Thursday, February 26, 2009
Flounder limit 19 inches
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
It is going to remain tough to catch a keeper flounder this season. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has opted for a 19-inch minimum size, a five-fish daily limit and no mid-season closure. The season opens March 1.
These basically are the same regulations as last year with the exception that the 2008 season included a July 21-30 closure.
The VMRC had the option of setting an 18.5 size limit. Anglers appeared not to pay as much attention to the regulation process this year as in the past, perhaps having become resolved to the hefty minimum-size limits.
BILL
HUNTERS MAKE PLEA FOR NATIONAL FOREST
As has been pointed out in a couple of recent Cochran columns and mail bag entries, there has been a slow, but steady, decline in the quality of wildlife habit on the George Washington and Jefferson national forests. Browse is giving way to mature trees and a park-like atmosphere as the forest has aged.
This is exactly what many supporters of additional wilderness and roadless areas desire, but it is bad news for species that hunters cherish, especially deer, grouse, turkeys and woodcock, which depend on new growth.
For 70 years, the management of wildlife on the national forests in Virginia has been accomplished through a cooperative agreement between the forest service and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, but that marvelous agreement has gone sour in recent years.
The DGIF has reached the point that its major management tool on the national forest is establishing hunting regulations and providing law enforcement. It no longer has much to do with habitat improvement.
The George Washington has been revising its management plan, but few hunters have show up at public meetings to request management practices that provide wildlife habitat. Some who have been involved say they have been disillusioned by preservations that are unbending in their quest to abate any kind of management that stimulates new growth.
A handful of wildlife advocates, from grouse to bear hunters, have scheduled a meeting with the forest supervisor March 17 in Roanoke to plea the case for forest programs that provide management for new growth. The effort is being led by West Dennis Labare.
In the meanwhile, the DGIF has proposed regulations aimed at reducing the doe kill by 50 percent on public land in the Shenandoah Valley. They will be presented to the DGIF board in Richmond Friday along with a host of other hunting and trapping recommendations. See dgif.virginia.gov.
BILL
WOMAN TOPS LIST OF EXPERT ANGLERS
Thirty-nine anglers last season registered citation catches for six or more different species in the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, earning expert saltwater angler status. At the top of the list was Dr. Julie Ball of Virginia Beach, who entered citation catches for 15 species, 12 of them for releases.
Other expert anglers who registered double digit citation catches were Darren Foster of Newport News, with 11, and David Davis, Portsmouth with 10.
Last season, Ball also became the only angler to reach Master Angler VI status. To qualify, she earned 25 citations in a minimum of five different species every year the past six years.
Dr. Ball, a military dentist, is the International Game Fish Association representative for the Virginia Beach region. She established several world records the past season. Check her Web site for additional information: drjball.com. Look for an upcoming Cochran column on Dr. Ball.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
- Smith Mountain Lake has experienced a winter die-off of threadfin shad, according to a report in the Smith Mountain Striper Club bulletin. Dead shad have been spotted floating on the surface and being fed on by large numbers of gulls. Threadfin are an important forage fish for stripers and black bass in the lake, but will not tolerate cold winters; thus, die-offs aren’t uncommon.
- Hooked for Life, a Roanoke-based organization that combines faith and fishing, will conduct an online live auction this year rather than its usual live silent auction. It is a matter of dealing with the downturn in the economy, said Trevor Ruble, the founder. The auction, which is the organization’s major fund raiser, is underway and will continue through 10 a.m. Feb. 28. Check for details on its Web site.
- Virginia’s only entry in the Bassmaster Classic, Rick Morris of Lake Gaston, finished 40th in a field of 51. He posted a two-day total (he failed to make the final-day cut) of five bass that weighed 17 pounds. Kim Bain-Moore, the first woman in the Classic, finished 47th with 12 pounds, 12 ounces. The winner, Skeet Reese, brought 54 pounds, 13 ounces to the scales, 11 ounces ahead of Mike Iaconelli.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Board meeting of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to consider hunting/trapping regulations and other matters, 9 a.m., Feb. 27, 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.
Bedford Outdoor Show, Feb. 28, Bedford Armory, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., $3, seminars by nationally-known deer biologist Dr. James Kroll, information from Conservation Police Officer Lt. Tony Fisher.
Smith River Trout Unlimited chapter meeting, 6:30 p.m., March 5, Rania’s Restaurant, 147 E. Main Street, Martinsville, information form B. J. Walker.
Smith Mountain Striper Club swap meet, March 6, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center.
The New River Valley Friends of NRA banquet, March 7, 5 p.m., Custom Catering, 902 Patrick Henry Drive in Blacksburg. Tickets from Betty at (540) 998-0779 or by e-mail.
National Capital Boat Show, March 13-15, Chantilly.
Third annual Mid-Atlantic Kayak Fishing Symposium, Wild River Outfitters, Virginia Beach, March 14, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Appalachian Highlands Chapter Ruffed Grouse Society Sportsmen’s Banquet, March 28, Holiday Inn, Johnson City, Tenn., information from Donna Vance.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, Aril 3, 7 p.m. Moneta Community Center.
Tidewater Boat Show, April 3-5, Hampton.
Youth spring turkey hunting day, April 4, 2009.
Smith Mountain Striper Club Spring Striper Tournament, April 4, 5 a.m.-4 p.m., weigh-in at Captain’s Quarters, tournament chairman is Frank Skillman, 540-721-1220.
2009 spring gobbler season, April 11-May 16.
Ninth Virginia Fly Fishing Festival, April 18 and 19, on the banks of the South River in Waynesboro, $15.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center, annual lake report by Dan Wilson, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist.
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.
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