Portsmouth Anglers Club Inc. THE ANGLER Volume 261 July 2016 June Speaker PAC s guest speaker for the July 18th meeting is unknown at this time. Please go to our website for up to the minute information. The meeting will be at the Simonsdale Civic Center, 5006 Vick Street, Portsmouth and will begin at 7pm. Children s Sunshine Program Workday Volunteers are needed to help prepare the rods & reels used for the Sunshine program. There are 130 rods & reels that need to be cleaned, line changed, eyes and tips replaced and just general maintenance. Date: Wednesday, July13, 2016 from 11:00 till 2:00 pm. at Denny Dobbins house, located at 1057 West Road, Chesapeake, behind Grassfield High School. PLEASE!! WE NEED MORE VOL- UNTEERS!!! This is our last chance to get all these rods and reels ready for the CSP Pier Event scheduled for July 28 th. Call: Denny at 477-9156 or John at 399-4673 Up Coming Events July 13, 11pm - 2pm. Sunshine Program Work Party July 18, 7pm. PAC Monthly Meeting, Simonsdale Civic Center July 28, 8am - 3pm Sunshine Program Pier Trip August 2, 7pm... PAC Board Meeting, Simonsdale Civic Center October 22. VBAC Fall Fishing/Boating Flea Market In This Issue of The Angler Fishing Report. Pictures of Recent Catches.. Boaters Safety Classes. Special Raffle Winner. Membership Renewal Form Page 3 Page 4-5 Page 6 Page 8 Page 11 1
The Angler A Publication of the Portsmouth Anglers Club, Inc. Editor Rob Jordan 757-488-9305 E-Mail address rtjordan@verizon.net Webmaster Rob Jordan 757-488-9305 We encourage all members to submit articles and pictures for publication in the PAC Newsletter. Send your pictures and articles, your favorite recipes, or anything that may be newsworthy and informative to rtjordan@verizon.net. 2016 Club Officers President: Allan Gregoire 488-3907 Vice-President Denny Dobbins 477-9156 Secretary Denise Harrell 488-9039 Treasurer Dot Oberlander 484-6564 Please visit the PAC website.. www.portsmouthanglersclub.net Please visit the PAC Facebook Page.. https://www.facebook.com/portsmouth- Anglers-Club-191636390871969/ USCG Vessel Examination Even if you pay careful attention to safety, dangerous mechanical problems can crop up on the best-maintained boat. That s why the U.S Coast Guard recommends that all recreational boaters (including personal watercraft users) take advantage of the free Vessel Safety Check (VSC) program every year. VSCs are offered by experienced members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadrons, two of the nation s premier volunteer boating safety organizations. A VSC is your best way of learning about problems that might put you in violation of state or federal laws or, worse, create danger for you or your passengers on the water. Sarah Bremer, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 53 and PAC member, will be glad to provide you with a courtesy inspection. Call Sarah on 397-3659, and she will set up an appointment to come to you and provide a free USCG Vessel Safety Check. In Club Tournament PAC s first in-club tournament will be for Flounder and will run June through August. The entry fee will be $5.00 and angler with the largest fish will receive 100% cash payout based on entry fees collected. Any legal size flounder will be accepted. Remember, membership dues must be up to date to participate. See Otto Dunn at the next meeting to sign up. You may call Otto at 488-5550 or email him at. otto.dunn@verizon.net and he will add your name to the list. 2016 PAC Membership 2016 PAC Membership dues were due on January 1st. Remember, to participate in club tournaments and be eligible for club awards, your dues must be paid before you go fishing. The cost of a family membership includes all household members under 18. PAC Membership also includes The Angler, our monthly newsletter, and the free fish fry dinner held in October each year. Please either mail your dues to the PAC post office box or bring them to the next meeting. Also, include your email address so The Angler can be emailed to you. Emailing the newsletter saves PAC money and you will receive your newsletter several days sooner. New members may join for half the regular fee for the remainder of 2016. See page 11 for membership form. 2
FISHING REPORT July 2016 By: Dr. Julie Ball The saltwater fishing scene is almost as hot as the weather right now. The Independence Day week was a success, with cobia and flounder drawing the most interest. Since the flounder bite escalated last week, folks are finding good hauls of flatfish most anywhere in lower Bay waters. Many are also having good luck with nice fish hitting on nearshore structures. Anglers working the Bay Bridge Tunnel with jigs and live bait are finding the biggest fish averaging up to around 5 and 6-pounds. The 1st island area and the 3 rd island tubes produced best this week. Drifters are having good luck in seaside inlets on the Eastern Shore, and both Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets on the Southside are giving up some good numbers of keeper flatfish on an outgoing tide. The cobia action is on fire this week, with sight casters reporting that plenty of fish are around, making easy targets in lower Bay waters. Most fish are ranging to around 30 to 45-pounds, with scattered 60 and 70-pounders also in the mix. Steady action is also keeping chummers on their toes this week with some decent fish to show. Red drum are providing very good top water action as they school around the mouth of the Bay, especially near the Baltimore Channel. Spanish mackerel continue to provide excellent action for trollers from Cape Henry to Sandbridge. The best luck is occurring in about 20 to 25-feet of water, with planers holding down small spoons Most of these fish are a nice class, with a few fish over 3 and 4 pounds hitting the docks lately. Taylor bluefish are always around these areas, and some sizable sharks are also taking baits off the ocean front. Spadefish are very popular this year, with a larger class of fish attracting a lot of attention. Spades are still available at the Chesapeake Light Tower, but more boats are targeting these fish near inshore wrecks and at the CBBT, with good success. Big sheepshead are still biting along the tubes, islands, and pilings of the Bay Bridge Tunnel, with some fish topping 10-pounds caught this week. The bait of choice is either fiddler crabs or clams. Trigger fish are also hitting in most of these same locations. Some large croaker are lurking around the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and the Cell, while the hard head run in Oyster kicked off this week, with fish ranging to around a pound filling coolers. Speckled trout and some puppy drum are available in many shallow water lications, but this action is sporadic. Tarpon hunters are still sneaking off to the back waters of Oyster, but recent wind, thunder storms, and stifling heat is making this feat a challenge. Amberjack are available at the Southern Towers, but few are interested with the good tuna bite going on lately. Few are bothering with deep dropping lately either, although the fish are there. Blueline tilefish, grouper, golden tilefish, black bellied rosefish, and scattered seabass are awaiting offerings along the floor at the Norfolk Canyon. The offshore scene off Virginia is offering a good variety. Most anglers are still looking for tuna, and finding them. Nice yellowfin tuna are still around, with a few big eye tuna also in the vicinity. A nice class of gaffer mahi are providing good catches, with scattered wahoo also making a showing. More and more billfish encounters are occurring, and this action will continue to improve over the next month. For more information, go to www.drjball.com. 3
Pictures of Recent Catches Each month I will try to publish pictures from PAC members of recent catches. Please email pictures to rtjordan@verizon.net, with a brief description of who, where, what and when, and I will try to include it in the next issue of The Angler. These pictures and more can be seen on our website gallery. Warren Brooks, Jerald George, and Tron Napier fished the Kiwanis Annual Flounder Tournament and won First Place. Tron also won the Biggest flounder Calcutta for the tournament with a 4lbs 11oz flounder. Members, John Mewborn and Herb Ruark with one of several flounder caught at the HRBT. Flounder caught by Jerald George and Mike Douglas. 4
Jack Austin and salmon caught in Valdez Bay, Alaska Traci Tuthill and a nice cobia caught off Frisco. Past member, Rhea Adams and Smith Mountain Lake Striper 5
Boater s Safety Requirements Have you taken the boater s safety course? Do you have your boaters education card? Beginning July 1, 2016, All PWC operators, regardless of age, and All motorboat operators regardless of age must have completed the required safety education prior to operating a vessel. No person under the age of 14 may operate a PWC. Flotilla 53 is holding the classes below. For more information and to find additional classes near you go to.. http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/boating/education/requirement/ 6
AD SPACE PRICES Business Card size is $110 1/3 page ad is $135 1/2 page ad is $150 Full page ad is $200 PAC membership is in addition to ads and will run January thru December. Please support out advertisers! BARTLEY F. TUTHILL., IV, LTD. ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW 464 DINWIDDIE STREET Portsmouth, VA 23704 President & PAC Member e-mail: sturtevant@sfhva.com (757) 393-6544 E-MAIL FAX (757) 393-1916 barttuthill@hotmail.com Bart Tuthill, P.A.C. Member www.sturtevantfuneralhome.com Portsmouth City Park Boat Ramp The Portsmouth City Park boat ramp has deteriorated once again to the point that city officials had to close the launch side of the ramp for safety reasons. The side that was previously used for retrieve only is now used for both launch and retrieve. No information is available as to how long it will remain closed or what the future plans are for a permanent solution. You may want to contact one of your city council members or the city parks and recreation director to voice your concerns. The number for the main office at 801 Crawford Street is 757-393-8481. Mark Furlo is the Director of Parks and Recreation. Mark Palamarchuck is the Assistant Director. 7
Children s Sunshine Program July 28, 2016 by John Meagher Volunteers are needed to help kids to learn to catch fish and crabs. This event will be held at the Ocean View Fishing Pier July 28, 2016 from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. We need volunteers to cut bait, set up rods and reels, help at lunch-time and to teach CPR (Catch, Photograph and Release) and 101 other things that will make this a successful event. Volunteers that have already made a commitment are: Denny Dobbins, Junior Member Shawn Parker, his mother Stephanie, Tom Scott, John Meagher, Bob Goode and Matt LeDoyen, Jr. and Tommy Milteer. There will be a sign-up sheet available at the July monthly meetings. If you are unable to attend the meetings and want to sign-up call me at 399-4673. There is no such thing as enough volunteers for this event, so if you have a group or individuals that can volunteer; please call me prior to the event. Our food order is based on how many adults/children we expect. All of us strive to give the kids a learning adventure and experience fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. Special Raffle Winner Karen Silverthorne was the winner of the special raffle, drawn at the June membership meeting. Proceeds from the special raffle go to the PAC Scholarship Fund. A new raffle will be started soon, so come to the next monthly meeting for more information. Congratulations Karen! Nice rod and reel for a $2 investment. 8
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Win $200.00 Cash or a Rod & Reel Combo Children s Sunshine Program sponsored by the Portsmouth Anglers Club Tickets are $1.00 each - Drawing to be held on July 18th Rods and Reels have been provided by: Greg s Bait Shack 757-465-9020 2560 Airline Boulevard, Portsmouth, VA 23701 1 st place A custom 6.2 ft. rod - Shimano Cardiff 400A casting reel 2 nd place A 5 ft. Kunnan Performance Rod - Sweepfire 4000 2B spinning reel 3 rd place A 2 piece 7 ft. Penn Fierce II Rod with a spinning reel 2016 PAC Raffle by John Meagher I would like to thank all of you that have so far supported our annual raffle sales. Your time and generosity ensures our success in many community projects; Children s Sunshine Program, Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, Boy Scouts, Red Cross, Wish-A-Fish Association, PAC Club Memorial Scholarship and other club projects. As of July the 7th, we have not met our goals and we need every members support to have a 2016 successful raffle to help fund our clubs many projects. For those of you that haven t purchased your tickets; please do so as soon as possible. I will continue to sell tickets up until the drawing on July 18 th. If you would like to buy tickets, please call me (John) at 399-4673. I will gladly deliver them to you if you live within a reasonable distance. Incentive for selling: 10 Books Club Hat or $10.00 Gift Certificate from Greg s Bait Shack 20 Books Club SS Shirt or $20.00 Gift Certificate from Greg s Bait Shack 30 Books Club SS and LS Shirt or $30.00 Gift Certificate from Greg s Bait Shack 35 to 49 Books Club Hat, SS, LS Shirts and 2017 PAC Membership (compensatory to what you would normally purchase as a member) or $40.00 Gift Certificate from Greg s Bait Shack. ***If you are a life member you will receive a Gift Card in the sum of $20.00 or $30.00 Or in lieu of the above, if you sell 50 or more books you will receive a $100.00 bill 10
PAC Member TOMMY MILTEER E-TEC ron@ronsmarine.hrcoxmail.com Ask for PAC Member Ron Pierce www.ptrailerusa.com PAC Application For Membership or Renewal Name Address City State Zip Code Phone E-Mail Address Signature Dues: $30 for family membership Boat Name (optional) $20 for an individual membership Mail to PAC, P.O. Box 7842, Portsmouth, VA 23707 11
First Class Mail www.gregsbaitshack.com Freshwater & Saltwater Tackle & Accessories Live Bait - Fresh Bait - Frozen Bait Official Weigh Station Price Match Guarantee Rod Repairs Live Eels Fresh Menhaden Gudgens Shinners Bloodworms Peeler Crabs Night Crawlers Super Reds Mullet Filet Fiddler Crabs Clams Finger Mullet Shrimp Squid Ballyhoo Chicken Necks PAC Members - Show Membership Card to Receive Discount 2560 Airline Blvd. Portsmouth, VA - Email greg@gregsbaitshack.com - Call 757-465-9020 12
Children s Sunshine Event Cancelled, but Not Fishing by John Meagher The fishing event that was scheduled for June 30 th was cancelled, but Linda Tucci, Director of One Step Higher Learning Center asked me if there was anything we could do to take her kids fishing somewhere else instead of the head boat. I told her that I was considering the same problem because my grandson 13 yr. old Shawn who is a PAC Junior Member had made arrangements to go fishing on that date even though his parents made other plans, so he was more than disappointed. I told Linda; let s get the kid s together and take them to the Ocean View Pier, and that is what we did. Shawn has qualified for the Virginia Junior Anglers Award Program sponsored by the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament a program of the Virginia Marine Resource Commission for the last 3 years. He had caught Spanish Mackerels last month and on this day he caught 2 more species, but still needs 3 more to once again qualify for the award. Fishing with us is 10 year old Levon who has qualified the last two years in the same program and on this date he has caught 4 species. In fact, as far as I can see he is the only person on the pier this day that caught a flounder that was 11 to 12 inches (not a keeper) which was okay, because it is a catch and release program. Lavon is holding a fishing rod that was presented to him by us last year, because we found him to be an intense fisherman at his young age. He is one of the children that we have had such a positive effect with. His statement to me last year was that his favorite past time is fishing and biking. I asked him, Why he is so successful with fishing? He said, Be patient and you will catch fish. Continued on next page 13
Shawn has probably caught about 100 freshwater fish this year. He loves fishing with pepperoni as bait and fishing at Oak Park, the Great Bridge Locks and any other place there may be fish. He just loves to fish. If you notice his hand is bigger than the pig fish, but that is the way fisherman present their fish for a picture. The maroon hat that he wearing is one of the gifts from the Jr. Angler Award Program. The program allows a choice between a hat or a tackle box. You also get a certificate suitable for framing signed by the Governor of the Commonwealth and the Director of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Shawn tries to volunteer for as many of the events as his busy schedule will allow him and there is no doubt he will get his six species. He made the comment to me on the way to the pier that he was going to catch more fish than me. When we ended up tying for the number of fish caught he said, the only reason you tied me was because you were using three poles to my one which is true, but again he is just another young man that loves to fish. Both boys are looking forward to the July 28 th Pier Event at the Ocean View Pier in Norfolk. 14