Last November, 43,000 anglers like you helped to defeat an attempt to ban lead in fishing tackle nationwide when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a petition to ban lead in fishing tackle under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Despite the EPA's ruling, this issue is not yet fully resolved. The petitioners have filed a law suit against the EPA's decision and submitted a similar new petition to the agency that could still result in a ban on lead fishing tackle nationwide.

The Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Sports Protection Act (S. 838/H.R. 1558) will prevent a federal ban on lead in recreational fishing tackle and help to ensure that any future regulations on fishing tackle are established based on scientific fact instead of unjustified p... (Read More)

Budget Would Misdirect License Monies & Suspend State Fishing Tourney

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell recently raised the ire of approximately 352,000 saltwater anglers in Virginia by announcing his plans to suspend the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, a state-run program funded primarily through the purchase of state fishing licenses.

As reported by Lee Tolliver in the Virginian-Pilot, the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament averages about 5,000 awards certificates or plaques each year for anglers who catch a variety of saltwater species meeting length or weight minimums, and is staffed by two employees with an annual budget of approximately $200,000 funded solely through the sale of state saltwater fishing licenses.

Under a new 2013-14 budget proposal being considered by Governor McDonnell, eliminating the 55-year-old statewide fishing tournament would mean that license revenues could be reallocated towards oth... (Read More)

Mike Ostrander has arranged for a special DGIF Boating Education Safety Course for VAC Members and their guests. The course will be offered on Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Green Top Sporting Goods. Start time is 10:00 AM and will be over at 4:00 PM. Advanced registration is required to be included in this special VAC course. The class is limited to 40 and registration closes on January 15, 2012. Contact Mike Ostrander, to register for this course [e-mail mike@jamesriverfhishing.com or phone O (804) 938-2350, C (804) 938-2350].

This is the course that must be taken so you can be licensed to operate a personal water craft or a power boat with more than 10 HP in Virginia. See the DGIF website or page 8 of the October Angler for details of the licensing required by Virginia Law, including licensing deadlines based on age.

You may have not caught up with the fact that the IGFA now has a program to recognize All-Tackle Length World Records. This program, now in effect since January, 2011 is based on the certified length of a catch, which must be released alive. This program is a natural in which VAC Members can compete fits with the catch-and-release angling that the VAC supports.

As noted in the Sept/Oct 2011 DGIF “International Angler” (page 16), “This 100% catch-and-release program requires that the angler measure the potential record fish on IGFA’s specially-designed measuring device, properly document the fish’s length via pictures and safely release the fish alive and in food health to swim another day.”. More information about this young program with open records for the taking can be found at www.igfa.org or by contacting World Records Coordinator Jack Vitek at jvitek@igfa.org or 954-924-4246.

The VAC Surf Fishing Team placed 60th out of the 120 teams fishing in the Annual Cape Hatters Anglers Club Invitational Surf Fishing Tournament, Thursday and Friday, November 3rd and 4th. Enduring miserable fishing conditions brought on by an off shore storm were team captain Lynn Spurlin and VAC members Ray Nuckols, Everett Spence and Jim Sheffield. The team caught only 2 scoreable fish which gives witness to what a poor showing of fish was experienced.

Lynn announced his retirement from the captain’s position at the November BOD Meeting. The entire VAC Membership extends many thanks to Lynn for his leadership in gathering members for the team and liaison with the CHAC to insure that the VAC Team was promptly registered each year of his leadership of the team. Thanks also to Ray Nuckols for opening his Rodanthe, NC home to the team members during the tournament. Check with Ray if you need current beach fishing information without any commercial slant (see the on l... (Read More)

Commission vote reduces menhaden harvest for first time ever

BOSTON, MA - For the first time in history, there will be reductions in the harvest of Atlantic menhaden after a vote today by the Menhaden Management Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Menhaden, which serve as the primary forage base for most predatory fish, have declined to the lowest level ever recorded, sparking alarm in the recreational angling community which has long expressed concern over the impact of industrial menhaden harvest on sportfish stocks.
"This is a long-anticipated decision and it is a great relief for anglers to know that managers have finally begun the process of rebuilding this critical species," said Charles A. Witek III, chairman of the Atlantic Fisheries Committee for Coastal Conservation Association. "The turning point was finally having science in hand that showed what many of us have been saying for a long time. We still have work to do to ens... (Read More)

A sunny, pretty fall weekend, but conditions were a bit windy. Plenty of fish were rolling at Chippokes Creek and the smaller ones were biting OK. Everybody fishing Chippokes landed a few gar. For whatever reason the big fish just were not getting hooked up. Results were tight with all 6 fish that placed within a one pound range. Steve Knox and Johnny Wetlaufer both placed on their first ever gar fishing trip. The Tournament Angler of the Year race was decided when Parks Rountrey edged out Fred Cousins in this final Tournament event of the year.

Gar Weight:
Steve Knox 6-12 (entry time tiebreaker)
Bob Brown 6-12
Johnny Wetlaufer 6-4

Gar Points:
Parks Rountrey 6-12 on 2# plug. = 245 pts (wins a Greentop gift card)
Fred Cousins 7-2 on 2# gen = 207 pts
Eddy Johnston 6-8 on 2# gen = 188 pts

Participants – 6 members & 2 guests