Outdoors notes: Virginia crew (barely) boats whale of a tuna

Rick Wineman and his crew faced a dilemma.

There at the side of the boat was a huge bluefin tuna. Exactly how big, they weren't sure. They also didn't know how to get this giant into Wineman's 26-foot Regulator center console boat.

"We had that fish beside the boat for at least 15 minutes while five guys tried to figure out how to get it in the boat," said Wineman, a 44-year-old engineer at NASA Langley. "One of the guys figured the best way was tail first. So we went with that."

The team had a rope wrapped around the tail and had three people pulling on it, while the other two pulled on gaffs stuck in the fish toward its head.

"We tried it three times, and it was quite comical," Wineman said. "But we finally got it in the boat."

Back at the Oregon Inlet docks, the scales told why it was so difficult to deck the fish. At a fork-length measurement of 87 inches - and 94 inches long overall - the giant bluefin weighed 400-1⁄2 pounds.

It had taken an hour and 45 minutes to fight. So what was a half-hour more to get it in the boat?

"That was probably more difficult than the fight," Wineman, a Yorktown resident, said with a laugh. "It's the biggest tuna ever brought into my boat."

- Lee Tolliver, The Virginian-Pilot

Hunter skills classes offered

Growing interest in local food is feeding a desire for some adults to learn the ins and outs of hunting.

One-on-one mentoring is a great way to learn about hunting, but intensive group training is another option.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the Virginia Hunter Education Association are teaming up to offer a Hunter Skills Weekend on May 3-5 at the Holiday Lake 4-H Center near Appomattox.

The program is open to attendees 11 and older, though kids under 18 must attend with an adult.

Registrants will have the opportunity to choose from among a number of session offerings.

Topics to be covered include bowhunting basics, bow tuning, GPS use, muzzleloader basics, pistol basics, shotgun basics, small game hunting, skeet shooting, survival, trapping, treestand safety, turkey hunting and wild game cooking.

Registration is $120, which covers meals, lodging and materials.

For more information visit www.holidaylake4h.com/vahunterweekend.php

- Mark Taylor

HuntFishVA mobile app a success

RICHMOND - The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says its free HuntFishVA mobile application has been downloaded more than 25,000 times.

The app for both iPhone and Android platforms allows users to search for a wide variety of hunting and fishing related information in Virginia from their smart phones.

Officials say the application developed by Virginia Interactive allows hunters and anglers to buy hunting and fishing licenses, look up regulations, check state records, identify fish and find nearby wildlife areas.

The application also allows users to get the latest department news, information on hunting seasons and even sunrise and sunset times for locations throughout Virginia.

The app is available at www.huntfishva.com.

- Associated Press

Weather Journal

10 hours ago

1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County 

2. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen

3. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day

4. WOYM: Fewer stinkbugs? You may have wasps to thank

5. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys

6. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football 

7. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping 

8. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust

9. CB Manning opts to transfer from Virginia Tech

10. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli