ROCKY MOUNT —
Lifelong Tarboro resident, Wayne Harrell, claimed a $1,000 value prize package
in catching this season’s first hickory shad, on a yellow spoon, at approximately 8 a.m. Saturday morning. Harrell was competing in the Tight Lines 2013 Tar River First Hickory Shad Contest.
Harrell, 70, is an avid fisherman who has pursued Tar River hickory shad for better than five decades. He was fishing from his boat in a popular Tarboro Tar River area identified locally as "the sandbar adjacent to the channel across from the boat ramp on River Road." Harrell said, “I have been catching shad in that spot for 50 years.”
Air temperature was a brisk 18 degrees, and ice quickly formed and clogged the rod guys and eyelets. Harrell said, “Fishing in 18-degree weather may have been a personal record for me. I can’t remember ever fishing for shad in colder weather.”
An active, enthusiastic angler, Harrell is well known in the fishing community for
advocating and supporting catch and release attitudes for all species of fish. Harrell made a special effort to keep his hickory shad entry alive and released it back in to the Tar River after checking it in at contest headquarters, Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store.
This was the 3rd Annual Tight Lines Tar River First Hickory Shad Contest. It is unique in the sense that it is an open-to-the-public event requiring no entry fee, qualifications, nor advance registration. The major sponsor was Tar-Pam Guide Service. Supporting sponsors included; The Daily Southerner, TASS (Tarboro Association Of Saltwater Sportsmen), Harrell’s Custom Rod & Repairs, County Sunrise Grill & BBQ, Pet Tenders, Capri Pizza & Subs, Marrow-Pitt Ace Home Center, Classic Diner, Greenville Marine Tackle Shop, Everlean’s Cafe, Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store, Thorne Drugs, and Custom Jimmy-D Shad Rigs.
Numerous anglers from surrounding counties vigorously participated in the contest
beginning Jan. 19, vying for the substantial prize package and bringing a positive impact to the local economy.
Tight Lines
Related Photos
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Wayne Harrell, of Tarboro, displays his live prize catch of a Hickory Shad which netted him a $1,000-prize package in the Tight Lines 2013 Tar River First Hickory Shad Contest. Harrell has been fishing the Tar River for shad greater than 50 years. (Photo by Linda Tharrington Goines)
Wayne Harrell Wins 2013 Tight Lines Tar River First Hickory Shad Contest
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Battle Park is a cornucopia of nature
Fifty-seven acre Battle Park, in the heart of Rocky Mount, is named after the Battle
family of Tarboro, founders of Rocky Mount Mills. Water-powered, the mill dam was hewn of the rocks of the Great Falls, past the westernmost point of Edgecombe County. -
Take a kid fishing this summer
As you put the final touches on your summer vacation plans, consider a fishing outing for the youngsters. They might not remember or appreciate that expensive beach cottage rental, or that high-dollar meal at that trendy waterfront restaurant, but I would bet a pretty penny they will recall every detail of a fun-filled family fishing experience.
Just about anywhere you chose to go this summer will offer fishing -
Shad Season in Review
All things considered, 2013 was a good shad season, thoroughly enjoyed the fishing activity and usual camaraderie among shad fishing friends. Shad fishing to me is about so much more than just catching fish. It’s a total package of enjoyment as it captivates and dominates my life February through May.
Wayne Harrell kicked off the season winning the first shad contest catching his hickory shad on a cold 19-degree Saturday morning, February 2.
The shad hole on East River Road in Tarboro was a little disappointing this year. Untimely flood waters might have limited our regular peak run. Fish were caught and we had some good days, but not the action we have experienced in past years. -
Banner Day at Battle Park
Sunday was Mother’s Day. I am not a mother, but I played one in a school play years ago, so I figured that entitled me to go fishing on Mother’s Day. Need an excuse or rationalization to go fishing? Check with me, I’ve got plenty!
After suffering through 2-3 days of a rain induced swollen, unfishable Tar River at Battle Park in Rocky Mount, it was jackpot time on Sunday. Without a doubt, I had my best white shad fishing day ever, fishing from sunrise to early evening. Action was good all day, with a little lull for about 2-hours in the heat of the afternoon.
I am proud to report to you that I enjoyed a 50-fish day. I caught a personal best 46 white shad, 3 hickory shad, and foul-hooked a very angry, upset 3-foot gar. I thought I had two large white shad, or maybe a big rockfish, so I was a little surprised to see Mr. Gar. It was like reeling in an uncooperative 2x4 piece of lumber. -
NCWRC enforcement officers doing a great job
North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission has two enforcement officers assigned to each county. That’s 200 dedicated, educated, and highly trained individuals protecting our North Carolina environment and natural resources. To become an enforcement officer applicant, one must participate in a highly competitive selection process. A typical candidate is required to pass extensive background and psychological screening. Also included is a vigorous 19-week training academy that is patterned after a military boot camp, with an emphasis on physical fitness.
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Tight Lines declares Ginger Perry of Nashville the shad queen
One of my favorite places to bank fish is the boat ramp at Battle Park in Rocky Mount. I have met a lot of interesting people there. Three or four times this season, I have watched this amazing lady, Ginger Perry, fishing with her friend, Big Kelly, for white shad. Simply put, she is one good angler! She casts and retrieves like a pro, and always catches her fair share of fish. Maybe a few more than her fair share! This lady can flat-out fish!
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Time for the John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo on the Tar river
Tarboro Association of Saltwater Sportsman (TASS) presents the annual John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo on the Tar on Saturday, April 27th. Entry fee is $100 per boat.
Registration and information is available daily at Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store, Main Street, Tarboro. The absolute registration deadline is Friday, April 26, by 8 p.m., at the boat landing on River Road, or when the maximum limit 40 boats have been signed-up. Attendance at the Captain’s meeting Friday night, 7 p.m. at the boat landing on River Road, is highly recommended. Rules will be read, questions answered, and you will receive your Captain’s Bag, tournament t-shirt, and other goodies. Each boat is allowed to weigh-in 2 of their largest rockfish, as chosen by the Captain. -
Sign-up this Saturday for John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo
One of the TASS premier events that local anglers always enjoy is the annual John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo. Registration is limited to the first 40 boats. Full grown men, me included, will be standing in line like giddy teeny-boppers looking concert tickets early Saturday morning waiting for Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store to open at 9 am to plunk down that registration fee.
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Bottoms Up! Greg Bottoms Wins TASS Shad Tournament
To my knowledge, Greg Bottoms does not smoke or drink, but he does have another habit, and an enviable one at that. Greg wins fishing tournaments. He won the Fall Speckled Trout Tournament, and last week claimed top honors in the shad tournament. Obviously, the man knows his way around a rod & reel. Greg is a skilled angler, and a nice guy, deserving of that success.
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Shad Tournament participants weighing-in some good fish
All indications are that this will be a banner year for the 12th Annual TASS Hickory
Shad Tournament. The timing is perfect because the shad “bite” has turned on
considerably everywhere. At the halfway point through the week-long tournament, the leader board is already showing some impressive fish weights. Charles Strickland leads the top tier adult category with a healthy 2.56 Hickory Shad. That will be a hard “Hick” to beat! - More Tight Lines Headlines
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Battle Park is a cornucopia of nature
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