Red drum provide good action for Virginia Beach surf fishing event

When planning events, a lot of factors end up in the mix.

One of the constants, and often the most difficult to deal with, is Mother Nature.

And we all know how much she can tease.

Everything was in place for the Virginia Beach Anglers Club’s inaugural Red Drum Classic surf fishing tournament.

Then the powers that be decided to crank up a coastal low pressure system known around these parts as a nor’easter.

Luckily for those involved, the storm didn’t get going until a few days later - playing no role in last weekend’s 24-hour event staged out of Little Island Park at the southern-most end of Sandbridge.

And for good measure, another of nature’s elements decided to make up for the storm’s threat.

The drum.

A species of raging popularity in this region - where the International Game Fish Association all-tackle world and other records have been caught - reds also are called channel bass.

No matter how you choose to refer to them, reds are an incredible species that grow up to 100 pounds and put up an incredible fight when caught from boats or kayaks, on piers or from the beach.

And this time of year, schools of the biggest boys and girls are beginning their migrations south.

They have to pass right by Sandbridge on their voyage.

So nobody with the club was surprised when the 75 anglers entered caught, scored and released 26 drum that were part of a total of 60 scoring fish.

Prizes were given in divisions for men, women and youth for the biggest red drum, largest bluefish and heaviest roundhead.

Anglers came from as far away as Delaware and West Virginia.

“The Hampton Roads area is long recognized as a premier destination for boat fishermen with access to arguably the world’s most productive artificial reef, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel,” said VBAC tournament organizer Shannon Ferguson. Chris Schramm was the co-chairman of the tournament.

“It may come as a surprise to some that the area is also home to some of the best surf fishing on the East Coast,” Ferguson said.

Anglers were not allowed motorized access to the beach, meaning they had to walk or bike to fishing locations.

The VBAC awarded a total of $1,550 in cash and prizes to the winners.

“There were doubters that we could pull off such an event,” Ferguson said. “We proved them wrong and are already planning for next year.”

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