It's chat time - let's talk outdoors

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It's the holiday weekend. Let's chat about fishing and boating

We're planning another live chat at 12:15 Thursday. So why don't you join us.

Just go to www.hamptonroads.com/outdoors and click on my blog for instructions.

It's a good time to talk.

It's a big holiday weekend and, traditionally, more people are boating, fishing or just out on the water than at any other time during the summer.

Fishing opportunities are fantastic. So we can chat about that.

Crabbing from the piers and shorelines also is outstanding right now. So we can talk about that, too.

And more importantly, we can talking about being safe out on the water while enjoying the weekend.

Heck, it's another outdoors live chat ... we can talk about whatever you want.

We can even talk about Dunkin going to Lake Gaston for a weekend of bobber watching. You know how that boy loves to fish.

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The delightful yellowfin . . . the bite is on

While those who like sushi prefer to use bluefin tuna for their favorite meal, most tuna fans prefer the yellowfin.

Prized for its tasty, pinkish-red meat, the yellowfin also is both an outstanding battler on hook and line and a delight on the grill.

Virginia’s yellowfin season got off to a rousing start several weeks ago, with some of the best numbers in years showing up around the 100-Fathom Curve.

Although the number of fish has decreased slightly, the number of bigger fish is on the rise.

Bluewater trollers are reporting more and more fish topping 50 pounds.

Really big yellowfin – those weighing more than 100 pounds – haven’t been seen in any good numbers in years.

The International Game Fish Association all-tackle world record was caught in 1977. The fish caught near the Revillagigedo Islands weighed 388 pounds, 12 ounces.

North Carolina’s standard was caught two years later off Cape Lookout and weighed 237 pounds. The Virginia record is a 203-12 caught at the Norfolk Canyon in 1981.

Those are giant yellowfin for sure. But it’s doubtful you will hear anybody complain about the 50-pounders currently lurking off the coast.

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Storm driven hummingbird party

For the last month, the back 40 in Camden has seen a remarkable increase in the number of hummingbirds.

There always have been a few of the little birds with the machine-gun-quick wings. But new feeders in the front of the house and more in the back - coupled with the fact that new neighbors do not have feeders like the previous ones did - have resulted in a increase in the number of birds that has been amazing to watch.

The backyard rock garden around the pool is brilliant with flowers - especially a couple varieties of hibiscus including large pan hibiscus. Lillies and other flowers keep lots of color around the pool and deck, helping to attract more and more hummingbirds.

Last night, during a brief but strong thunderstorm, birds congregated around the feeders and under the roof that covers a portion of the deck. I had witnessed this wonderful happening a few weeks ago during a storm.

It's my guess, and that's all it is, that the hummingbirds are seeking shelter from the storm. And what's better than a shelter than one complete with fresh sugar water.

What impresses me most about these birds - Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds - is that the usually protective and argumentive creatures seem to cooperate with each other during violent winds and rain. At one point during the storm, I counted six holding onto the feeder and taking a sip or two. While this group fed, at least 10 more hoovered around the feeder under the protection of the roof. The feeder hangs just on the edge of the covering, but most of the birds stayed under the roof's protection. Getting their picture wasn't easy, but at least the above shot shows a couple of the birds hanging around the feeder.

I know from reading the National Georgraphic field guide to birds that these hummingbirds can be extremely territorial and will chase others away from what they consider "their" feeder.

But during moments of chaos caused by Mother Nature, they seem to come together, getting along without the usual fighting or fussing.

I don't like violent lightning storms. But at least during recent ones, I've had the calming company of dozens of hummingbirds on the back deck.

Now if I could only get Dunkin to absorb their calming effect as well. He's not fond of storms, either.

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The Man in the Brown Suit has returned

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Jim Sculley . . . one last trip

They took Jim Sculley out to sea Tuesday.

One last time. One more trip to his favorite fishing spot - at the 100 fathom line off the coast of Virginia Beach.

It wasn't the usual trip for Jim. There were 20-plus people on the Wahoo, the second boat Jim built when he was just getting started in the boat building business.

While boats all around were trolling for yellowfin tuna, there were no baits or rods spread out off the Wahoo.

Because they were once at Jim's favorite spot, the crew tossed out several packs of smokes, a can of Spam, a bunch of flowers and a memorial wreath - things Jims loved, things that memorialized him.

They laid Jim to rest Tuesday in the place he had requested, spreading his ashes out over what were his favorite fishing waters.

Jim Sculley died June 1 in Fort Myers, Fla. A funeral service was held there last week. But Jim wanted his remains to be home after he went to meet his maker.

And so he was, despite strong easterly winds that somehow didn't seem to blow when Jim was scattered over the seas.

When those on the Wahoo came back to Rudee Inlet, a celebration of Jim's life was going on at what used to be one of his many restaurants. It was a who's who of the Virginia Beach offshore fishing community. Anybody that was anybody was there, watching a slide show of Jim's life and enjoying everyone's company.

It was a fitting conclusion to the life of a man who was instrumental in trying to keep Virginia Beach's offshore fishery on the map. A man who enjoyed his wife for nearly 50 years, a man who loved his daughter and son, a man who fished passionately and made the restaurant world a rewarding life.

As if it wasn't known before, evidence was brought forth Tuesday that Jim was much loved.

Enjoy the afterlife, where every bait draws a strike, and every strike scores a hit.

God speed to you, Jim Sculley!

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Lots of flounder - not many keepers

Susie Parker of Wachapreague called Monday morning to tell me about all the flounder her husband caught over the weekend.

But the tone of her voice didn't broadcast the kind of joy or excitement usually associated with two great days of fishing.

Capt. Sam Parker, who runs the Scorpio, had caught 180 flounder on Saturday. His charter returned for a second day of fishing Sunday and caught 182 flatfish.

Trouble was, out of the 362 fish caught, only five of them were long enough to keep. Flounder caught in Virginia waters have to be at least 19 inches long.

"Tons of these fish were 17, 17 1/2 or 18 inches," Susie said. "Really nice fish. Who knows how many of them died after the hooks were pulled out of them."

For several years, federally mandated quotas have forced Virginia fisheries managers to adjust the size, bag limit and closed seasons on flounder. The arguements for the quotas, many believe, are flawed because - and even the feds confirm this - the data on flounder numbers isn't very good. Charter captains like Parker say the population is extremely healthy. Parker could point at his weekend catch numbers as proof.

The problem that tight regulations has caused for places like Wachapreague - which bills itself as the flounder capital - is that fewer and fewer tourists travel to the Eastern Shore for its incredible Spring flounder fishing because they can't bring home very many fish.

"We used to run the boat 120 or more days a year when flounder were here," said Susie, a teacher and member of the Wachapreague City Council. "We're down to about 25 trips. So Sam has two other jobs to make ends meet."

Capt. Sam isn't alone. His wife says that marina business is down. So is the support industry - things like hotels and restaurants.

"We're a resource-driven community and they're cutting us off from the resource that keeps this community going," Susie said. "I've met with Congressmen, Representatives, fisheries managers . . . you name it. They either don't want to do anything or say they can't. It's very frustrating and they're putting us all out of business."

Susie said in closing that she understands that regulations are often necessary, especially when a species of fish is in decline. But when her husband comes back to port and talks about all the flounder captains are catching, it's obvious to her that the summer flounder in Virginia is in good shape.

The morale and bank acounts of captains and their families, well . . . that's another story.

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Pesky dogfish can be tasty dinner

It is rare to find a bottom-bouncing angler who has not encountered the occasional dogfish shark.

To most serious bottom fishermen, smooth and spiny dogfish are a pesky nuisance.

But they also can be a serious problem, especially when fishing for drum in the Chesapeake Bay, or for grouper and tilefish along the edges of the Norfolk Canyon.

The two sharks can sometimes be so plentiful that catching anything else is rendered impossible.

While there are some federal regulations governing the taking of these two species of shark, there currently are no size or bag limits in Virginia.

Technically, you can take home as many as you want.

What nonsense is this, you ask? What would I do with them, you wonder?

Eat them.

Dogfish are delicious when cared for properly at the time of catch.

As soon as one is brought into the boat, it should be gutted and the body cavity washed out. Then make a cut or two along the sides where the body meets the head to allow the fish to thoroughly bleed. The shark needs to bleed while on ice. An ice water bath is even better.

Once at the dock, cut the body into steaks that will reveal four small medallions of meat. Dry rub the meat with a Cajun or blackening seasoning and let the steaks marinade for at least 24 hours. Then dip the steaks in melted butter and cook on the grill. The meat is firm with a mild fish taste – not too different from the preferred mako shark.

So the next time those dogfish have you singing the bottom fishing blues, take your frustration out on one and toss it on the grill.

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He fights fires . . . and really big cobia

Keith Cole is a Norfolk fire fighter who lives in Virginia Beach.

In his spare time, he fishes.

Monday he caused quite a stir in the South Hampton Roads fishing community when he brought in a cobia that Internet chatter instantly labeled a new state record.

Cobia are one of the area's most-prized species. Sometimes scarce and often difficult to catch, these shark lookalike battlers also are valued for their taste.

Cole's fish was his biggest-ever, by more than 30 pounds. It wouldn't fit in a cooler or boat fish box. When he brought it into Oceans East 2 Tackle to have it weighed, the tail was sticking out of the back of his pickup truck bed.

After an hour out of the water and with no real protection from the heat - remember, it wouldn't fit in Cole's 140-quart cooler - the fish tipped the scales at 105 pounds and 2 ounces, shy by less than 4 pounds of the current state record of 109 pounds.

Read more about Cole's battle in the June 21 Off the Hook feature in The Pilot and here at www.hamptonroads.com/outdoors

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No fishing in Vegas

Got in late last night - actually very early this morning - from a little R&R in Las Vegas.

WOW!

I'd never been to this bright and shiny town located in the valley of Nevada's sandy mountains. It's some kind of place. Lights, tons of people, incredible sights and lots of late nights. Real late, 'cause staying up until their 1 a.m. is our 4 a.m. The clock is a little screwy right now, but the coffee is helping.

Some of the hotels are magnificent things to see. And we found a small hotel, casino and restaurant about a block off the strip that was insane with an even more insane daily special - a 10oz filet steak, choice of potatoe (real mashed ones with gravy), green beens, choice of salad or soup and one of the facility's micro brewry beers. Everything was cooked perfectly and it was fantastic.

FOR $6.99. That's no typo folks. Ate there three of the six nights. Unbelievable.

Which is a good way to describe Vegas. Ellen and I got to see lots more than we expected, as we spent about 8 hours each day beating the pavement and checking out all the resorts. We easily walked 15 or more miles a day, sometimes more. Old Vegas and the Freemont Experience light show is way cool. We spent a scrazy night there with friends who were playing in the national 8- and 9-ball championships. Pretty cool stuff.

But it ain't home and that's where we now are now glad to be.

Returned to an explosion of growth in the veggie garden, so I'm getting ready to do do a little weeding and checking things out. Right now I'm waiting for neighbor Sparky to call from the war zone in Afghanistan with his weekly report, Missed it last Sunday because of the travel.

And a quick scan of things shows that more aspects of our great fishery have really turned on.

I know Vegas has its Lake Meade and there is some good fishing for largemouth and landlocked striped bass.

But that's a far cry from what we've got here.

Traveling is great and Vegas is amazing. But it's nice to be home.

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