Annual Bluefish derby includes stripers and croakers

The annual Reedville Bluefish Derby with fishing competition scheduled for Friday June 8th and Saturday 9th, 2007 continues to gain new supporters and participants, especially since the addition of several new prize categories. Adding striped bass and croaker prizes increases the chances for those who attend this fund raiser which supports local waterborne rescue efforts. Smith Point Sea Rescue, Inc is a volunteer organization that assists many stranded boaters each year. Operating on donations and this popular annual fundraiser, the bluefish derby has become their mainstay for being able to provide assistance to those in need on the water. Bluefish derby activities stretch across two days of fishing competition and three afternoon and evenings of registration, fun and celebration. As in previous years, all activities take place at Buzzard's Point Marina in Reedville, Virginia.

Tournament registration is on Thursday, June 7 from 12:00 noon until 8:00 p.m. A captain's meeting takes place at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, June 7. (Late registration is at 6:30 a.m. on the fishing days of June 8th and 9th.) Fishing hours on June 8 are 6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on June 9. All boats entered in the 2007 competition must register prior to fishing. Cost to enter the 2007 competition is $200 per boat and is considered a charitable donation. For additional information or to get an entry form, call Jett's Hardware at (804) 453-5325.

Primary prize categories for the 2007 Reedville Bluefish Derby include $5,000 for the largest bluefish and striped bass (rockfish), $3000 for the 2nd largest bluefish and rockfish, $2,000 for the 3rd largest bluefish and rockfish, and $1,500 for the 4th largest bluefish and rockfish caught during the course of the two days of fishing competition. Cash prizes for croakers are $3,000 for the largest, $2,000 for the second largest and $1,000 for the 3rd largest fish caught over the two days of fishing
competition. There are also daily prizes for bluefish, rockfish and croakers of $200 and $150 for the largest fish caught each day on June 8 and June 9. Celebrate your winnings or those of friends and fellow anglers during the three evening of the 2007 Reedville Bluefish Derby by enjoying the food, fun and music scheduled on the grounds of Buzzard's Point Marina. A DJ is scheduled for Thursday night and the band, FAB is to provide live entertainment on Friday and Saturday evenings, June 8th and 9th.

Waters local to the Reedville Bluefish Derby competition include Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay and tributaries where the recreational striped bass season continues through June 15. The possession limit is two fish from 18 to 28 inches. One of these can be larger than 32 inches. A catch report is required for 32 inch or larger stripers caught during these May-June seasons in Virginia. Copies of the catch report are available online from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). For additional information, visit the VMRC website at;
http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/swrecfishingrules.shtm or call (757) 247-2200.

The Maryland recreational striped bass season continues through December 15 with a creel limit of two fish per person per day between 18 and 28 inches, or one fish between 18 and 28 inches and one fish over 28 inches. Additional information on Maryland’s 2007 recreational striped bass seasons can be obtained by visiting visit the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by calling 1-800-688-3467 or visiting their website at, www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries. The Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) recreational striped bass season continues through December 31, 2007 and allows anglers to keep two striped bass per person per day at 18 to 28 inches in length. One of these two fish can exceed 28 inches. All PRFC waters are open to possession of striped bass, from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (Route I-95) to Smith Point, Virginia. For additional information call 1-800-266-3904 or search information at the PRFC website, http://www.prfc.state.va.us/index.htm

Photo: Stripers like these caught on May 10, 2007 aboard the charterboat "Rock IT" with Captain Tim "TK" Kastel will be among the species pursued during the June 8-9 Reedville Bluefish Derby.