Blue Beast
Andy Thompson
August 16, 2008 8:52 AM
As promised, the above is the pending North Carolina state record Atlantic blue marlin caught by Trey Irvine yesterday at the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament off the Outer Banks.
1,228.5 pounds...um, wow!
Record Blue Marlin
Andy Thompson
August 15, 2008 6:07 PM
I had to pass along this email from the Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament, an annual event held on the Outer Banks. I’ll post a pic of this fish as it’s released. Imagine fighting that monster!
Breaking News from the 25th annual Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament.
A pending North Carolina Atlantic Blue Marlin was caught today by angler Trey Irvine onboard the Mimi. The massive 1,228.50 pound Atlantic Blue Marlin was weighed in at Pirate’s Cove Marina at approximately 3:45 p.m. today. When certified this catch will eclipse the 1,142 pounder caught by Jack Herrington in 1974. The world record Atlantic Blue Marlin weighing 1,402.20 pounder was caught in Brazil in 1992.
The Mimi is registered in all tournament categories. Final results to be announced tonight at 9 p.m. during the awards ceremony.
For more information on 25th Annual Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament or any of the 2008 Pirate’s Cove Big Game Tournaments go to http://www.pcbiggame.com or call (252) 473-1015.
Largemouth
Andy Thompson
August 14, 2008 9:44 PM
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Today’s column is about monster-bass fisherman Chris Jenkins (above), who I went fishing with this past Saturday. This guy knows more about big largemouth bass and how to catch them than anyone I’ve ever talked to. He’s spent the past few years trying to haul in the Virginia state record.
Click here for an interesting article I found online about going after the biggest bass in Virginia.
As I mentioned in today’s column, Jenkins recommended a book called Sowbelly: The Obsessive Quest for the World-Record Largemouth Bass to me during our trip. I’m just a few chapters into it, but I already know I’ll be passing it on to friends. There are some great characters profiled. A few are like Jenkins in some ways, only they live in California, where it seems inevitable the world record will be broken. Virginia produces some big largemouth, but none have approached the 20-pound mark.
Big bass fishin’…
Andy Thompson
August 13, 2008 10:53 AM
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...True, true, the above does not really qualify as a “big bass,” though it is yours truly with a perfectly respectable 3-4-pound largemouth.
Friday’s column will be about a trip I took recently with a local angler in search of the Virginia record largemouth. It’s was quite an eye-opening day/night of fishing.
(Aside: Cavaliers fans don’t fret. The t-shirt I’m wearing in the picture is more a comment on the gifts my Tech-loving in-laws give me than a statement of my rooting interests. A native Pennsylvanian, I remain a Penn State fan through and through. And, yes, sad to say, it’s time for Joe Paterno to go.)
Heads up for hunters
Andy Thompson
August 11, 2008 4:40 PM
This was just released by the Department of Conservation and Recreation:
RICHMOND—Applications are being accepted for special lottery deer hunts at Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County, Kiptopeke State Park in Northampton County, Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County and Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County.
Grayson Highlands will hold a youth general firearms hunt Nov. 15 and general firearms hunts Nov. 17-18. Applications are due by Sept. 24 for both of the Grayson Highlands hunts.
Kiptopeke will hold an archery-muzzleloader hunt Nov. 7-8 and shotgun hunt Dec. 12-13. The lottery application deadlines for both of the Kiptopeke hunts is Oct. 3.
Lake Anna will hold a muzzleloader hunt Nov. 18-19 and a muzzleloader-shotgun hunt on Dec 2-3. The application deadline for both lottery hunts is Sept. 19.
Pocahontas muzzleloader-shotgun hunts will be Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 17-18, with applications due by Sept. 26.
A $5 non-refundable application fee must be submitted for each hunt. Anyone may enter the lotteries for a chance to participate in the controlled hunts, however successful applicants on the day of the hunt must show proof of completion of a hunter safety education course and pay a $10 fee. Each lottery entry requires a separate application.
For more information about these and other hunting opportunities and programs in Virginia State Parks or to obtain a lottery application, contact the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center at 1-800-933-PARK. Applications and information may also be found at http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/hunting.shtml
False Cape State Park, in conjunction with Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, will hold lottery hunts for deer and feral pig on Oct. 4, 6-8, and 23-25. Interested hunters must apply through the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries quota hunt system. Applications may be made online at http://www.vaquotahunts.com or by phone at 1-877-VAHUNTS Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. The lottery deadline for the False Cape-Back Bay hunts is Aug. 29.
For information on quota hunts, hunting licenses, hunter safety education and hunting regulations, call the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries at (804) 367-1000 or visit the DGIF website at http://www.dgif.virginia.gov .
Mason Neck State Park, in conjunction with the Potomac River National Wildlife Refuge, will hold lottery hunts Nov. 20-21 and Dec. 12. The lottery deadline is Oct. 3. Interested hunters should contact the Potomac River National Wildlife Refuge at (703) 490-4979 for more information.
The award winning Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
First striper
Andy Thompson
August 11, 2008 6:56 AM
Future loyal reader of the T-D Outdoors column Jack Wilson (above), a Hanover resident, hauled in his first striped bass recently. Not bad for nine years old!
Jack’s dad, Kris, sent in this description.
The striper weighed 15 lbs—his first striper ever. He caught 2 total along with 4 catfish and several hundred sunfish. Caught it on a live minnow at Smith Mountain lake [this past] Monday morning around 7 a.m. fishing near the #39 bouy in about 45 feet of water. His buddy Adam Brackley caught 2 stripers also - slightly smaller but both decent fish in the 10-12-lb range.
Hunting with Hounds in Virginia
Andy Thompson
August 10, 2008 7:19 AM
Today’s column was about the recommendations recently released by the stakeholder advisory committee concerning hound hunting. For the link to the full draft, click here.
It includes the list of meetings across the state where the public can comment.
Speed Goat
Andy Thompson
August 06, 2008 3:33 PM
That’s what they call Karl Meltzer, an ultra-runner who yesterday began his quest to break the Appalachian Trail speed record. He started at Mt. Katahdin in Maine and he’ll run to Springer Mountain in Georgia. The current record of 47 days, 13 hours and 13 minutes is held by Andrew Thompson (thankfully, not yours truly) of Vermont.
Click here to follow Meltzer’s progress. If he makes it this far, he should be coming through Virginia in about 22-25 days. Crazy.
Click here for an article in the Salt Lake Tribune about Meltzer, a Utah resident.
Perseid Meteor Shower
Andy Thompson
August 06, 2008 6:51 AM
For the amateur astronomers out there, I received this email from Astronomy Magazine:
Campers, early commuters, and casual sky observers can watch shooting stars in the predawn sky August 12 when one of the year’s best meteor showers peaks. Perseid meteors will rain down before sunrise. Viewers can expect to see 60 to 90 meteors per hour under a dark sky after the Moon sets in the early morning.
The best time to spot the meteor sky show is around 1:30 a.m. local daylight time the day of the peak. If the forecast calls for cloudy skies August 12, look for a decent show a day or two before and after.
Bright, fast meteors, many leaving smoke trails visible for several seconds, characterize the Perseid meteor shower. The Perseids result when Earth runs into debris ejected by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
A dark sky provides the best conditions for viewing the shower. “Dark” skies are at least 40 miles away from light-polluted cities. This shower is best seen without a telescope or binoculars, because eyes alone provide the largest field of view.
Even more on nature walks
Andy Thompson
August 04, 2008 9:21 AM
A couple of readers wrote me with some interesting information about the nature walks featured in Sunday’s paper. I thought them worth sharing.
Celia Thompson said she tried to do the Pipeline Walk but was greeted by a few vagrants at the James River shoreline. What I recommended to her would be a good idea for anyone who wants to go check out the area: Start instead at the metal ladder at the east end of the pipeline catwalk on the south side of the floodwall at 14th Street. Walk west instead of east and slide off the pipeline at any point you feel comfortable to get a closer look at the blue crabs, cormorants, herons and other critters in the area.
Jim Lyons-Hart wrote in with some great background on Wahrani Nature Park. Here’s what he had to say:
I enjoyed your article in the Sunday paper about the Wahrani Nature Park. I lived in New Kent County from 1986 until late 1999 and hiked the Wahrani trails many times. Previously the trails were privately owned by the Chesapeake Corporation but were open to the public for hiking. Although the trails have been incorporated into the New Kent Parks & Recreation System it appears from your article they no longer provide trail guide pamphlets at the parking lot. Obviously the probability of getting lost was minimized by use of the trail guide. I did locate a trail guide on the web at
http://www.co.new-kent.va.us/parks/facilities/WAHRANI06.pdf
The concept of the Chesapeake Corporation for the park was quite nice. Trail guide pamphlets provided directions and noted historical and environmental information about areas along the hike. The trail map clearly exhibited three looping trails each increasing in length and time to hike. The pamphlet described an area of one trail where the banks of the trail rose on either side to be nearly 8 feet higher than foot level. It was explained that this part of the trail was once a portion of a road used during the colonial period to go to and from Williamsburg. Over many years the wear and tear of horse, wagon, and foot traffic dug into the earth to create the banks. The pamphlet stated the area where you saw the accreted seashells was a series of open mine pits. The marl dug out of the pits was used during colonial times for making concrete and other masonry materials. If you step off the trail in this area you can still see some of the open pit grooves left from the mining operations. It’s good to hear the trees are still marked along the trail. The pamphlet guided the hiker through the forest changes by describing the flora at selected sites.
I’m glad the trails are still there and available for hiking. However, it’s sad to hear the educational opportunity has been lost.
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