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Local fisherman leading in annual tournament

Three area fishermen were leading in the 55th annual Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament when results as of Sept. 5 were announced, according to information from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, which oversees the yearlong tournament.

Matthew Hamay, of Gloucester, was leading in the black drum species, with an 86-pound fish he caught south of Fisherman Island using bait fishing.

Capt. Josh Jordan, of Poquoson, hooked a 97-pound cobia to lead the species while bait fishing in Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.

Robert B. Gennings, of Williamsburg, was leading in the kingfish (roundhead) species with a 1 pound, 9 ounce kingfish he hooked while bait fishing along Hampton Bay.

Three other tournament leaders set new state records with the International Game Fish Association.

Cary Wolfe, of Bristow, caught a 74-pound striped bass to set a new state record. He caught the fish while trolling off Virginia Beach.

Ken Neill III, of Seaford, set a state record with a 24 pound, 3 ounce tautog he caught bait fishing in the Morgan Wreck area off Virginia Beach.

Susan Nelson, of Whiteford, Md., has the state record so far with a wahoo weighing a little more than 122 pounds. She made the catch trolling offshore near Wachapreague.

The fishing tournament, funded with revenues from Virginia's saltwater fishing licenses, offers wooden wall citation plaques or album-sized certificates for 35 species of saltwater fish which meet minimum criteria.

For more information on the tournament, contact Lewis S. Gillingham at 757-491-5160 or email vswft@mrc.virginia.gov.

The International Game Fish Association was founded in 1939. The nonprofit group works to protect game fish and promote responsible fishing. It maintains a museum, library, hall of fame and tackle-fishing records. Its headquarters is in Dania Beach.

For more information on the organization, email Ken Neill at jackcrevelle@msn.com.