Stand-Up Paddleboarding – Share the Stoke 

There are so many reasons to love Virginia Beach, and this past summer, I found a new one – stand-up paddling (or SUPping). If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to walk on water, you should give this growing sport a try. 

Stand-up paddlers stand on what looks like an oversized surfboard, paddle in hand, and glide through the water at whatever speed they choose. Sometimes they race, sometimes they surf the ocean waves, and sometimes they just stand on a calmer body of water and take in the beauty that surrounds them.

Stand-up paddling as a sport is in its infancy, and the SUP community in Virginia Beach seems to have one unifying goal, to make newcomers feel welcome and to “share the stoke.” In other words, they know how exciting and beginner-friendly their sport is, and they want you to understand that too. These people don’t shake hands. When you show up to a paddleboard gathering, even if you’ve never been before, you’ll probably get a hug, an “aloha,” and a friendly smile.

On a sunny afternoon in December, I joined members of the Paddle VBgroup for their Christmas Eve Eve paddle at the Narrows inside First Landing State Park. About two dozen people headed out on the calm waters of the Lynnhaven River for a short paddle and then came back to socialize before the holiday weekend. It was a chance to unwind from the hectic week of shopping and prepping and an excuse to get outside and enjoy the mild weather we’ve had this year. Some wore wetsuits, but most their regular clothes knowing that it wouldn’t be likely that they would fall in. (No one did.)

So even though the water temps have gone down, stand-up paddling is still a thriving recreational activity in Virginia Beach. There are several clubs, like Paddle VB and Babes Only On Board but there are also a handful of local companies that offer rentals and tours for those who don’t own a board. No matter where you live in Virginia Beach, from Shore Drive (Tula Adventure Sports) to the Oceanfront (Beach Eco Toursto Sandbridge (Surf & Adventure  ) there’s somewhere nearby where you could try out this fun sport.

If you’re looking to learn more about the sport and what the Virginia Beach SUP community has going on, you can also check out Atlantic Paddle Source.  A few local paddlers recently launched the website and journal, which is already a respected resource up and down the coast.

 A Whale of a Walk

I can’t make any promises, but I’ve heard that beach walkers at the North End of Virginia Beach have been spotting humpback whales offshore. That’s right, whales off the coast of Virginia! According to a recent newspaper article, Winter Wildlife Boat Trips, sponsored by the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, are reporting record numbers of whale sightings, especially in the waters off Ft. Story. You can see a portion of the ocean at Ft. Story from the beach at Eighty-ninth Street. Humpback whales are described as graceful acrobats that perform dazzling acts such as slapping their flippers and tail on the water; “spy hopping,” which means raising a third of their body above the water to look around like a periscope; and “breaching,” which means launching their entire body out of the water.

According to the American Cetacean Society, humpbacks are warm-blooded mammals that nurse their young. They weigh twenty-five to forty tons and measure up to fifty feet in length. The whales being spotted off the coast of Virginia are generally smaller and are likely juvenile whales. Humpbacks can eat up to a ton and a half of fish and sea-life in a single day. They suck large quantities of water into their mouth and force it out through baleen plates, which act like sieves to keep the sea-life inside. They have a unique way of fishing called “bubble-net feeding” where a whale team corrals a school of fish by blowing bubbles and spiraling toward the surface. Of course, you can’t see that from the beach, nor will you hear the males’ melodic singing. A way to increase your chance of sighting a whale is to look for a large flock of birds circling and diving into the ocean, working a school of menhaden or other small fish. Like the birds, humpbacks feed on these fish. You also might see a whale blowing a spout of water ten or twelve feet above the surface of the ocean as it breathes. If you see the Aquarium’s tour boat trolling around, keep an eye on it as well. The possibility of spotting a humpback whale is a good reason to take a walk on the beach this winter. On-street parking on residential streets at the North End is plentiful this time of year, but be sure to check for parking restriction signs before you leave your car. I haven’t seen a whale yet, but you can bet I will keep trying.

Awhile back my Dad and I visited my childhood home with my son, Nathaniel. Having grown up locally, this only entailed a short 30-minute trip and lots of courage. Why courage? I’m not really sure. I guess I’ve never been one to look back so much, and the idea of seeing the home where awkward childhood and pre-teen years unfolded held about as much appeal as middle school gym class (and I hated gym class!).

But with my son approaching 8 years old, I naturally found myself reminiscing more and more about the places and activities I enjoyed when I was his age. I also kept wondering if my favorite climbing trees were still standing, so I called Dad to see if he’d like to photograph them with us. Of course he wanted to! My parents planted three small pine trees well before their children were born, and to them they would always symbolize the three lives they brought into the world. By the time we were in elementary school, those trees were as tall as the house and perfect for climbing and hiding out.

To my surprise and delight, what were once small pine trees now tower enormously over the tiny house my parents lived in as a young couple. It was pure joy to take my son back to my humble childhood home. He took to the trees in that yard as we had as children­: climbing, playing, and fearlessly stretching further to see how high he could go before I’d stop him. The house is currently vacant, which gave us a rare opportunity to explore the yard, peek in the windows, and warmly embrace the lights of the past. We also got a treasure trove of photographs.

My son, Nathaniel, enjoyed the trees just as much as I did as a kid

My dad and my son on the porch of the house I grew up in

It was clear I had forgotten so much of my childhood. Maybe not forgotten, but certainly shelved away for a time. My son, after listening to my Dad and I discuss how virtually nothing about the home’s interior had changed, said, “There are some DEEP memories in that house.” Taking him there seemed an important way to honor a time in my life that is deeply cherished. As young as he is, he amazingly understood the visit’s significance.

I’m not sure I will ever return to the old house, but I peeked at the real estate listing the other day and discovered it had been completely remodeled and prepared for sale. I was so relieved to see it had been restored and could very well give three more small children a great start in life.

Related Links:

While preparing photos and content for this blog post, I was inspired by these links:

 Photo Album: Embracing the Past-Snapshots and stories from the day spent at my childhood home.

Timely Article: Virginia Beach Named One of the Best Places to Raise Kids-Having grown up in Hampton Roads and now raising my son here, this recent recognition came as no surprise. This is an awesome place to visit and raise children. After all, we have one of the highest number of playgrounds per capita in the nation!

Music: I played the song Growin’ up by local musician Julie Clark three times while writing this blog, and it certainly evoked some wonderful memories.

Captain’s Log:  On January 20, what began as a normal Virginia Beach fishing trip suddenly turned into a fabulous forever memory for Cary Wolfe when he fought and defeated an absolute monster striped bass.  Trolling a parachute jig just off the Virginia Beach oceanfront, the Bristow, Virginia, angler enjoyed the thrill of a lifetime when he landed a likely new Virginia state record striped bass of 74 pounds! 

The striper, caught while fishing with one of our expert local charter boat captains, promises to become the new state record striped bass once certified by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament.  Tournament director Lewis Gillingham’s prediction that it would only be a matter of time until someone would set a new striped bass record has come true.  

The huge bass, fought on 80-lb. monofilament line on a 4/0 Penn reel, was so powerful that it had been fraying the heavy line.  The line finally broke, not a moment too soon, just as the fish was being netted. Special congratulations to Cary Wolfe on this outstanding catch.  

 Virginia Beach’s Fab Four will bring you back for more.   If you’ve already visited Virginia Beach, or are just planning that special vacation, a must item for your “to-do list” is to sample Virginia Beach’s “Fab Four”of fishing. That’s right! There are four fabulous sport fish in Virginia Beach waters waiting to put a serious bend in your rod.   These four signature fish are striped bass, white marlin, red drum, and flounder.  

Striped bass, a premier member of the Fab Four, has been a sport fish and food mainstay in Virginia ever since the colonists arrived from England in the early 1600’s.   Not only do stripers put up a great fight, but they are also palate pleasers when served fresh from the bay and ocean in delectable recipes at local restaurants.   Stripers, also known as rockfish, grow to gargantuan proportions (such as the pending 74-lb. state record) with hordes of anglers descending on Virginia Beach to chase this regal fish. 

In 2011, there were 718 weight and 249 release citations for an impressive total of almost 1000 striped bass citations!  The largest striper caught during the 2011 tournament weighed 65 lbs., 1 oz. 

Oh, and just so you know: The new pending Virginia record rockfish of 74 lbs. weighs just a few pounds less than the current world record 81-lb., 14-oz. striped bass.   We’d love for you to come help eclipse that world record and discover why Virginia Beach holds the title of Striped Bass Capital of the World.

White marlin are spectacular billfish that are beautiful to behold and often provide aerial displays and amazing surface runs.  Red drum, on the other hand, are serious mettle-testing combatants that fight down and dirty with dogged determination once hooked.  

Both of these marvelous game fish are eligible for free handsome citation plaques from the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament when released.    In 2011, 914 people who hooked white marlin will receive citation plaques as this fishery enjoyed a banner year with the second highest citation total in tournament history.   Similar success was enjoyed by red drum anglers who released 754 drum for citations this past year.  As any red drum over 26 inches must be released, the Virginia state record remains permanently set at 81 lbs., 4 oz.

Last, but certainly not least, the southern flounder, also known as “fluke”, is a favorite of almost every angler.  This predatory flat fish with two eyes on top of its head lies in wait for prey as it buries itself in the sand on the bottom.  Because flounder are virtually everywhere – in the surf, in the bay, and on the wrecks, it is probably Virginia’s most popular all-around sport fish.    There were 196 citations in 2011 with 190 for weight and 6 for released flounder with a monstrous 13 pounder winning the annual trophy award for largest flounder.  Our state record flatfish is only a few pounds heavier at 17 lbs., 8 oz. This delectable white meat fish also gets top menu billing in Virginia Beach restaurants.   There is nothing better tasting than broiled or baked fresh flounder stuffed with local catch Virginia crab meat!  Just the thought makes me want to put down my rod and enjoy some at one of our many outstanding local seafood restaurants.

So there you have it, Virginia Beach’s Fab Four: striped bass, white marlin, red drum, and flounder.   When you visit Virginia Beach, be sure to set aside time to sample our world-class fishing.  Vacation memories start with sun and fun on the beach, but can be truly enhanced on the water.  You’re invited to come for the fun, wish for a fish, and make some Virginia Beach memories!

If you see me fishing on the beach, please stop and say hello – I will be glad to share the latest fishing news.

Captain’s Tip: So you want to catch a bruiser of a fish?   Charter a local Virginia Beach captain and let him take you right to the trophy fish.  Three of our Fab Four, white marlin, striped bass, and red drum can easily exceed forty pounds while white marlin are marvelous opponents as release citation fish.  

Wishing you tight lines and hard strikes, Capt. Mike

Photo credits:  Richard White

Fish renderings by Duane Raver

I’ve always loved poetry. As an undergraduate at Old Dominion University, I tried my hand at writing a few poems, but the results were pretty embarrassing. Eventually I gave up trying to write in stanzas and focused instead on courses in journalism and technical writing. Such training served me well, but I can’t seem to shake that longing to write in the vein of Emily Dickinson or Mary Oliver. Over the years I have read poetry that caused the hair on my neck to stand on end and my ears to tingle. If it’s a particularly good read, my whole body goes completely cold! For me, good poetry taps something deep and inexpressible and I am grateful to have encountered such moving works.

A friend I have admired over the years is about to complete her second collection of poetry. Her name is Linda Franklin and it has been such a pleasure to read her work regularly via Facebook. It’s a gift, actually. I feel fortunate to have friends who lovingly share and support each other’s passions, whether it’s music, photography or writing.

Linda contacted me recently after I had posted photographs following a walk with Beth and Rusty at First Landing State Park. Out of 300 or so shots I took that day, I only published eight images of a single leaf floating in crystal clear water at the shoreline. There was just something about watching that leaf float so effortlessly that held my interest. The sunlight dappled over the water creating sparkles and light that changed with each passing second. The clarity of the water enabled me to see distinct sand ripples beneath the floating leaf. I posted the shots as I normally do following our walks, thinking they were probably the most boring pictures I had ever taken! They meant something to me though.

It seems I wasn’t alone in my thinking about the floating leaf because Linda’s message included a special request: “I wanted to thank you so much again for sharing your passions and love… After looking at your leaf/water therapy photos I was inspired to write a short poem…I was wondering if it would be ok to share this with others and give credit to your photo.” Of course I said yes!

Here is Linda’s latest poem, inspired by my amateur photographic efforts. Not everyone has the gift of poetry, but this experience has brought home the beauty of ripples, waves and the exponential gifts a simple morning walk can yield.

Fragmented

©Linda Franklin

I sat upon the river’s green edge

And gazed upon reflections

Flowing above their lives.

Colored leaves floating

Without their branches

Swirling with rhyme and reason;

I leaned towards them

And one by one,

I gracefully held them

In the palm of my hand.

Glistening light filled my eyes

Touching every part of my essence

Like no other I have known.

I shall cherish this gift bestowed upon me

For which they came

For new life has come to me.

Photos of my visit to First Landing State Park can be viewed here and here. Hope you have a lovely week filled with much poetry, photographs and music.

Photo credit for photos in this post:  Sherry Friel

Earlier this month , 24/7 Wall Street ranked Virginia Beach as the best run city in America. Women’s Health magazine ranked our fair city as the seventh healthiest city in America.  Yes, Virginia Beach is a great place to visit and a great place to live. Come see for yourself………we’d love to have you!

Now is the perfect time to start planning a trip to Virginia Beach. 

For a solitary stroll in nature, check out Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge at the south end of Virginia Beach. You won’t encounter many people, but during the winter months, approximately ten thousand migratory waterfowl, such as ducks, snow geese and tundra swans, fly into the area. It’s a sight to see. Add more than three hundred species of avian residents, including endangered species such as piping plover, peregrine falcon, and bald eagle, and the refuge becomes a bird watchers’ paradise. Through management of dikes and water impoundments, the refuge provides sustenance for the traveling flocks. To accommodate the wintering waterfowl, the trails along the dikes are closed to pedestrians from the first of November until the end of March. However, adjacent to the Visitor Contact Center, three short trails remain open throughout the year.

Bay Trail at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge

The Bay Trail winds through the wetlands and along Back Bay. Signage on the path identifies the plants and animals that are indigenous to the area, such as osprey, great blue heron, deer, possum, bobcat, and cottonmouth snake (a sight I prefer to do without). On a sunny Saturday in January, we wandered along the Bay Trail and followed the Dune Trail over to the beach, which also remains open during the winter. On our eight-mile roundtrip trek, we had the beach almost entirely to ourselves, if you don’t count the pelicans, dolphins and shorebirds. Even though it was a cold day, the sun was warm and the wind was light. With a hat, gloves, and a winter coat, I stayed perfectly warm. Birdwatchers or walkers who are new to the area might want to take a free, guided walk, sponsored by the refuge and Back Bay Restoration Foundation. Call 619-6429 for information.  However, if it’s the solace of nature you seek, you will find solitude in abundance on a winter walk in Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

Back Bay National Refuge is a birdwatcher's paradise

Hmm, Friday the 13th……..are you superstitious?  According to Wikipedia, the fear of Friday the 13th is called  friggatriskaidekaphobia……..say that three times really fast!  Or even once  - correctly! 

Either way, whatever your feeling about the date is, it’s Friday so how bad can the day really be?  We’re headed into the weekend and another very cool week in Virginia Beach.  Why?  It’s the beginning of Virginia Beach Restaurant Week, a perfect time to experience some of the fabulous restaurants we have across the city. 

From Sunday, Jan. 15 to Sunday, Jan. 22, more than 50 of Virginia Beach’s finest restaurants will be participating in an event that’s sure to break your New Year’s resolution.  Foodies can enjoy two-course prix fixe lunches for $11.12 and three-course prix fixe dinners for $20.12 and $27.12 throughout the week. Indulge in pepper seared tuna, slow cooked prime rib, homemade crab bisque and unrivaled Lynnhaven oysters, not to mention desserts such as coconut flan and warm butter tortes. Appetizers and main dishes range from chicken and steak, to pasta, salmon, and many local deep-sea favorites.  Reservations are recommended.  Click here for the list of participating restaurants and their menus.

Bon Appétit!!

Calendar image courtesy of Wikipedia

Photo credit: Ginny Cohen

Bait, bass and bluefins are the story off Cape Henry. 

Along with the season’s hot striper bite, there has been an amazing inshore bluefin tuna bite as close as the green can buoy right off Cape Henry. Bass and bluefin tuna are feeding on large schools of menhaden and have been joined by four humpback whales. This feeding frenzy has turned into “shock and awe” as tuna in the 100- to 300-pound class have rapidly emptied the reels of numerous striper fishermen leaving them totally speechless other than for some unprintable language. Rock fishermen should bring their “A” game and stoutest gear to avoid this problem and hopefully land a bluefin if it pounces on a striper lure.

One tuna landed during the Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout weighed 265 pounds and will be worth many thousands of dollars to the tournament angler who captured it. The Shootout tournament paid out $145,750 to the seven boats with best rockfish catches. One even larger tuna of 297 pounds has also been landed. Bluefin tuna landed by anglers using 50- and 80- pound class tackle have measured up to 80 inches. Effective tuna lures have included Ilanders and Sea Witches while tuna have also been caught around Chesapeake Light Tower.

Reminder: special federal permits are required for catching and possessing bluefin tuna.

Photo credit: Ginny Cohen

Stripers Rule.

With the shift from bay to ocean season, striped bass seem to be in just the right location since they must now be caught in ocean waters no more than three miles from the beach. Large schools of huge bass, 20 to 40 pounds, are feeding in these waters and are happy to attack most lures pulled in front of them. Rockfish are feeding from the Eastern Shore of Virginia down to Rudee Inlet and Sandbridge with some schools yielding bass to nearly 50 inches! Most charter boats are returning with 6 to 10 large rock fish per boat, just short of their limits. Much of this action has occurred in the daytime right off Cape Henry, just a short run from Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets. It is great to have such outstanding fishing so close to the beach. 

If seeking a really huge striped bass, use live eels just east of Fisherman’s Island. One recent eel-caught bass from that area tipped the scales at an impressive 65 pounds while a 59 pound plus rockfish was also landed off nearby Smith Island with an eel bait. Some of the absolute largest bass are falling for eels fished on modified Carolina rigs using a 3-oz. egg sinker, several feet of 80 lb. monofilament leader, a sharp size 7/0 to 9/0 hook, and a lively eel bait. This rig will get the eel to the bottom in deep water and prevent the fish from feeling any resistance until it is time to set the hook. Fishermen using this technique have continued to land 30-, 40-, and 50-pound stripers. If trolling is your game, time honored methods such as umbrella rigs, dual-rigs, spoons, and Mojos are producing the majority of catches but not necessarily the largest fish.

In addition to the bluefin tuna, schools of bluefish have been mixed in with many of the striper schools. Tautog are still available for anyone willing to forego the striper bite while the offshore set is still returning with excellent catches of golden tilefish, blueline tilefish and grouper. Some speckled trout release citations up to 28 ½ inches are still coming from Rudee Inlet.

Captain’s Tip: Seagulls, perhaps more so than your fish finder, will help you locate the bass. If the gulls are not diving, fish in their general location anyway as they are surface-sitting waiting for the action to resume below. Eventually the bass should drive bait or scraps to the surface and the birds will become active signaling a new bite.

Captain’s Log: If you’ve never fished for striped bass in Virginia Beach, this is the peak season to charter and catch awesome stripers and make forever angling memories. As a bonus, any striper 40 pounds or larger will also earn you a handsome citation plaque from the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament or you may choose to release any rockfish 44 inches or longer and receive a special release citation.

Wishing you tight lines and hard strikes.  See you on the water.

 Weighing 400-800 pounds, and measuring ten to twelve feet in length, bottlenose dolphins are incredible creatures, and incredibly graceful, considering their girth. They work their way up and down the coast in groups, their dorsal fin rising above the water as they surface for air. It’s no wonder people love dolphins. In addition to being beautiful, they’re playful. Sometimes they jump out of the water and slap back down on their side. If the waves are just right and if you’re really lucky, you might see one catching a wave then launching its entire body out through the face of the swell as it curls toward the shore. I didn’t see any dolphins surfing the other day, but I did see them coming up for air and diving back in to get what must have been a tasty meal. Along with a photographer who had a camera with a long lens, I watched the dolphins for a while, but I had to keep moving, and by the time I got back from my two-mile walk, the pod had moved on. Research tells me that feeding times usually peak in the early morning and late afternoon. I suggest that you check a tide chart to find out when low tide will correlate with a feeding time, and plan to take a dolphin watching walk. I read on one website that spotting a dolphin is good luck!