Author Archives: Hank Sibley Bluewater Yacht Sales

Want to frustrate me completely? Want to make me nuts? Catch a commercial fish thief who shows no regard for our natural resources, state or federal laws, conservation principles, or anything else. Then inform this scofflaw that he’s subject to a terrible fine: $250. Slap-on-the-hand treatment for rockfish violators – Inside Outside – Washington TimesContinueContinue reading “Slap-on-the-hand treatment for rockfish violators – Inside Outside”

  In all his years as a professional bass fisherman, including 40 as an outdoor television show host, Bill Dance never caught a bass this big. Never a bass this big, says coastal convert | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Virginia Beach’s Kay Alley with her state tournament-leading sheepshead that weighed 14 pounds, 5 ounces. (Photo courtesy of David Oswale) 2008 was a good to salt water anglers | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

NOAA has established eight separate marine protected areas encompassing a total of 529 square nautical miles in south Atlantic federal waters to shield deep-water fish species and their habitats from fishing. All fishing for snappers, groupers, tilefishes, grunts, porgies, and sea basses is prohibited throughout the protected areas, which are located off the coast fromContinueContinue reading “NOAA Establishes Eight Marine Protected Areas to Provide Safe Havens for Deep-Water Fish”

B.J. Jenkins shook his head as he hosed off his 41-foot boat. He had finished filleting just-caught rockfish after cutting short Thursday’s charter fishing trip. Watermen: It was not a day to be out in a small boat | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Natural Resources Police seized nearly 3 tons of striped bass Sunday from a trawler and charged a Dorchester County seafood processor with illegal commercial fishing in Maryland waters. It was the second time in less than a week that officers had charged Jack C. Colbourne, owner of Colbourne Seafood Inc. in Secretary, with illegal fishing.ContinueContinue reading “Illegal fishing charged; tons of rockfish seized —”

Recreational saltwater anglers pumped more than $31 billion into the U.S. economy in 2006, with Florida, Texas, California, Louisiana and North Carolina receiving the largest share according to a new study issued by NOAA’s Fisheries Service. Saltwater angling worth $31 billion – Gone Fishing – al.com

Striped bass continued to provide quality fishing last weekend for anglers fishing within three miles of the Delaware and Maryland beaches. Locations reported to be producing stripers included Hens and Chickens Shoal off Rehoboth, the lumps between Sea Colony and the Maryland line and Little Gull Bank off Ocean City. Fishing Report | delawareonline |ContinueContinue reading “Deleware Fishing Report”

Trolling and drifting eels for striped bass off Smith Island is producing nice fish ranging from 25 to 45 pounds, with some in the 50-pound range.   FISHING REPORT | Richmond Times-Dispatch

  Survivor describes engine failing, boat capsizing | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Police say two people are dead and four others were being treated at area hospitals after their 18-foot aluminum boat capsized in the Chesapeake Bay UPDATE: 2 dead after boat flips off Va. Beach | Richmond Times-Dispatch

First fishing question of the day. It’s winter. Coastal waters of the Atlantic are teeming with striped bass. Lots of fish appear to be swimming in the waters out past three miles. What’s all that equal? Tons of internet chatter about who is fishing illegally. And if Coast Guard reports have anything to tell, lotsContinueContinue reading “Striper operations in full swing”

Few have noses as keen for finding big striped bass during fishing tournaments as Max King. In the past four years, King has won the Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout twice. One of the two years that he didn’t win, he fielded two teams that placed fourth and seventh. King rules area in netting big striper |ContinueContinue reading “King rules area in netting big striper”

Skip Feller has been converted. The Virginia Beach headboat captain has gone from pro-fessional fishing guide to expert angler in seven short weeks. Pro guide earns expert angler status in 7 weeks | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

NOAA’s Fisheries Service released its final rule today to create a national saltwater angler registry of all marine recreational fishermen to help the nation better protect our shared marine resources. A requirement to establish a registry was included in a statute approved by Congress in 2007. NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – NOAAContinueContinue reading “NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – NOAA to Create Saltwater Angler Registry in 2010”

Everyone knows that the Chesapeake Bay is in deep trouble. One of the clearest signs is the state of our fishing industry. There are bans on clamming, serious limits on yellow perch fishing and restrictions on crab harvests so severe that the federal government is spending $10 million to help watermen. This is a farContinueContinue reading “Saving the bay’s fisheries”

Happy New Year! The New Year means a new license for some of us. Make certain that yours is current. January has always been a month for the die-hard fisherman, both fresh and salt water. Even with the milder winters that we have been experiencing, January can be down right chilly. However, with the returnContinueContinue reading “Northern Neck Fishing Report”

MOREHEAD CITY – Recreational fishermen licensed in North Carolina won’t likely need to sign on to a new federal saltwater angler registry. N.C. anglers may be exempt from federal registry | anglers, noaa, fish – News – Jacksonville Daily News

Don’t expect great fishing during the first four days of the new year. Unsettled weather is throwing too many monkey wrenches into local anglers’ plans. KEN NEILL / SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES Virginia angler Charles Southall caught this 57 1/2-pound rockfish just before the Chesapeake Bay season closed. Washington Times – GENE MUELLER: WeatherContinueContinue reading “Weather slows exciting start to year”

Mike, left, and Matt Stephens sport a pair of chunky winter rockfish, caught at the tunnel in the lower Chesapeake. Kiptopeke, Va.) — The parking lot at the Kiptopeke boat ramp was jammed with trucks and SUVs, trailers in tow, even though it was just slightly past 7 a.m. Chesapeake Sportsman: Rock are easy pickingsContinueContinue reading “Chesapeake Sportsman: Rock are easy pickings at bay bridge tunnel”

A look back at 2008 through the eyes of the people who provide the fishing and hunting stories for this column is a good way to get a feel for how the events of the past year fit into the mosaic of the past, thus providing some insights as to the what the new yearContinueContinue reading “Bob Sampson: The year that was featured both good and bad”

OREGON INLET, N.C. – The Coast Guard rescued three from a 71-foot fishing trawler which sunk near Oregon Inlet, N.C. CG Rescues 3 From Sunken Boat

Annapolis angler just misses state record with 65-pounder Last is not necessarily least, some fishermen such as Joseph Hedges of Cape St. John in Annapolis, save the best for last – and when they score they do so with the biggest bang imaginable. How about in the waning days of the season, the biggest striperContinueContinue reading “Chesapeake saves best rockfish for last of season”

A new fishing guide license system will allow Virginia charter boat operators access to Maryland waters for the first time in more than a decade.Expected to impact those based in the Northern Neck more than this far south in the Chesapeake Bay, the regulations nevertheless open up possibilities previously prohibited Md. waters open to VirginiaContinueContinue reading “Md. waters open to Virginia charter fishing boats”

A cold shiver runs down the spine of commercial fishermen whenever government shows up at the docks, prescribes another bitter regulatory pill and promises that although the pill might be hard to swallow, it will, over the long run, cure what ails of the fishing industry. How commercial fishing fits – Columns – News &ContinueContinue reading “How commercial fishing fits:”

Call it the rockfish season that never ends. Right up till the end of the year, Chesapeake Bay anglers are hauling in the biggest striped bass you’ve ever seen. The one that recently caught my eye was the 65-pounder caught by Joseph Hedges of Annapolis, who checked in the massive rock (the local name forContinueContinue reading “Big Rock, Big Concerns”

Northern Neck Virginia charter fishing captain Billy Pipkin (ingrambaymarina.com) said the fishing in his part of the Chesapeake Bay has been picking up steadily and shows no signs of slowing down. More and more striped bass are entering the area around the Maryland-Virginia state line, and some are heading up the Bay. The rest ofContinueContinue reading “More and more stripers making their way up Bay”

Plenty of rockfish are being caught by trollers in the Bay and the Potomac.  Saturday was excellent as big fish were caught everywhere up and down the ships channel.  Cove Point was hot.  Capt, Ritchie Roberts landed a 60 pound, 56 inch rockfish on his charter boat the "Mary Lynn".     Local FIshing Report -ContinueContinue reading “Local Fishing Report – Southern Maryland News, Charles County, Calvert County and St. Mary’s County News”

Boat anglers out of Lewes, Indian River Inlet and Ocean City reported a couple of days when winds and seas were calm enough to fish. According to reports, striped bass are still available in the waters within a mile or two of the beach. Most of the rockfish are hitting trolled baits, including Mann’s StretchContinueContinue reading “Delmarva Fishing Report”

It’s getting close to crunch time: Just seven shopping days are left before Christmas morning.For the spouse or child of a hunter, hiker or angler, do not panic. Although you have been procrastinating, there’s still plenty of time. What follows is a list of gift ideas all easily available in local stores. Simple shopping ideasContinueContinue reading “Simple shopping ideas for sportsmen”

Recent cold weather has kicked off what should be the prime season for striped bass fishing along the Virginia and North Carolina coasts. A few large stripers have moved into Virginia waters around the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and along the Eastern Shore Outdoors notebook: Action for big stripers should pick up on coastContinueContinue reading “Outdoors notebook: Action for big stripers should pick up on coast”

The last sail of the year was a good one — stiff breeze from the south, flocks of wintering sea ducks buzzing around close to the water and, as expected, the Chesapeake Bay as clear and clean as all outdoors. Angus Phillips – Angus Phillips: Old Ideas Are Polluting the Chesapeake Bay’s Future – washingtonpost.com

A traditional birthright of all Marylanders — the ability to catch a blue crab with a chicken neck, a string and a net — could soon require a government license, under a proposal unveiled yesterday by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Regulators Target Recreational Crabbers – washingtonpost.com

  FDA Draft Report Urges Consumption of Fish, Despite Mercury Contamination – washingtonpost.com

Bass schools are showing up on a daily basis as they migrate southward, though it’s been a tough proposition to find keeper-sized fish inside the 3-mile federal limit. Stripers, blackfish continue strong run | thedailyjournal.com | The Daily Journal

  Catching a state-record fish is the dream of some anglers. Catching world-record fish, an improbable feat, is the pinnacle of sport fishing achievement in the eyes of many. Gwen Frazier may have done both recently, but we’ll never know, because she let the fish go. newsobserver.com | Ultimate catch-and-release

Over 60 birds and a dolphin washed ashore On the ocean beach in Montauk The East Hampton Star – News

Despite the frigid temperatures and strong winds, there still were a few hearty fishermen trying their luck in the local waters. Boat anglers who made it out last weekend had mixed reports, with some finding fish and others not having luck. Boaters fishing the inshore wrecks and Artificial Reef Sites 10 and 11 have beenContinueContinue reading “Fishing Report Delaware”

  While it got nowhere near as cold back in Anne Arundel County in recent days, expect the fishing for sea-run stripers to begin to taper off as Chesapeake water temperatures slide closer to 40 degrees. But, when the bay was relatively calm Monday some nice catches were made by the few who weren’t intimidatedContinueContinue reading “Annapolis Outdoors Stripers”

Pierre Affre visited from Paris last month, filming a report for French television on the health of the striped bass population in the United States contrasted with the steep decline in population of the European sea bass. (The European bass is identical to the striped bass, except it has no stripes.) Suzy Allman for TheContinueContinue reading “From France, a Different View of the Sea Bass Fishery”

  Cooler water temperatures curtailing catch | APP.com | Asbury Park Press

This week showed it’s still all about the Chesapeake’s stripers. "The fishing was really good this week," said Christy Henderson of Buzz’s Marina on St. Jerome’s Creek. "Rockfish were scattered between the HS Buoy and Buoy 68. They are also concentrated at the mouth of the Potomac River. Some people are reporting catches in theContinueContinue reading “Washington Times – GENE MUELLER: Bay is perfect for rockfish”

It was long before dawn on a cold, clear night when Ray Frank and his son Ryan left their homes north of Baltimore to drive to southern Maryland and fish for striped bass that the weekend angler wouldn’t even think were available in December. But now is when well-fed rockfish arrive from the Atlantic OceanContinueContinue reading “Washington Times – GENE MUELLER: Fishing captain-to-be gets his sea legs”

Can it be that big striper fishing in the Chesapeake is getting turned around? Trophy rockfish tip seasonal scales – Outdoors – (HometownAnnapolis.com)

Let the record season begin. This year already has produced a Virginia state record striped bass and an International Game Fish Association 2-pound line-class world-record for striper. Experts expect records to fall as big fish move in | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

  On Nov. 28, Luke Kushner caught a 52.5-pound, 45.5-inch striped bass in the Severn River off Bay Ridge in Annapolis Giant rockfish helps Queenstown man earn stripes — baltimoresun.com

Many veterans of the Hot Ditch area of the Elizabeth River have lately voiced their concern with the killing of vast numbers of large speckled trout. These big females, they argue, are being taken home and weighed – read killed – by the hundreds each year. Catch and Release | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

15% End of year discount! Tournament approved circle hook rigged baits now available! Winter is here and that means the arrival of the tough, winter greenback ballyhoo. These baits are brined using Baitmasters revolutionary brining powder MagicBrine, then Blast frozen at -30F. This produces a bait that has a more natural color and will trollContinueContinue reading “A Special Offer from BAITMASTERS OF SOUTH FLORIDA”

Last week I bumped into a friend who was scrambling to get his boat and gear together in hopes of grabbing an hour of striper fishing before dark. He was all was set and ready to go when he realized that all of his spot had died and he would have to take time toContinueContinue reading “Fisherman use faux bait for stripers”

  Fishing forecast for the week of Nov. 27 – Dec. 4 | HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com

Recent cold weather has kicked off what should be the prime season for striped bass fishing along the Virginia and North Carolina coasts Outdoors notebook: Action for big stripers should pick up on coast – Roanoke.com