Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.

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Bill Cochran's Outdoors

Recent columns

• Hunters and anglers still in the conservation business
• Drum fishing on Virginia’s Coast comes in two colors
• Elk advocate finally gets his day
• Turkeys are plentiful, so why are hunting regulations so tight fisted?
• Column archive

Bill's Mailbag

• Remembering A. Willis Robertson
• Putting down a bear cub brings complaint
• Mail archive

Bill's Field Reports

• Eagles are up; black rail are down
• A. Willis Robertson great name for new DGIF headquarters
• Field reports archive

Resources

• Trout stocking schedule

>Enforcement officers of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries have been called game wardens for years. Del. Robert Wittman, R-Montross, doesn’t believe that term accurately reflects all their duties.

He has introduced a bill, HB 1867, that would replace in the Code of Virginia the term “game warden” with “conservation police officer.”

“The purpose behind the bill is to bring the terminology for our ‘game wardens’ in line with other states and to more accurately reflect the variety of enforcement duties they oversee,” said Wittman. “With the responsibility of boating, fishing and hunting law enforcement in addition to all other elements of the Code of Virginia that they can enforce they are much more police officers that focus on conservation laws than just a warden of our game populations.”

>Del. Matthew Lohr, R-Harrisonburg, wants to give the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries more room to adjust nonresident hunting licenses. Under a regulation passed several years ago, the DGIF can raise or lower hunting and fishing licenses by $5 every three years. Many people, including some DGIF board members, think that is too low of an increase when it comes to adjusting nonresident licenses which traditionally cost much more than resident licenses.

Lohr’s bill, HB 1981, would give the DGIF board authority to raise or lower nonresident hunting licenses by $100 beginning next year. His bill would require that such licenses be raised or lowered every three years.

>When you purchase a hunting or freshwater fishing license, the license agent has authority to tack on another $1 for a clerk’s fee; that is, except when selling a saltwater license. The fee for it is 50-cents.

Del. Wittman’s HB 1868 would give the DGIF board authority to bring the saltwater clerk’s fee in line with other license fees.

Search all these bills and their status at the General Assembly Legislative Information System site.

TROUT REPORT IS MISSING

The January issue of Virginia Wildlife Magazine traditionally has been devoted to a special trout report that provides information on new regulations, maps of trout water, the stocking schedule and a bunch of places to fish.

But that’s not the case this year. When subscribers received their January issue the Trout Guide was missing. In its place was a multi-page fishing report that covered most everything with fins except trout.

Word is that the Trout Guide is available in the Freshwater Fishing in Virginia guidebook. This is the one you can receive from a license agent when you purchase your fishing licenses. Copies also can be ordered from 804-367-9369.

Otherwise, check the state DGIF Web pages for stocking schedules.

CHASING OFF-LIMITS STRIPERS

Boats out of Virginia chasing striped bass down the coast into North Carolina need to be aware that North Carolina has a new saltwater fishing license requirement. A Virginia saltwater license is no good in North Carolina.

But not to worry at this point. According to the Associated Press, North Carolina officials are simply warning anglers that they must have a license. Tickets aren’t being issued at this time. No firm date has been announced as to when that will change. One reason for the delay: saltwater licenses weren’t available online until Jan. 1.

The basic license fee is $15 for residents and $30 for nonresidents. There is a 10-day license: $5 for residents; $10 for non-residents.

In the meanwhile, law enforcement officers in Virginia aren’t as quick to wink at infractions when it comes to fishing past the 3-mile offshore limit, called the EEZ (Economic Exclusive Zone).

The ocean striper season is open, but angling is permitted only from three miles offshore the Virginia coast. When schools of stripers are working just past the limit, it can be enticing for some anglers to go after them.

During the first three weeks of December, at least 13 tickets were issued. Many fishermen escape detection because enforcement officers aren’t available or anglers warn one other when a patrol boat approaches.

Getting by may not be as easy as it has been in the past. The marine police say they will be using a new 36-foot boat and spotter plane to detect cheaters. Fines also have gone up, for $50 to $100.

Following some fantastic striper fishing in the bay before the season ended Dec. 31, the ocean season has been mediocre, according to Claude Baine, director of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Ocean temperatures have remained warm and Bain doesn’t believe there are as many stripers as usual.

“Expect a surge in ocean fishing as water temperatures fall a bit,” he said. “There still are plenty of fish to the north and in the Bay that will move to the ocean. Great catch-and-release fishing for big fish continues in the Bay (see the next field report).

SALTWATER REPORT FROM DR. JULIE BALL

Robin, Jake Hiles, and I shot over to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel during the week for a little catch and release striper action. We motored up to the light line at the start of the flood tide with a bucket full of two-dozen enticing eels around 7 pm.

Before we had a chance to get the third line out, Jake and were hooked up with a double. Double citations right off! Jake had a fat 48-incher, and I had a nice 45-incher. Both fish were photographed and released.

OK, we’re done; time to go. Nope. Robin wants one. No problem, six fish later, Robin scores with a 44-incher. Time to go. Nope, now we still have a bucket of eels. After two hours, 16 fish, and six citations later, we decided to call at a night. Still had a bucket of eels.

Bait: Long Bay Pointe. Line: Power Pro 30lb. Leader: Yo Zuri 50-pound disappearing pink fluorocarbon. Reel: Shimano Tekota.

OUTDOOR NOTES

>A raft company that has specialized in taking people through the James River rapids in the Richmond area says it is giving up the business after 18 years. The Richmond Raft Co. said it is being forced out over contract disputes with the city of Richmond.

>The Washington Post has quoted Ronald Schmeits, second vice president of the NRA, as saying his organization needs to spend more time on non-gun issues. A big one, he suggested, is access for hunters and anglers to public lands. Gun rights are still number one, but more time and effort must be spent on other issues, he said.

>Jerry McKinnis says 2007 will be the final season for his “The Fishin’ Hole.” McKinnis said he would retire after 25 years of doing the show. It is the second longest running program on ESPN.

>Information winterizing a boat is available in booklet form from BoatUS. Go to boatus.com/seaworthy and click “Winterizing your Boat” or call 800-283-2883.

>Recreational striped bass fishing in New York benefits the state’s economy by more than $360 million, according to a recent study. The commercial fishing impact was $27 million.

MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS

“Lore and Tracking Weekend, learn how our ancestors tracked animals that provided food and clothing, Jan. 12-14, Twin Falls Resort State Park near Mullens, W.Va.

Coverage of the FLW Striper Series Championship at Virginia Beach will be broadcast on FSN (Fox Sports Net) as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television program airing Jan. 28, 11 a.m. Eastern time.

Smith Mountain Striper Club meting, 7 p.m., Feb. 2, Moneta Community Center.

The Greater Virginia Sports and Big Game Show, Feb. 16-18, Rockingham County Fairgrounds in Harrisonburg. More information from vasportshow.com.

CITGO Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 23-25, Birmingham, Ala.

The National Wild Turkey Federation’s 2007 National Convention and Sport Show, Feb. 22-25, Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville, Tenn.

Dixie Deer Classic, March 2-4, North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, N.C. info from dixiedeerclassic.org.

Shenandoh Valley Sportsman’s Alliance banquet, March 3, details from Myron Reedy.

BASS Elite Series, June 7-10, 2007, Smith Mountain Lake, information from bassmaster.com.

Outdoor Writers Association of America conference, June 16-19, Hotel Roanoke.

The Western Regional Championship of the Virginia Big Game Show, Sept. 8 & 9, Rockingham County Fairgrounds near Harrisonburg, information from vpsa.org.

The Eastern Region and State Championship of the Virginia Big Game Show, Sept. 22 & 23, Southampton County Fairgrounds in Franklin, information from from vpsa.org.

DGIF meetings

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, March 27, 9 a.m. at agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, June 5, 9 a.m. at agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, July 17, 9 a.m. at agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Aug. 21, 9 a.m. at agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Oct. 16, 9 a.m. at agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St.

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