THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 5, 1995 TAG: 9511050244
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB HUTCHINSON
LENGTH: Long : 113 lines
Virginia's largest federation of recreational fishermen is cautioning fishery regulators to move slowly before legalizing striper fishing in ocean waters controlled by the federal government.
The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed opening federal waters, between 3 and 200 miles off the coast, to both commercial and recreational striper fishermen. And that doesn't sit well with the Coastal Conservation Association of Virginia, said Bob Pride of Virginia Beach, federation president.
``Primarily, we want to know why the big rush,'' Price said. ``It looks like they're trying to rush things to get the regulations in place for this winter's fishing. Someone's pushing this thing too hard.
``This is a complex subject and there has been some opposition from anglers, commercial fishermen and even state regulators.''
Pride said some state officials are concerned that federal catches could be landed in conflict with state regulations.
``And you know what happens when a federal regulation interferes with a state regulation,'' Pride said. ``The state loses every time.''
While the federal waters have been off-limits since 1984, Virginia and other East Coast states have allowed limited striper fishing under various plans since the fishery opened four years ago.
In Virginia, commercial fishermen must tag their stripers and are limited to a catch of 870,000 pounds for this year. Recreational fishermen are limited to two fish a day during a 107-day season, with an 18-inch minimum size.
Under the federal plan, state quotas would not be changed. But questions remain unanswered.
Would the quota in states without a tagging system, such as North Carolina, be consumed by ocean trawl-boat fishermen, shutting out other netters?
Would boats from depressed fisheries in Northern states, such as Massachusetts, be allowed to land their fish in Virginia, sans tags?
The problem is complicated by the fact that a tremendous quantity of stripers from all along the East Coast spend much of the colder months off the coasts of Virginia and North Carolina. These fish apparently would be the prime target of fishermen in federal waters. And they would be an easy touch, especially for large boats.
The federal plan is being aired at a series of public hearings this month, including one at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lake Wright Motel on Northampton Boulevard.The final hearing will be Nov. 13, and after that, interested parties will have but two days for public comment.
``That's the rush,'' Pride said. ``Like I said, something is driving this. There's just too much push to get these waters open.''
The feeling here is that the matter needs additional time and study. A lot of folks have worked long and hard to bring the prized striper back from the brink of extinction.
The states, not the federal government, have made the tough decisions that saved the striper. It would be wrong to take the states out of future plans.
Besides, the species deserves more respect. Unfortunately, it doesn't always get it.
SPECIAL SEMINAR: If you want to learn more about wire-line trolling along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, you will not want to miss an upcoming seminar.
It'll be conducted by two true experts, Ken Taylor and Jimmy Kolb of Virginia Beach. They also happen to be very funny guys.
This dynamic duo leaves little uncovered in offering tips and techniques on fishing for stripers, cobia, red drum and flounder. The seminar has been a smash wherever it has been performed.
It'll be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Marina at Marina Shores, off Great Neck Road in Virginia Beach. The cost will be $15. That's a bargain.
ANOTHER WINNER: As for Jimmy Kolb, he has moved a step closer to the angler-of-the-year title in the 1995 Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament.
Kolb, an electrical contractor, recently earned a tournament citation in his 12th category of the year by boating a 37-pound wahoo.
Kolb leads nearest competitor Mark Campbell of Virginia Beach by four awards. And he is closing in on the 14-award record shared by H. Wayne Perry of Chesapeake and Denny Dobbins of Portsmouth.
GOOD READING; One of the finest books on the whitetail deer in a long time has been compiled by John J. Ozoga, who spent 30 years studying America's most admired big-game animal.
Dramatically told and vividly illustrated by a host of outstanding photographers, ``Whitetail Winter'' chronicles the survival trials faced by deer, especially in their northernmost range. One thing you learn is that Northern deer are the largest because only the biggest and strongest survive the harsh environment of southern Canada and the northern tier of the United States.
The book may be in local bookstores or can be ordered directly from Willow Creek Press, 1-800-850-9453. The cost is $29.50, plus $4 shipping and handling.
THE WINNER: Keith Nuttall, a patrol officer for the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, has been named ``fishery conservationist of the year'' by the Virginia Wildlife Federation.
The federation of sportsmen's clubs named Roger Buyrn of Cheriton ``water conservationist of the year.''
Its top award, ``conservationist of the year,'' went to Catharine Tucker of Richmond, a member of the board of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and former president of the Virginia chapter of Trout Unlimited.
SHORT CASTS: The North Carolina Beach Buggy Association is looking for volunteers for the group's third cleanup of the year at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The program is planned for Saturday, when the association will have representatives handing out and collecting trash bags at beach-access ramps. You can get details by calling John Newbold, president, at 430-2483 in Virginia Beach. . . . The Cape Hatteras chapter of Ducks Unlimited will hold its annual fund-raising soiree Friday at the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club in Buxton. The cost will be $45, including dinner, beverages and a $25 membership. For details, call C.A. Boxley at 1-919-995-5701. . . . Jesse Norris of Virginia Beach has bagged a wild turkey the tough way, with a bow. His gobbler had a 12-inch beard and 1 3/8-inch spurs. It was killed in Sussex County. . . . Harvey Ackiss, a wildlife sculptor from Portsmouth, has been selected to exhibit at the 25th annual Waterfowl Festival, to be held Friday through Sunday at Easton, Md. This is one of the largest shows of its type in the country. by CNB