Thursday, December 17, 2009
Bill Cochran's Field Reports: Conservation officers write about adventures
Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.
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Resources
Being a conservation police officer has its serious and humorous moments, and can make for interesting reading. The adventures of a game warden (the old title for conservation police officer) is the subject of two new books out in time for Christmas.
Retired Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries officer Frank Mundy is the author of a book titled “Game Warden Entertainment: the Next Book.” Dealing with mostly humorous situations, this is the second book by the veteran of more than 20 years as a warden. In 1994, he published “Game Warden Entertainment.”
Check mundypublishing.com for details and ordering information.
Jon Ober, a current conservation police officer, is the author of a new book titled “A Game Warden’s Field Notes III.” It relates the rewards and even dangers of being a conservation officer.
Ober’s book can be ordered from marinermedia.com.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS:
- The renovation of the Coursey Spring Fish Culture Station in Bath County is scheduled to be dedicated today at noon. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries facility has received major design updates aimed at increasing its production of trout.
- Ginny Gooch, the first lady of outdoor writers in Virginia, died Saturday at the age of 88. She was the widow of Bob Gooch, who was known as the dean of Virginia outdoor writers. Ginny and Bob were married for 62 years and she frequently was a gracious companion of Bob at outdoor writing functions where they were an encouragement to young writers.
- Record-book angler Dr. Julie Ball of Virginia Beach has produced her annual calendar of saltwater fishing scenes. Check drjball.com for calendar information and fishing news.
- A bill that would require youngsters to wear a life jacket when boating is expected to be introduced in the 2010 Virginia General Assembly. Such legislation has failed in past sessions.
- Like most organizations, Ducks Unlimited has been challenged by tough economical times; yet, its supporters contributed more than $200 million this year toward its conservation mission of preserving critical waterfowl habitat. It has an 86 percent efficiency rating.
- United Airlines has made a policy change that prohibits its passengers from checking or carrying antlers or animal horns of any kind, something that is destined to switch trophy hunters to other airlines.
- The National Shooting Sports Foundation has launched an improved Web site.
BILL
VIRGINIA SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT
Striped bass citations are beginning to build in the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament as big fish move along the coast and into the Chesapeake Bay. The striper citation count has reached 450 and should continue to climb.
Here are the tournament standings:
BLACK DRUM: 84 pounds, 12 ounces, William Brown, Hampton, Inner Middle Ground; C-13
BLUEFISH: 19 pounds, 4 ounces, Jason Kelly, Colonial Heights, Triangle Wrecks.
BLUELINE TILEFISH: 23 pounds, 5 ounces, Michael Adkins, Sutherland, Norfolk Canyon.
COBIA: 105 pounds, 8 ounces, Wes Blow, Newport News, lower Chesapeake Bay.
CROAKER: 5 pounds, 3 ounces, Nathan Clendenin, Richmond, lower York River. .
DOLPHIN: 39 pounds, Robert Manus, Ark, Triple Zero’s.
FLOUNDER: 12 pounds, 12 ounce, Mike Perron, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
GRAY TRIGGERFISH: 5 pounds, 2 ounce, Ben Shepherd, Chesapeake, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
KING MACKEREL: 33 pounds, 1 ounce, Ed Cromwell Jr., Virginia Beach, inshore waters off Virginia Beach.
KINGFISH: 1 pound, 12 ounces, Bill Pope, Norfolk, Sandbridge Pier.
POMPANO: 2 pounds, 6 ounces, Ben Shepherd, Chesapeake, First Island of Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
SEA BASS: 8 pounds, 4 ounces, Rob Collins, Norfolk, wreck off Virginia Beach.
SHEEPHEAD: 17 pounds, 14 ounces, Wei Zhong Zhen, Saranac, N.Y., Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
SPADEFISH: 14 pounds, 14 ounces, state record, Roland Murphy, Fredericksburg, the Cell.
SPANISH MACKEREL: 7 pounds, 2 ounces, Sophia Vella, The Plains, Great Wicomico River.
SPECKLED TROUT: 13 pounds, 14 ounces, Michael Whittaker, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.
SPOT: 1 pound, 2 ounces, Chris Brooks, Virginia Beach, Elizabeth River.
STRIPED BASS: 66 pounds, 8 ounces, Pete Johnson, Hampton, Smith Island.
TAUTOG: 21 pounds, 13 ounces, Skip Feller, Virginia Beach, wreck off Virginia Beach.
TUNA (BLUEFIN): 168 pounds, Paulette Johnson, Uniontown, Ohio, 100 Fathom off Virginia Beach.
TUNA: 230 pounds, Jeff Creekmore, Chesapeake, Norfolk Canyon.
WAHOO: 72 pounds, 4 ounce, Lonnie Brock, Virginia Beach, 100 Fathom off Virginia Beach.
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Youth Deer Hunting Workshop, Claytor Lake, Dec. 18 and 19, information from Jimmy Mootz.
Youth Deer Hunting Workshop, Bedford County, Dec. 19, 6 a.m., ages 12-15, call Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 434-525-7522.
Raleigh N.C. Bass and Saltwater Expo, Jan. 8-10, North Carolina Fairgrounds, Raleigh.
Mid-Atlantic Sports and Boat Show, Feb. 12-14, Virginia Beach Convention Center.
Richmond Fishing Expo, Jan. 15-17, Richmond Raceway Complex.
Youth Rabbit Hunting Workshop, Jan. 16, Pittsylvania County, information from Jimmy Mootz,
Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 19-21, Lay Lake, Birmingham, Ala.
Virginia Boat Show, Richmond Convention Center, Jan. 22-24.
The Greater Virginia Sporting and Big Game Show, Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Feb. 12-14.
Western Virginia Sporting Show, Augusta Expoland, Fishersville, Feb. 26-28
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. March 2 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond
Youth spring turkey hunt day, April 3, 2010.
Spring gobbler season, April 10-May 15, 2010.
BASS Elite Blue Ridge Brawl, April 15-18, Smith Mountain Lake.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. April 20 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond
North Carolina State University Sport Fishing School, May 30-June 3, 2010, Hatteras, N.C.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. June 8 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. July 13 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. August 17 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, 9 a.m. October 5 at the agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
