Thursday, January 15, 2009
Honesty costs him a world record
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
Gus Huddleston with 63-pound, 2-ounce striped bass.
They can’t take the thrill of catching a 63-pound, 2-ounce striped bass away from 11-year-old Gus Huddleston. But the world record? That's another story.
Huddleston, who lives in Rocky Mount, N.C., was on a birthday fishing trip with his dad, Mike, and some friends. They were trolling off Virginia’s Smith Island north of Virginia Beach when a huge striper hit their chartreuse G&H Offshore Shad.
When the fish struck, Huddleston scrambled to grab the rod out of its holder then briefly handed it to a friend while he assumed a better fighting position.
The handoff took just mere seconds, but it broke a rule and cost Huddleston the world record for a junior angler. The current youth striper record is 57 pounds.
A key element of this story is the fact that Huddleston and his fellow anglers could have kept quite about the handoff, but they went by the rules.
Handing off a rod is a major no-no in the record-setting process of the International Game Fish Association, according to Dr. Julie Ball, who represents the IGFA in Virginia.
“It was an outstanding catch, nonetheless,” she said.
“We had to be honest with everybody -- with ourselves,” said Mike Huddleston.
That attitude has been refreshing to many anglers, considering that too many winter striped bass fishermen purposely beak the law by fishing beyond the 3-mile limit.
Losing the record broke the heart of Mike Huddleston but Gus told the media, “It is fine with me that it didn’t count.”
This sixth grader is such an accomplished outdoorsman -- he has killed 17 deer -- that you have to figure he is confident some day his name will go into the record book.
Huddleston’s striper is one of several that have shot past the 60-pound mark. Two were contest catches.
Christian Seay of Cheriton entered a 65.5-pound striper to become the overall winner in the Mercury 2008 Striped Bass World Championship in Virginia Beach.
The winner of the American Striper Association Mercury Striper Series in Virginia was Capt. Max King who entered a 61.5 pound fish that was a record weight for the annual tournament.
BILL
FEDERAL MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ESTABLISHED
Federal officials are expected to announce the creation of eight marine protected areas off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida to protect slow-growing, long-living snappers and groupers. Bottom fishing would be prohibited in the areas, but trolling would be permitted. Restrictions would apply to federal, not state water.
The move has the blessing of the American Sportfishing Association, which said it didn’t like restrictions on recreation fishing, but this one was accomplished during a public process where all the facts were presented.
The association has not been happy with a Bush Administration mandate that establishment three new marine monuments that will be prohibit recreational fishing on 195,000-square miles of the Pacific Ocean. These were established apart from environmental review and public comment, the association said.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
- Tom Rodgers, a fellow outdoor writer from Virginia who founded the National Wild Turkey Federation, has died following a bout with cancer. He was 64. Rodgers founded the federation 35 years ago in Fredericksburg. Recently he was honored with a one-of-a-kind Founder’s Award, but through the years he received little recognition from the federation.
- Hunters in West Virginia reported killing 162,371 deer during the recent season, which was 11 percent more than the previous season. The antlerless season count was up 25 percent, which delighted officials who say the key to a healthier deer herd is keeping the number of does in check.
- Bass pros, like everyone else, are feeling the pinch of the slow economy, so BASS has announced it will be decreasing the yearly Elite Series entry fees by $25,200. In addition, a two-event, no-entry fee post-season program has been announced. The Elite Series is scheduled to come to Smith Mountain Lake April 23-26 for the Blue Ridge Brawl.
- The Hooked for Life faith/fishing ministry headquartered in the Roanoke Valley has scheduled its annual silent auction fund-raiser Feb. 28 at Colonial Avenue Baptist Church 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations of items for the auction are being requested. Check www.hookedforlife.org.
- bill (HB 1847) that would exempt dove hunters from wearing blaze orange has been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly by Scott Lingamfelter, R-Woodbridge. Blaze orange currently is required only when there is a firearm’s deer season in progress.
- The 2008-09 Virginia hunting season still has a way to go, but it already is being called one of the deadliest in recent memory. Nine hunting deaths have been recorded by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries since July 1. That is the most since the 1994-95 season when the count was 12. Five of the current deaths were self inflicted.
- A plan to establish brown trout year-round in Glade Creek through habitat improvement is being discussed by a diverse group that includes representatives of the Orvis Distribution Center in Roanoke, the Roanoke Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Participants admit that there are many obstacles to overcome, but the Roanoke Valley stream has potential.
- J.J. Hennessey of Bowling Green turns 18 on January 29. That’s also the date he turns pro, fishing the first of the nine 2009 Bassmaster Open Tournaments. BASS admits this is a heavy commitment for a high school senior. Hennessey fished six open events last year as a co-angler, enjoying two Top 10 finishes.
- Members of the National Wild Turkey Federation distribute thousands of turkeys to the needy during the holiday season. The recent total in Virginia was nearly 20,000 birds. Chapters in the state that reported giving away 100 or more turkeys include Virginia Wheelin’ Sportsman, Twin River Scratch & Strutter, Henry County Longbeards and Augusta Area.
- The evasive Zebra mussel has been on the bad guy list as a potential destructive force against native ecosystems. Yet, new information indicates it also acts as a clean-water filter in freshwater.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Fishing Expo, Jan. 16-18, Richmond Raceway, featured pros include Kevin Van Dam, richmondfishingexpo.com.
George Washington National Forest workshop on the forest plan, Jan. 20, 6:30-9 p.m., Augusta County Government Center, Verona.
Nation’s Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show, Dulles Expo Center, Jan. 23-25, nationsoutdoorshow.com.
Virginia Boat Show, Jan. 23-25, Richmond, affinityboatshows.com.
George Washington National Forest workshop on the forest plan, Jan. 29, 6:30-9 p.m., Rockbridge County High School, Lexington.
Fly Fishing and Wing Shooting Show, Charlotte Merchandise Mart, Jan. 30 & 31.
Virginia’s quail and squirrel seasons closed Jan. 31.
Smith Mountain Lake Striper Club meeting, Feb. 6, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center, program on raising stripers by Ken Mitchell, manager of the Vic Thomas Hatchery.
Virginia’s grouse season closes Feb. 14.
Richmond Boat Show, Feb. 20-22, Richmond Raceway Complex.
Greater Virginia Sports and Big Game Show, Feb. 20-22, Rockingham County, details from vasportsshow.com.
Saltwater Sportsman 2009 National Seminar Series, six hours of fishing instruction from the pros, Feb. 21, Virginia Beach Convention Center, $55, nationalseminarseries.com.
Board meeting of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to consider hunting/trapping regulations, 9 a.m., Feb. 26, DGIF headquarters, 4000 West Broad St., Richmond.
Southwest Virginia Boat Show, Feb. 27-Mach 1, Roanoke Civic Center.
Western Virginia Sports Show, Augusta Expoland, Fisherville, Feb. 27-March 1.
Virginia’s rabbit season closes Feb. 28.
Hooked for Life silent auction, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Feb. 28 Colonial Avenue Baptist Church.
Smith Mountain Striper Club swap meet, March 6, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center.
National Capital Boat Show, March 13-15, Chantilly.
Tidewater Boat Show, April 3-5, Hampton.
Youth spring turkey hunting day, April 4, 2009.
2009 spring gobbler season, April 11-May 16.
North Carolina State University Sport Fishing School, May 31-June 4, Hatteras, N.C., $1,445, limited to 45 participants.
Board meeting of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to finalize hunting/trapping regulations, 9 a.m., June 2, DGIF headquarters, 4000 West Broad St., Richmond.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
