Looking back on 2020, I figured it was time to paws – those are Oliver Tolliver’s paws in the picture and those of you who follow my social media know I use them as a play on words. I post some of his paw pictures when it’s time for some reflection. And there is no better time as we near…
When Chase Robinson passed away, fishing buddy and charter captain Jake Hiles decided that if anyone was going to break his friend’s bluefin tuna record, it would be him. So last February, with bluefin starting to show off the coast, Hiles and Jeff Landis left Rudee Inlet on a voyage to see if they could hook up with a bluefin…
If you knew Bruce Barefoot, you were lucky enough to know one of Virginia Beach’s true characters. After years of working at the grain elevators in Norfolk after graduating from Bayside High, he finally realized a lifelong dream and opened Footer’s Sports Pub. Over 30-some years, the business grew and along with it his reputation as a serious sports fan,…
Layla Knighton sat in the truck with her cousin as minutes that seemed like hours passed. Suddenly, the call on the radio startled the boredom. “They jumped one,” her father, Chris, said. “Get ready, they’re heading your way.” The 15-year-old from Bumpass, headed up a small hill and passed a creek when her cousin shouted: “deer to your right.” “I…
Driving north on Backwoods Road, just south of the Virginia-NC border, something in the field to the left caught my eye. With no one behind me, I slowed to a crawl and took in the view. At least four dozen turkey working through a recently cut down soy bean field with no care in the world. Hey, it’s deer season…
How about a nice close-up of a little largemouth bass caught in a rural Knotts Island pond. Caught it while crappie fishing there a coupla weeks ago. Your chances of catching some bass, crappie or plenty of other species is super good right now, as fishing is red hot. Freshwater fishing in lakes, ponds and tidal waters is on fire,…
Fall, at least in this mind, means fish with spots all over them. You know, speckled trout and crappie. Got a chance last week to join a few long-time buddies on Knotts Island to fish a small pond off one of the creeks that extend from where Back Bay and Currituck Sound trade waters. The target was crappie, or as…
Camden County Sheriff Kevin Jones held up the cake for a picture, then jokingly commented on slipping away to his office with it. Deputies and other staff members laughed, but were having none of such nonsense. That cake was going to be a nice finisher after a meal of barbecue, slaw, beans and fried chicken. The idea of feeding the…
He stood on the end of a small floating dock, watching a bobber dance and move as the minnow underneath is pulled and tugged. With one eye on his live bait, he cast an artificial bait into different parts of a small pond in northeastern North Carolina, hoping with every cast of the lure that a strike would result. He…
Isn’t this a great close-up of a dolphin (Mahi Mahi)? It was sent to us by Capt. Bill Pappas Jr. of Playin Hookey Charters. It’s nice to see people trying different approaches other than the standard “hold your fish up in front of you” photograph. Fish such as dolphin, speckled trout, puppy drum and others all offer creative opportunities. And…
The announcement came last week that the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission had approved Virginia’s plan on how to disperse allocated CARES Act funds among the state’s fishermen and women. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act set aside about $4.5 million to three segments of Virginia’s fishing industry – Commercial Fishing and Aquaculture, Deal or Processor, and Charter-for-Hire.…
The region’s creeks, tidal rivers, inlets and sounds could be pretty crowded for the next week or so. It’s gonna be pretty snotty in any kind of open water. It’s a shame that most if not all boats will be staying in port, because the offshore scene off the coast of both states has been fantastic. Blue marlin, sailfish, swordfish,…
