CHUMLINE July/Aug 2017 Newsletter of the Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman s Association Editor Danny Forehand pswsfa_chumline@cox.net The PSWSFA is a family oriented fishing club established in 1957. Our meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month (March-Dec.) at 7:00pm. We meet at the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 540, 7812 Warwick Boulevard, Newport News, VA 23607. The meetings are free and open to the public. Our meetings are a great place to swap stories with other local fishermen, find new fishing partners and plan trips together. We have raffles with nice giveaways-donated by local businesses. Each month we have speakers sharing their experience on one of the local fisheries. Come join us and get to know some of the other fishermen in your local area. Directions can be found at http://pswsfa.com/services/. Note from the editor: I have combined the July and August issues due to unforeseen circumstances. Thank you for your understanding. I hope I have covered everything necessary in this issue. The Chumline will get back on track for the September issue. Ric Burnley was kind enough to take the time to speak at the July meeting on the topic of nearshore fishing from Va Beach. Growing up in Virginia Beach, Ric spent his formative years sunburnt, windblown and waist deep in the brine. From poking around the marsh in his skiff to charging the Gulf Stream in million-dollar mega yachts, Burnley has fished for darn near everything that swims the salt and shared his experiences with readers of Salt Water Sportsman, Sport Fishing, In the Bite, Outdoor Life and other outdoor publications. Ten years ago, he discovered kayak fishing. Since then, he s paddled after the biggest fish in the wildest destinations and told the tales in his book The Complete Kayak Angler and hundreds of kayak fishing articles, stories and videos as editor of Kayak Angler magazine. When he s not writing, shooting and editing, he can still be found sunburnt, windblown and up to his waist in the brine. Thanks Ric for coming out and sharing your experience with us. For our August meeting, we will have club member Stan Simmerman speak to us on the topic of swordfish fishing in Va. Stan has been a member of the PSWSFA since 1980. Stan is one of our past presidents and the angler of the year for the club in 2016. Come join us on Tuesday, August 15 th to hear Stan s experience catching these elusive critters.
Cobia Bowl 2017 The PSWSFA changed the format of its annual Flounder Bowl this year to the Cobia Bowl. As most you already know, the regulations for this fishery have been changing the last few years. The cobia fishery in federal waters is managed by the SAFMC. Recreational cobia fishing is closed in federal waters from GA to NY through Dec 31, 2017. There are many differing opinions as to whether the regulations are based on good science. We were interested in supporting VIMS in its cobia research and raising awareness amongst the angling community. We decided this would be a good forum for raising money to donate to VIMS to help support their work. The tournament was held at Dare Marina in York County Jun 22-24. Prize money was given out for daily calcuttas and for the overall tournament prizes. We had special categories for children, female anglers and club members. Lastly, there was a category called the sponsors challenge because there would be no way we could host these tournaments without the help of all our generous sponsors. There were a total of 125 boat entries. The total cash payout was $43,800. We had 31 cobia turned in to be weighed and 94 were released during the two days of fishing. Congressman Rob Wittman, from the First Congressional District of Virginia, stopped by the tournament on Saturday to see how things were going and ended up winning a nice raffle prize while he was there. Dr. John Graves from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and a team of students were present to collect samples from every fish that was turned in to the tournament. They also collected length and weight information and were able to age a few of the standout fish that were caught. In addition, the carcasses were all collected by the VMRC to further their Va Recreational assessment program. The information gained from this data could play a large role in keeping the population of cobia healthy in the future. It may also help the regulating committees from both the state of Virginia and the SAFMC make more informed decisions when creating fishing regulations. After all the expenses were paid for the tournament, the PSWSFA donated $11,000.00 to VIMS to advance their research on this species. Sportfishing Article The dinner served on Saturday was created using fish from the cobia turned in for weighing. All the fish that was not needed for the dinner was donated to food banks at local churches. We should all be proud of ourselves for helping out the local fishing community and the local community in general. I believe this tournament was a huge success thanks to all the volunteers that helped. Many club members and their family members worked tirelessly, before during and after the tournament, to ensure a smoothly run tournament. We also owe Dare Marina a huge thank you for once again hosting this tournament. Without the help of Dare Marina and its entire staff, we could not have a successful tournament. Thank you Michael and Christy Hanna! Please visit the Cobia Bowl link located on the new PSWSFA web page to find more pictures and the full results from the tournament.
2017 PSWSFA TOURNAMENTS FOR ALL TOURNAMENTS You must register prior to fishing and use the official monthly form filled out by an official weigh station with time, date and weight of fish, & weight master s signature to verify catch. All Club Tournaments will have Awards for the first 3 places. Questions Contact: Tournament Director Rick Wineman: rick@getanetsportfishing.com or 757-268-1539. CLUB TOURNAMENTS For Club Members: $20 entry fee for each individual tournament or $60 if you sign up for all tournaments at one time Bishop s Triple Threat Tournament Cobia Channel Bass Black Drum Combined total number of inches April 1, 2017 through July 31, 2017 $20/each member & $30/each non-member Leave from any port, no weigh in (length total of 3 fish) Must Receive Completed Form no later than the Board Mtg. Aug.8, 2016 See Rules below for Catch and Release fish totals. (Witness or photo) Don Forman Club Cobia Tournament sponsored by Bishop Fishing Supply August 1-31, 2017** $20/each member & $30/each non-member Leave from any port Must Receive Completed Form no later than the Board Mtg. Sept. 12, 2017 **Tournament subject to change pending any new Cobia regulations Grafton Fishing Supply Club Spot Tournament September 23-24, 2017 $20/each member & $30/each non-member Weigh in: 2:00pm Sept. 24 th at Dare Marina All entries will be weighed using the same scale followed by the Annual Club Picnic and Awards Ceremony for the Spot and Youth & Ladies/Flounder Tournaments Spot Tournament has two categories with 1 st 3 rd place winners: ALL ENTRIES and KID ONLY (Anglers for the Spot Tournament must be present to win) RSVP by Sept. 20 st if you are coming to the cookout to the Annual Club Picnic to the Tournament Director Wilcox Bait and Tackle Irv Fenton Rockfish Tournament December 1-31, 2017 $20/each member & $30/each non-member Must Receive Completed Form no later than the Board Mtg. Jan. 9, 2018 MAIL ENTRY FORMS TO: MR. MILTON HUDGINS, 1894 KATIE LANE, HAYES, VA 23072 (e-mail: judygee03@gmail.com) Youth and Ladies Croaker/Flounder Tournament July 1-31, 2017 Free Tournament for Lady and Youth members/guests (Do not need to register to participate) Must Receive Completed Entry Forms no later than the Board Mtg. August 8 th Awards will be given at the Annual Club Picnic on Sept. 24 th at Dare Marina (Anglers for the Youth and Ladies Tournament are not required to be present to win) RSVP by Sept 20 th if you are coming to the Annual Club Picnic to Tournament Director
2017 PSWSFA Tournaments Rules ALL Club Tournaments (Except as noted on front): Entry Fees: $20 for member & $30 for non-member. Youth and Ladies Croaker/Flounder tourney is free. You must register before fishing by e-mailing Rick Wineman: rick@getanetsportfishing.com or call 757-268-1539. Leaving a message will be sufficient to register, give all anglers names (specify club members and club guest), and also give a phone number. Guest(s) must fish with at least one member on boat/shore/pier/kayak Use a club "Official Entry Form" and weigh in fish at any Va. Saltwater Tournament official weigh station. Record the weight of fish, date and time caught and have the weigh master sign the form to verify catch. If two identical fish are caught on the same day, the earlier fish wins. That is why time is so important. Triple Threat entries require witness or photo since this is a length total tourney. All pertinent PSWSFA bylaws apply. To register or ask questions, e-mail Rick Wineman, Tournament Director at rick@getanetsportfishing.com or call Rick @ 757-268-1539 MEASURING INSTRUCTIONS With the fish lying on a flat surface, measure in quarter inch increments, from the tip of the mouth to the tip of the tail with the fish in a natural position and the mouth closed. **The youth and ladies croaker/flounder tournament has officially ended. Please remember to turn in your fish to Rick Wineman. There is still time to get your entries posted. Awards will be handed out at the club picnic on Sep. 24 th at Dare Marina. **The triple threat tournament has ended. Results will be announced at the August meeting. **The Don Forman cobia tournament has started and will continue through the month of August. Make sure to contact Rick BEFORE you catch your cobia for this tournament and let him know you are participating in the tournament.
PSWSFA 2017 MEMBERSHIP Dues: $30 per year for entire *family (January through December - not prorated throughout year) (Please Print) Name: Spouse: 1) 2) 3) Dependents Names and Ages: *FAMILY must be living with you New Membership Renewal cash check 4) 5) 6) Address: City: State: Zip Home Phone: e-mail: Cell Phone: Boat Name/Call Sign: Total number in your membership: Send this form with a check (payable to PSWSFA) to: PSWSFA P.O. Box 5194 Newport News, VA 23605 Please check one of the following: Yes, please add my name to the club Membership Book No, please do not publish my information CLUB CLASSIFIED Do you have something to sell? Send in a quick description, price and contact number to pswsfa_chumline@cox.netand have it added to this page.
BRAGGING BOARD Help fill this space up. Send your fishing pics to pswsfa_chumline@cox.net don t forget to include the angler s name.
FISHNEWS Provided by Dr. Ken Neill, III (President) Offshore, anglers are targeting billfish with major tournaments happening each week. Mostly white marlin are being caught but good numbers of blue marlin and some sailfish are also being caught. Non-tournament anglers slow-trolling live bait have scored the best catches of white marlin so far. Dolphin can be encountered and some decent catches are being made on the inshore hills. There are some yellowfin tuna around and the occasional bigeye tuna is being caught. Wahoo are also available but right now, it is mostly billfish. More anglers are experimenting with daytime dropping for swordfish. They are having success and some impressive swords are being brought back to the docks. Offshore bottom fishing is producing good catches of golden and blueline tilefish. The coastal wrecks are holding flounder, sea bass, triggerfish and some big sandtiger sharks. Spadefish can be found over most of the wrecks. Triggerfish, spadefish and flounder catches are also good at the CBBT where big sheepshead can also be found. It has been an excellent summer for Spanish mackerel. They are being caught along the oceanfront and throughout the lower bay. Cobia catches remain excellent. Both chumming and sight-fishing are producing fish. Anglers in the lower bay and along the oceanfront are mostly sight-fishing. Those trying to chum are dealing with seems to be a record number of sharks. The mid-bay chummers are not having the shark problem. Anglers looking for cobia are also running into big red drum occasionally. Puppy drum and speckled trout are available in all of the normal grassy area. This fishery will pick up as we move into fall. Another historical fall fishery is the spot. Good numbers of spot have been around this summer which means we should have a good spot September. Click the following link to find information regarding Harmful Algae Blooms. The information is provided by the Virginia Department of Health. http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/harmful-algalblooms-habs/
WHAT S COOKIN This space needs your help!! Please send your favorite recipes into the Chumline Editor at pswsfa_chumline@cox.net Here is a Cobia recipe provided by Wes Blow: First I start with however much cobia cut into stakes about ¾ to an inch thick that you will eat with no left overs. Let sit out on counter 30 to 40 minutes to get to room temperature. Towards the end of this time melt ½ a stick of butter in a small bowl, preheat oven to 375 degrees and put iron skillet on outside burner. Get skillet very hot so it is smoking, 5 to 10 minutes. Do not put any oil or butter in skillet. Dredge the cobia steaks in the melted butter so they are completely covered in butter and place on plate. Lightly sprinkle your favorite blackening seasoning on the top side. Then place the seasoned side in the outside skillet and at that time lightly sprinkle blackening season on unseasoned side. Cook for 45 seconds on first side then turn and cook for 45 seconds on other side. Remove and put in an ungreased casserole dish. Fish will look very dry but it is not, moisture and flavor is sealed in the fish. Put in preheated oven for 7 minutes and serve immediately. You will see how juicy the fish is when removing from the oven. This was served with fresh produce from the garden. Corn on the cob, cucumber tomato onion salad and squash with onions.
MONTHLY TOURNAMENT AWARDS May June SPECIES MINIMUM MINIMUM ANGLER S NAME LENGTH SPECIES SIZE SIZE ANGLER S NAME LENGTH Yellowfin Tuna 35 Wally Veal 48" Yellowfin Tuna 35 John Hunt, Sr. 46.75 Dolphin 35 Spencer Elford 44" Dolphin 35 Stan Simmerman 47 Channel Bass 40 Wally Veal 51.5" Channel Bass 40 Wally Veal 49.5 Cobia Taylor Simmerman 32" Cobia 40 Rick Wineman 53 Spot 8 Taylor Simmerman 8" Spot 8 Grayson Shield 8.5 Blackfin Tuna 20 Stan Simmerman 25.5 Croaker 16 Chelsea Shield 10.5 Spearfish Release Wally Veal 78 Spadefish 18 Michael Bristow 18 Blueline Tilefish 20 Stan Simmerman 20 Sheepshead 15 Rick Wineman 26 Golden Tilefish 30 Stan SImmerman 31 Spanish Mackerel 20 Matt Waddell 25.5 Black Seabass 15 Stan Simmerman 21.5 Whiting 14 Wally Veal 14.5 Bigeye Tuna 40 Mike Lintzenich 62 Amberjack 40 Wally Veal 41 Speckled Trout 21 Glenn Davenport 22.5 Black Drum 40 Wally Veal 42.5 If you need an entry form, you can download a copy from the club's website at http://www.pswsfa.com/monthlyentry.pdf Deadline for turning in your 2017 entry forms: MAIL ENTRY FORMS TO: MR. MILTON HUDGINS 1894 KATIE LANE HAYES, VA 23072 (e-mail: judygee03@gmail.com) Month of Entry: Deadline: (Board Mtg.) Jan. Feb. 14 Feb. March 14 March April 11 April May 9 May June 13 June July 11 July Aug. 8 Aug. Sept. 12 Sept. Oct. 10 Oct. Nov. 14 Nov. Dec. 12 Dec. Jan. 9 Remember---- one does not simply leave right after saying last cast KID S CORNER Don t forget to send in your children s artwork, stories, etc to help make this a great place for the children to visit every month! Send your items to pswsfa_chumline@cox.net
Attention Club Members: To sign up and save 50% off a Boat U.S. membership, please contact Gary Donaldson at garyd66@cox.net