFA eligible species. Another great addition is a section allowing non-member visitors to access IGFA All-Tackle records.

Check it out!

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November means Wreck Flounder and Big Bluefish

Wreck Doormats and Chopper Bluefish

A great trip before the Nor'easter

Fishing in November

My boat had been undergoing engine repairs and maintenance for two months.  Now that I’m back on the water, I wanted to get out to my favorite fishing spot for this time of year, the Triangle wrecks, 30 miles off Virginia Beach. The weather last weekend was gorgeous, so we planned a two day adventure.

Day 1: Captain Skip Feller and I enjoyed a quick, comfortable ride out to the Triangles in the late morning. I couldn’t believe how warm it was for November. We searched for big bluefish for a very short time, until I just couldn’t wait any longer. I was ready to feel that tug of a fish again. So, we stowed the bluefish gear while we investigated a little flounder action.

We drifted our first piece, with a good mixture of keeper flounder and big seabass. It was a shame to toss the seabass back. I lost a few big flounder, until I finally got a hook to stick. This fish was both fat and wide! I heard on the radio that folks were still struggling to find the bluefish. The engines purred, as we rode in on slick seas at about 32 knts.

Day 2: We got an earlier start on the second day. The fog was thick, but Skip navigated through the sludge. The seas were glassy as we cruised to meet two other buddy boats already headed to the Triangles. We decided to detour to find Skip his big flounder, so we let the other boats start looking for the blues.

Turned out to be a good move.  Again, we found hungry wreck flounder. We worked this new structure catching nice fish until Skip boated a really nice one. We then joined the other boats, which had seen no signs of bluefish yet.

No biggie, we looked around for about 15 minutes and then headed towards my old stand-by. We set up for chopper blues, and within about five minutes that tell-tale bounce on the first rod announced that the big blues were there. We caught over a dozen chopper bluefish, and lost or missed at least that many more. 

After 3-hours of catching fish, we decided to head in before it got dark. We came across a VMRC boat waiting to check boats running in. The officers recognized us, and one of them said he had one of my calendars. I held up two of the bluefish and Skip’s big flat fish. They congratulated us, and then headed off towards the Triangles. Nice guys.

A great maiden voyage after two months off the water.  The boat ran great, the weather was perfect, and the fishing was hot. It’s great to be back on the water!

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Lawsuit against NMFS Brings Fishing Community Together

The Recreational Fishing Alliance has helped pull the recreational fishing community together to fight for a cause considered “unjust” by most anglers.

When the National Marine Fisheries Service took the sportfishing community by surprise with the abrupt announcement that the black seabass fishery was closing four days later, several avid anglers decided it was time to take a stand.

A lawsuit was filed yesterday in Federal court against NOAA /NMFS by the RFA to reopen the fishery. The plaintiffs listed are several heavy hitters, mostly head boat operations and tackle businesses, which are severely impacted by the closure.

The bases of the lawsuit is that the decision to close the seabass fishery for six months was based on data known be inaccurate by the NMFS, which is creating a hardship on related businesses. A hearing date is expected to be set within the next few weeks.

If nothing else, this is a demonstration by the recreational community that “they have had it.” According to Captain Skipper Feller, listed as one of the plaintiffs, no matter what the result, this action will show fisheries management that we are coming together as a community, and taking a stand.

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Speckled Trout Everywhere!

The speck bite is still going strong.

The chatter on the docks is still centered around the great speckled trout bite. Most any lower Bay protected, shallow, brackish or saltwater creek, river, or inlet is a showplace for speckled trout right now. Folks are catching dozens of fish, with most ranging to around 22-inches. Several citation specks ranging from 5 to 7-pounds are also hitting the scales regularly.

Yes, speckled trout are everywhere. Folks are catching specks off their docks in Lynnhaven River, near the jetties in Little Creek Inlet, and along the grass beds and bulkheads lining Rudee Inlet.

Good numbers of trout ranging to around 5-pounds are coming from several areas between the Gilmerton Bridge and the I-64 High Rise Bridge in the Elizabeth River.

Most any type of offering is working to entice these flashy fish. The largest specks are hitting Mirrolures adorned with hints of orange, or the old standby, red and white. Gulp grubs, bubble gum colored Bazooka lures, and pearl colored Storm lures are also working well. Anglers are also finding good luck using live bait or cut bait.

No matter which method you choose, get out on the water and enjoy the great speckled trout action while you can!

7-pound speckled trout

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Tautog are Tempting Bay Anglers

One of the tell-tale signs that the fall fishery is in full swing is the jump start of the popular structure-oriented fish, tautog. These little guys are not pretty to look at, but they put up a hefty battle and provide a treat at the dinner table.

Over the last few weeks, the tautog bite has really taken off!  You can fish for tautog on any structure, such as around the bases of bridge pilings, near the artificial islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and Bay and inshore wrecks. Tog eat crustaceans, so blue crabs cut into quarters, fiddler crabs, and clams make great bait. A very sharp 4/0 to 6/0 bait hook does the trick when looped onto a dropper-loop tied a little more than mid-way down a 12 to 14-inch leader of 40 to 50 pound monofilament.  Loop on a 6 to 12-ounce sinker at the bottom of the rig, and you’re in business. I prefer a stout rod, with a conventional reel spooled with 30 to 50-pound braided line.

Anchor over your structure of choice, and drop your baited rig to the bottom. Move the bait every so often, until you feel a bite or a heavy feeling when you lift the line, then set the hook. It will take some practice, but the fish are biting well so now is a good time.

You can keep 4 fish per person over 14-inches. A citation from the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament is earned by releasing fish measuring 23-inches or larger. A weight citation is awarded for catches weighing over 9-pounds. For more information on Virginia State citations go to www.mrc.state.va.us/vswft/index.shtm.

The largest tautog ever caught is an IGFA all tackle world record weighing 25-pounds, and the Virginia state record is 24-pounds.

A local couple, Beth and Kevin Synowiec, recently took their young daughter who was recovering from the flu fishing for tautog. They caught several nice tautog, including two state citations. Their daughter, Katie had the top fish of the day, weighing in at a respectable 11-pounds! Now, that’s a cure!

Get out on the water, and enjoy the outdoors!

Katie and Dad, Kevin show off Big Tautog they caught in the Bay

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When the Winds Blow, the Inshore Species Flow

This time of year often brings windy days. With that said, it can make satisfying an angler's itch somewhat difficult, since reaching the fish is nearly impossible. But fortunately, Mother Nature offers a solution. There are several species of fish easily accessible within inshore, protected waters. Many anglers have turned thier backs to the wind, and embraced protected waters, with great action from inshore species to show for it. Speckled trout and puppy drum (juvinile red drum) are the main attraction inshore.

The trout speckled action is very good, with some folks catching up to several dozen specks in an outing. Although most of the fish are still ranging between 12 to 18-inches, several fish pushing to over seven pounds are becoming more common. Both Rudee Inlet and Lynnhaven Inlets are providing good speck action, along with most of the usual Bayside flats and creeks. The Elizabeth River is also a great place to try for speckled trout. Some fish topping five pounds are hitting top water lures in the River.

Puppy drum are always a winner since they always seem to be hungry. The same areas giving up speckled trout will also hold fiesty puppy drum. These areas include most lower Bay shallows, flats, inlets, and contributing rivers. Many pups are pushing to around 24-inches. Both speckled trout and puppy drum are also coming from the lower Bay surf lines, and the Bay and ocean front piers. Cut bait, live bait, and lures are all good techniques to try for both species.

Get out on the water, and enjoy the Outdoors!

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Virginia Saltwater Angler's Guide, Improved!

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission offers a useful saltwater fishing publication for anglers. http://www.mrc.state.va.us/vswft/Angler_Guide/index.shtm

The Virginia Saltwater Angler’s Guide is an informative, well organized, and beautifully illustrated publication. This guide is designed to enhance angler’s experiences on Virginia’s Plentiful bay and coastal waters.  Useful tips, techniques, fish identification illustrations, and listings of local resources and timelines are but a few of the many useful sections presented in the guide. Although the Virginia Saltwater Angler’s Guide has been in print for many years, the recently updated version was just released. The new version contains even more pertinent information to assist anglers targeting species in Virginia’s salt waters.  The guide also contains photos of local anglers and contact information to local angling clubs.

The development of the guide is funded by the Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund. Due to State funding constraints, a printed version of this guide is not currently available, but the entire online version is available for reference or download at http://www.mrc.state.va.us/vswft/Angler  Guide/index.shtm.

If you have questions or comments on the guide please contact Lewis Gillingham, Director Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, (757) 491-5160.

Get out on the water, and enjoy the outdoors!

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Run of the Bulls

Every year, a long awaited phenomenon occurs along the shores of Virginia Beach. An event that holds many surf and pier anglers in a trance-like state until the day finally arrives, the run of the bulls.

Mid to late September is when the big red drum begin migrating southward along the shorelines of Virginia towards North Carolina. This occurrence presents a unique situation for the anglers fishing off of the Virginia ocean front piers, especially the Little Island Fishing Pier. These huge drum swing in close enough to shore, often allowing pier anglers to cast offerings within reach of these feisty fighters.

The run of these big red bulls began over a week ago. Since then, anglers have been camping out at the end of the pier, which extends from the sandy shores of Sandbridge…hoping to hook into a legendary bull red. And many are doing just that. One day produced over 25 big reds off the pier recently.

These reds are no joke. A nice red drum can push to over 50-pounds, and provide an impressive battle, even on heavy surf gear. But fighting a mighty red from the surf is the ultimate challenge. The variables of the waves, current, and the confines of land make the experience a surf angler’s dream come true. Landing a big red from the suds is the best of the best, in surf fishing.

This trend only lasts a few weeks. The best bite usually occurs after a stiff North Easterly blow or a cold front. Cut bait such as spot heads and mullet are the best offerings for big red drum.

For more information call the Little Island Pier: 757-426-7200

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Yes, the Flounder are Still Biting

Yes, the flounder are still biting.

Although this is the time of the season that many folks start preparing for the winter fishing scene, the fall fishing is not over yet. With striped bass and tautog becoming the main beat in a few months, one of the best flounder opportunities of the year is going on right now. Although flatfish must be at least 19-inches long to keep, plenty of anglers are finding keepers along with a few trophies in the typical fall flounder “hot spots”.

Drifting is not usually considered the most productive method for catching trophy-sized flatties, but as these fish gather at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay to migrate offshore, drifting works like a charm.

Fresh strips of cut bait such as squid, bluefish, and croaker donned on a kale hook attached to a 3 to 4-foot leader on a 3-way swivel is killer for these hungry fish. The edges of deeper channels, shoals, and other variations in the bottom, are holding nice flounder.

Try drifting along the edges of the Baltimore Channel, the Thimble Shoals Channel, the Small Boat Channel at the 1^st Island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and the areas near buoys 36A, and  the Hampton Bar.

Within a few weeks, also look for a nice class of fish to become more active on inshore and offshore wrecks.

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Sea Bass Fishing Shut Down for 6 Months!

Yes folks, the rumor appears to be true.

NOAA announced this morning that it has shut down fishing for one of the most popular wreck dwelling fish along the Mid Atlantic coast, black sea bass. As of this coming Monday, this fishery is to be closed for 6 months. Black sea bass, known for its excellent table fare and popularity among recreational anglers due to its ease to entice with bait or jigs, and their well known spunky battle, are a mainstay for Virginia's recreational fishing industry during the "off season." With very little to target inshore, sea bass are one of the only options from December to April. Not only will anglers be left out in the cold, but the local fishing industry that depends on the offshore bottom fishing for sustaining them during the cold months are in for a very cold winter. This includes tackle shops, bait and tackle distributors, local charter boats, head boats, Marinas, hotels, restaurants, and the list goes on.

Here's the Notice:

Public Notice: NOAA Closes Recreational Fishery for Black Sea Bass for Six Months Due to Overharvest

This morning a final rule was filed in the federal register, which will implement an Emergency Closure of the recreational fishery for black sea bass in federal waters, effective Monday, October 5, 2009. The closure applies to all federal waters north of Cape Hatteras, N.C., for 180 days in response to recent landing data that showed recreational fishermen may catch more than double their annual quota by the end of the year.

Last year, only about three percent of the 1.8 million recreational fishing trips taken in federal waters caught black sea bass. Up to 147 for-hire recreational charter boats landed black sea bass in 2008 along with other species.

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090930_seabass.html

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