DATE: Thursday, July 17, 1997               TAG: 9707160705

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BOB HUTCHINSON

                                            LENGTH:   28 lines

FISHING FORECAST

The Virginia Beach Anglers Club will be looking to recapture the glory days of their annual Small Boat Marlin Tournament this weekend.

Years ago, this was one of the biggest billfish contests around, annually attracting more than 100 boats. Recently, contest officials have considered themselves fortunate to get half that many.

But with the splendid white marlin action of recent days, the number could climb considerably for this weekend's 23rd running.

The contest will be based at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center on Rudee Inlet and will feature two divisions, for boats 33 feet and under, and 25 feet and under. Registration will be $125 and will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, with fishing Saturday.

You can get additional information from Mel Beedy at 480-5711.

As for the fishing, boats southeast of the Cigar seamount off Virginia Beach have released as many as eight white marlin a day recently, with several blue marlin also sighted.

Of course, that's no guarantee for the weekend. The fish could be more abundant. Or they could almost disappear. Or the hottest action could be farther north at Norfolk Canyon.

That's why they call it fishing and not ``catching.''

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