TARBORO —
Save the date, Saturday April 28! It’s the annual John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo On The Tar, and this year’s tournament promises to be bigger and better than ever, with over $4,000 in prize money.
This tournament is named in honor of John Cherry, son of Robert and Jo Cherry. After a courageous battle, John was struck down by Batten's disease in 1993 at the young age of 23. John was before my time in Tarboro, but several who knew him said he was a fine young man. It is heartwarming and a wonderful tribute to his family and friends that John Cherry’s name and memory is preserved and associated with this annual quality event.
One of John’s greatest pleasures in life was fishing on the Tar River with his Dad.
Tournament director, Jimmy Dupree, Jr., recalls that the last time he saw John, it was at the River Road boat ramp, and he was very excited and happy about the Rockfish success he and his Dad had enjoyed that morning on the river. What a great way to remember someone!
Proceeds from this annual event help fund The John Cherry Memorial Scholarship at Edgecombe Community College as well as other TASS supported community projects.
Registration is $100 per boat and gets under way at 9 a.m. on Monday April 16. The line will start forming that morning at the front door of Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store, on Main Street in downtown, historic Tarboro. Tight Lines will be there. You bring the coffee, and I’ll bring the donuts.
Changes to the event this year include fewer boats being allowed to sign up and payouts going to six top weight places. Of course, fewer boats means safer fishing out there and better chances of winning for all participants. Each boat is allowed to weigh in their two biggest rockfish. Cash awards will also be given for the biggest catfish and blackfish.
The single biggest rockfish award yields $750 and is named out of respect for the late Jimmie Keel, who was always a big supporter of all things TASS.
Hotspot of the Week – Goodbye, shad, HELL-O rockfish! It’s time to upgrade that equipment a little, put on that 20-pound test line and challenge those stripers that are hanging around the Tar and Roanoke Rivers doing that reproductive thang, or if you are a romantic, the continuing love life of Rocky and Rockette.
The highlight of my 2011 Rockfish season was witnessing Bobby Mason catch a 40-pounder in the Roanoke River. Temporary blindness (cough, cough) prevents me from being more specific about the location; that, and the fact Bobby Mason would probably slap the taste out of my mouth if I divulged our actual spot. To be perfectly honest, I don’t really know exactly where we were, but you can bet your little tin booties that Mr. Mason can find that spot with a blindfold on.
Rick’s Soapbox – Jimmy Dupree, Jr., who has forgotten more about catching Tar River shad than I will ever know, informs me that it is highly likely that a second wave of shad will make an appearance in all their usual places here in May. Marine biologists, in the past, have confirmed that these are not left overfrom the initial run, but new fish from the Atlantic Ocean seeking spawning grounds. This run does not attract a lot of fishing attention because most folks are out chasing rockfish. These May shad will get my attention. You can bet thefarm on that.
Catching fish? Tell us about it. Better yet, send us a picture with all the details. We love to hear from you at CarolinaAngler@Gmail.com.
See you on the water, my friend!
Tight Lines
John Cherry Rockfish Rodeo upcoming on the Tar
- Tight Lines
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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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