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We are in
a new year which means that it is a good time to check your various
fishing licenses. Your Virginia saltwater license is good for
one year from your purchase date. Your HMS (tuna) permits are
annual. Dont forget your Tilefish and Grouper Permit though participation
in this fishery is down due to weather, dogfish, and the closure
of the sea bass fishery. In addition to all of this, there is
a new requirement this year. You must now
register with the federal government also. National Saltwater
Angler registration is free in 2010. To register, anglers can
visit www.countmyfish.noaa.gov
and click on the Angler Registry link, or call the toll-free registration
line at 1-888-MRIP411 (1-888-674-7411) from 4:00 am to 12 midnight
EST daily. A good number of us will not have to register; like
those of us who also hold a North Carolina license or hold HMS
permits.
Anglers
don't have to register if they:
- Hold a
license from one of 15 coastal states with comprehensive licensing
or registration Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina,
Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Washington;
- Are not
required under state law in one of these 15 states to hold a
fishing license as is sometimes the case with seniors or active-duty
military;
- Are under
age 16;
- Pay to
fish on licensed charter, party or guide boats;
- Hold a
Highly Migratory Species Angling permit or subsistence fishing
permit;
- Fish commercially
under a valid license.
The January
issue of Virginia Wildlife has an article about deep-dropping
written by Ken Perrotte. It features the Healthy Grin and anglers
Wes Blow, Chris Boyce, and Ric Burnley.
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/virginia-wildlife/
Two fishing
shows about Virginia will air on ESPN2 over the next several weeks.
The first will air this Sunday, Jan. 10 at 7:30 am. It will be
shown again the following Saturday, Jan. 16 at 6:30 am. The second
Virginia show will first air on Sunday, Feb. 14 at 7:30 and will
be shown again on Feb 20 at 6:30 am. http://www.georgepoveromo.com/saltwaterworld.htm
Fishing action
has been slow. The weather is cold and windy keeping most boats
in port. When you head out, be careful. The water is cold and
the ramps are iced up. Rockfish action has been good along the
beach south of Rudee Inlet. There will be plenty of rockfish caught
this week during the Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout: http://www.midatlanticrockfishshootout.com/index.html
.
Speckled trout
are being caught in the Elizabeth River. Tautog should be available
on the coastal wrecks though I have not heard of anyone fishing
for them lately. Jigging for blackfin tuna is very good out of
Hatteras Inlet. Some giant bluefin are being caught out of Morehead
City.
It is time
to sign up for the Virginia Game Fish Tagging Program. Call (757)
491-5160 to register.
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