This Saturday, March 21st, the Poquoson Kiwanis club is hosting a fishing and boating flea market. It will be held at Poquoson High School. (51 Odd Rd). 8am-1pm. There are close to 50 indoor vendors and some outside as well. Fishing seminars at 9:30am, 10:30am, and 11:30am featuring local Captains. Food and beverages available as well. Should be a great event.
Capt. Art Conway of Conway's River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the low 50’s in the main lake and the mid 50’s in the major creeks on Wednesday (3/18/2015). The lake level was about six inches above the top of the dam. The water was light brown and slightly cloudy in the lower lake.
Blue cats were scattered throughout the lake, ranging from deep main lake channel areas to the creek channels and flats and were hitting live minnows. Many crappie were aggregated just outside major creek mouths but were not biting well. Scattered crappies are in the major creeks, so far primarily along the channels. Look for crappies on flats in the backs of the creeks on sunny days, particularly in the afternoon. Crappie in the creeks will hit live minnows, Wright Bait Co. curlytail jigs, small tubes, small swim baits, and small suspending jerk baits. Trolling tubes, curlytail jigs, or live minnows in channels has been an excellent method of locating crappie in the creeks. Some bass and pickerel have been in channels and on lily pad flats in the creeks and have been hitting live minnows, suspending jerk baits, and swim baits.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Tom Porter had 6 crappie and 1 pickerel.
March 12, 2015
Anglers registered 5,040 trophy-size fish for Citation awards during the 57th Annual Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament that ran from January 1st through December 31st 2014. This was slightly below the 10-year average (2004-2013) of 5,219 Citations and represents an 18% reduction in Citation number from 2013.
As they did in the record setting year of 2013, speckled trout accounted for the greatest number of Citations among the 35 eligible species in 2014 with a total of 1,476 awards with 1,034 (70%) releases and 441 (30%) kills. While the majority of speckled trout registered were released, of those that were killed, 11 fish topped the magic 10-pound mark and 56 fish weighed 8 pounds or more. Trophy specks represented 30% of the year’s awards. Although the 2013 total was easily the highest in Tournamenthistory at 1,874 Citation specks 2014 was the Tournament’s second highest total. This continues the trendfor well above average numbers of these beautiful spotted trophy fish that began in 2008. One reason for the drop in Citation numbers was the Virginia Marine Resources Commission closed the recreational speckled trout fishery from March 1 through July 31 following concerns raised by recreational anglers as a result of a winter cold stun event of large speckled trout in late January and early February 2013.
It was another spectacular year off the Virginia coast for white marlin as offshore anglers registered 928 white marlin releases in 2014 and this was the fourth highest total in Tournament history. However, following the record-setting year in 2013, when 1,339 white marlin releases registered, 2014 represented a reduction of 21%. Overall in 2014, white marlin accounted for the second most Citations and just over 18% of all Citations registered for the year. This continued a trend of well above average numbers of white marlin that began in 2008. White marlin are only eligible for release so all of these beautiful billfish were released.
Red drum accounted for the third highest number of Citations in 2014 and represented 18% of the year’s total number. The 925 red drum Citations in 2014 was a moderate reduction from the record setting year of 2013, when 995 trophy reds were registered, but still ranks as the second most productive year in the Program’s history. Red drum Citations became “release only” in 2000, and coincidently, that was the first time in Tournament history more than 500 Citation red drum were registered in a year. Since 2000, anglers have failed to register less than 500 reds in only two years, as management measures for the sought after red fish preclude the keeping of the large adult fish all along the Atlantic. The season for trophy-sized red drum is a long one in Virginia. The season’s first red drum was caught near the baymouth on the Shoals off Fishermen’s Island on May 2 and within a few days the popular pastime blossomed into a consistent fishery that lasted well into October. The year’s last trophy red drum was pulled from around the CBBT on November 11.
Several species deserve honorable mention in the 2014 review. Shark Citation numbers topped 100 for the first time since 1989, even though only releases are offered. Cobia Citation numbers were up again in 2014, as anglers report fish in the 30 to 45-pound range were reasonably abundant and this bodes well for cobia hunters 2015.
As good of a year as it was for some species the opposite was true for several popular inshore species. Perhaps the biggest disappointment for anglers in 2014 was lack of striped bass available in Virginia’s coastal waters in the months of December, January and February. Flounder Citation numbers remain at a historically low level although anglers did report more “keepers” were available in 2014. Spot meeting the minimum qualifying weight of 16 ounces have been very rare since 2006 and this trend continued in 2014. Only one gray trout Citation was registered in 2014, as a depressed trend in trophy-sized trout has been evident since 2007. Spadefish and croaker meeting the Tournament’s minimum qualifying criteria were again very scarce in 2014.
The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament is operated by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission with funding provided by the Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing License Fund. Awards are made to anglers catching fish meeting established weight criteria in 26 species while an additional 10 species meeting established length criteria are only available for release awards for a total of 36 species eligible for Citation recognition. As a reminder, golden tilefish were added to the list of species eligible for Citation awards. The minimum weight was set at 30 pounds but no release award is offered due to the extreme depths these bottom fish are pulled-up from and the associated high mortality rate due to barotrauma for released fish.
Citation awards are full color certificates delivered at the recipient’s choice as a plaque or in a plastic album page. Special awards are presented to anglers meeting the eligibility requirements of the Master Angler and Expert Angler programs. The Program also administers the very popular Virginia Junior Angler award program, where any angler 15 years of age and younger can earn a special Virginia Junior Angler Award certificate by catching and releasing 6 different species of saltwater fish in Virginia during a calendar year.
For more information, contact Lewis S. Gillingham, Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2600 Washington Ave.; Third Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, (757) 491-5160, [email protected]
Ed Allen's Boats and Bait
Chickahominy lake
Lake level slightly high and clear. Water temperature in the upper 40s. Bass and pickerel active on minnows, jerk bait, and rattle traps! Crapping hitting on minnows and jigs as they love up the creeks to spawn. Blue cats hitting well on minnows, cut bait and eels. March 7th tournament rescheduled for March 14 th from 7 am to 3 pm. First tournament of the 2015 Ed Allens Classic Series!
Hector Martinez 5 bass to 6 lbs 17 lb bag
Paul Shattuck 9 bass 17 lb bag
Bill Mathews and Bob Walker 10 bass to 5 lbs and 5 pickerel
Sammy Yates 2 bass over 5 lbs
Trip and Chris Myster 12 bass 22 lb bag
Don Mathews 10 bass to 4.5 lbs
Ed Allen
8049665368
Capt. Art Conway of Conway's River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the high 40’s in the main lake and the low 50’s in the major creeks on Wednesday (3/11/2015). The lake level was about six inches above the top of the dam. The water was light brown and slightly cloudy in the lower lake.
Blue cats were scattered throughout the lake, ranging from deep main lake channel areas to the creek channels and flats. Some blue cats were hitting live minnows. Many crappie were aggregated just outside major creek mouths and should move into the major creeks on sunny days. Crappie in the creeks will hit live minnows, Wright Bait Co. curlytail jigs, small tubes, small swim baits, and small suspending jerk baits. Trolling tubes or curlytail jigs in channels is an excellent method of locating crappie in the creeks. Some bass and pickerel have been in channels and on lily pad flats in the creeks and have been hitting live minnows, suspending jerk baits, and swim baits.
Sent: Tue, Mar 10, 2015 8:36 pm Subject: LCR Fishing Report
Recreational striped bass regulations will be decided at the March VMRC meeting. The regulations for the bay are pretty set. The minimum size will rise from 18 to 20 inches. Everything else will stay the same except for the spring trophy season. That minimum will rise from 32 to 36 inches and there will be a special permit required (free). What we do have some options for is the coastal fishery. Right now, it is at one fish per angler with a minimum of 28 inches long. These are the options that are being looked at for the rest of this year and on into 2016:
1. Maintain the current one fish possession limit with a 28 inch size limit;
2. Establish a two fish possession limit with a 33 inch minimum size limit;
3. Establish a two fish possession limit, with 1 fish allowed with a minimum size limit of 28 inches and a maximum size limit of 34 inches and 1 fish allowed with a 36 inch minimum size limit; or,
4. Establish a two fish possession limit, with 1 fish allowed with a minimum size limit of 28 inches and a maximum size limit of 36 inches, and 1 fish allowed with a 38 inch minimum size - limit.
If you have a preference, let the VMRC know before the March 24 meeting.
Now that we seem to have escaped from the permafrost, anglers are anxious to get back out on the water. There are several local events this month to help get you started. The GBFA will be holding their Fishing Flea Market on March 14 at the Hickory Ruritan Club. The Poquoson Kiwanis Club will hold a Boating and Fishing Flea Market on March 21 at Poquoson High School. The Hampton Boat Show will be at the Hampton Roads Convention Center March 27-29.
On the water, it is still cold. Bluefin tuna are being caught by boats running out of the Outer Banks. A few boats have made the long run from Virginia Beach to get in on the action. In addition to the bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna are a possibility and blackfin tuna could be jigged up out of Hatteras but it is the bluefin that have everyone’s attention. The offshore waters off of Virginia are still rather quiet. Tilefish are there for bottom bouncers who want to make the run. Sea bass remains closed though they are plentiful on the offshore wrecks. Tautog can be caught on the coastal wrecks with the Triangle Reef area being the center of that fishery. Inside the bay, it is still too cold for much of a tautog bite or anything else. Striped bass are moving towards their spawning grounds in spite the cold water temperatures. The only reports on the speckled trout front are large numbers of dead trout in both the Elizabeth River and Rudee Inlet.
The PSWSFA’s first monthly meeting of the year will be on March 17. Our speakers will be Mark Terwilliger and Wes Sprinkle, the owners of Reel Fast Tackle and the new owners of Grafton Fishing Supply and Seafood. They will talk to us about what they are doing with the tackle shop and about their line of lures and how to get the best results when fishing with them. They will have a selection of their lures and some custom rods available for purchase at the meeting: www.pswsfa.com/meetings.htm
The Flounder Bowl will be held on June 27. Again, it will be limited to 120 boats. This event is made possible through tremendous business support. Participants are encouraged to patronize these businesses that support recreational fishing. Anglers and sponsors can register for this year’s Flounder Bowl at www.flounderbowl.com .
March 9, Capt. Rick Wineman fished the Get Anet out of Oregon Inlet. The Wicked Tuna boats were fishing around them and they saw a few fish caught. The Get Anet did not get a bite.
March 9, Wes Blow tried for tautog and tilefish. He caught (and released) big sea bass and a lot of dogfish.
March 1, when I got to the boat, Hunter Southall was using a snow shovel. The rest of the guys were beating on the deck with 5 gallon buckets, trying to break up the ice. We left Rudee Inlet in the direction of the Triangle Wrecks. It was too rough running in that direction so we turned south to an inshore wreck. We got anchored up, in the sleet, and proceeded to catch nothing until the anchor broke free. We re-anchored and did more of the same. By the third time the anchor came loose, the seas were settling down. Since we were not catching anything where we were, we headed to a wreck further offshore and re-found the rough seas. It was too rough to try and anchor so we made a few drops while I tried to hold the boat over the wreck with the engines. The guys did catch and release some nice sea bass but no tautog. We gave up on that and were going to head further out to catch some tilefish but the rain picked up and the water-in-the-fuel alarm went off. Enough was enough; we pointed the boat down sea, drained the water from the filters and headed home.
Feb 22, it thawed out enough to allow us to shovel out the remaining snow in the boat, break through the ice, and go fishing. We ran out in thick fog, big swells and when we anchored on the wreck, the current was ripping. We had to break out the heavy sinkers but even 20 ounces was not enough to hold bottom. We did not catch a single tautog. We did catch a few really nice sea bass that we had to let go. Stan Simmerman caught a big striped bass on a jig…also released.
Feb 8, it was too rough. We went fishing anyway. Tagged and released 6 tautog, getting DNA samples from each. Then we decided that we had had enough and went in for lunch.
Feb 7, Hunter Southall and myself went out for a short tog trip. We only caught 7 tautog up to 19 inches long. We collected DNA from each for VIMS.
Feb. 1, Capt. Rick Wineman ran to the Triangle Wrecks where they caught 3 tautog to 23 inches long. They ran through a lot of diving birds between the light tower and the Triangle Wrecks.
Feb. 1, we ran out for tautog before the Super Bowl. We caught 16 tog, up to 23 inches long, before running in early for the Super Bowl parties. We also caught sea bass and a nice hake. We got DNA samples from each tog and placed tags in those we did not keep. I dropped my camera down...only once, after I saw what was down there:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...47337150059912
Jan 25, Wes and I went over and did some boat work. We also went and did some tog fishing close to the beach. We ended up catching 19 togs up to 18.5 inches long. Kept a couple, tagged and released the rest, got DNA samples from each. When we dropped the camera down, we did not see much but the fish were biting.
www.facebook.com/video.php?v=864179683623580&l=243784847404677568 .
Jan 23, we went out after tautog. We had a slow bite, catching 5 tautog. We kept 4 between 18 and 20 inches long, tagged and released the 5th. We got DNA samples from each. We also kept a nice hake and we had to release some really nice sea bass. I did drop a camera down to see what was going on down there:
www.facebook.com/video.php?v=863490727025809&l=1449708948391212935
Jan 20, Wes Blow fished for tautog on one of the ocean wrecks. He said that the bite was great and they caught about 25 fish keeping their 2-angler limit. The fish they kept included 4 that weighed over 9 pounds with the largest weighing in at 16 pounds.
Jan 17, we went out in rather blustery conditions for tautog. We stayed close to the beach because it was just too rough to run anywhere else. We managed to catch 15 tautog up to 23.25 inches long. That fish was tagged and released after a DNA sample was taken. We tagged and released all but 3 fish and got DNA samples from each for VIMS. The carcasses of the kept fish were donated to VMRC. We caught one fish that had been tagged previously.
Jan 16, Jody Linthicum fished the Elizabeth River with Wally Veal. They caught 15 speckled trout over 19 inches long. Their catch included fish of 25 inches, 27.5 inches and Jody caught a huge gator, 32 inches long! Hunter Southall was also on the river catching trout. Hunter said that he caught a dozen or so specks including one over 25 inches long. He also caught a nice puppy drum. Hunter's specks averaged in the 20-23 inch range. Both Jody and Hunter caught their fish casting jigs and those fish are still there as they released their fish...even that 32-inch monster!
Thank You!
Thank you Flounder Bowl Sponsors. Because of your support, we are able to provide the fishing community with a big money fishing tournament for a very low entry fee. In addition to fishing tournament with high payouts, the Flounder Bowl is a big celebration with great food and beverages provided to tournament participants. Thanks to you, a great time is had by all!
Your generous contribution to the Flounder Bowl has also allowed us to support various worthy causes. Flounder Bowl proceeds have been used to make donations to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, the CCA, RFA, Children’s Fishing Clinic, Salem United Methodist Church Wickel Food Pantry, and to local families in need.
Without you, none of this is possible. Thank you!
2014 Flounder Bowl Sponsors
Gold
Dare Marina & Yacht Sales
www.daremarina.com
Multi-Print Inc
www.multiprintinc.com
Dr. K. E. Neill
www.neilldental.com
Michael Surveying & Mapping, P. C.
www.msmva.com
Just Plumbing
www.calljustplumbing.com
Pomoco Auto Group
www.pomoco.com
Thomas E Wilson Insurance Agency
(757) 283-6351
Wanchese Fish Company
www.wanchese.com
Dodd RV
www.doddrv.com
Yorktown Materials
www.yorktownmaterials.com
Harbor Mechanical
(757) 872-4166
C. A. Barrs Contractor
www.cabarrs.com
Pyramid Roofing
www.pyramidroofing.com
Bay Propeller
www.baypropeller.com
Tow Boat U.S.
www.boatus.com
Whitehouse Cove Marina
www.whitehousecovemarina.com
York River Electric, Inc.
www.yorkriverelectric.com
Water Street Grill/York River Oyster Company
www.waterstreetgrille.net
M and M Custom Painting
(757) 879-9860
Green Top Sporting Goods
www.greentophuntfish.com
Douglas Aquatics
(in memory of Eric Arnold)
www.dapoolsandspas.com
Mercury Mulch, Inc.
www.mercurymulch.com
ASI Security
www.asisecurity.net
Randy Blanchard, MD and Peter Vonu, MD
Plastic Surgery Center of Hampton Roads
www.pschr.com
Parks Orthodontics
www.parksorthodontics.com
Teagle Insurance Agency, Inc.
www.teagleinsuranceagency.com
VBSF.net
www.vbsf.net
Threat Tec, LLC
www.threattec.com
Silver
Hopkins Gun and Tackle, LLC
www.hopkinshuntfish.com
Zing Zang
www.zingzang.com
Grafton Fishing Supply
www.graftonfishingsupply.com
Rudees Inlet Station Marina
www.rudeesmarina.com
Bishop Fishing Supply
(757) 591-9300
Holland Corp.
www.jhenryholland.com
Sinkerman’s Wholesale Sinkers & Lures
(757) 898-3845
Pig Out BBQ
(757) 879-9100
Hunt Smile Design
www.huntsmiledesign.com
Pop’s Drive In
(757) 898-6870
Oyster Cove Boatworks & Yacht Brokerage
www.oystercoveboatworks.com
Costa Sunglasses
www.costadelmar.com
Yorktown Pub
(757) 886-9964
Joseph C. Jones, Inc.
(804) 815-6343
Parker Piano Outlet
www.pianooutlet.net
Beachcomber Restaurant
(757) 874-9420
Amory Funeral Home
(757) 898-5722
Wayne Harbin Builder, Inc.
www.harbinbuilder.com
Riptide Electric
www.riptidecontracting.com
Coca Cola Refreshments
www.cokecce.com
Reel Fast Tackle
Back River Rods
www.backriverrods.com
Geary Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
(757) 898-4661
West Marine
www.westmarine.com
Mountain Breeze Taxidermy
(757) 726-2225
Sea Tow Lower Chesapeake
www.seatow.com
Pankoke Marine Construction
www.pmcmarineconstruction.com
Berkley
www.berkley-fishing.com
Seaford Scallop Company
(757) 898-8512
Oceans East Bait & Tackle
(757) 464-6544
Cycle City Corp.
(757) 595-9721
Sandman Hook & Tackle
www.sandmantackle.com
Walsh Electric Company
www.walshelec.com
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