TARBORO —
Any time is a good time to join Tarboro Association of Saltwater Sportsman (TASS), but since the club is making local front page headline news lately, now would be a great time to jump on board. In case you missed it, TASS has proposed funding and putting a fishing platform on the Tar River a stones throw from the Main Street / Hwy 33 Bridge.
That would put it just up river, in the vicinity of my beloved “Shad Hole.” Wow! What a fantastic idea! Save my wide body and my trusty blue chair a space on the platform, please! I wonder if I will be able to get pizza delivery there? How about my mail?
Jimmy Dupree has quarterbacked this project from the get-go. The Town of Tarboro, led by Mayor Donald Morris and the Town Council, has given unanimous approval. Town Manager, Alan Thornton, and Director of Public Works, Troy Lewis, are supportive and giving a big thumbs-up on the project. NCWRC is also interested in helping this worthwhile endeavor, and have offered to donate a free gangplank walkway. The next step is to submit the plans, and get the final stamp of approval from the Army Corps of Engineers.
This kind of project takes some good organization and planning to make it happen, and it is quite obvious that the TASS brass and Jimmy Dupree have done their homework. Plans are to have everything in place during the 2013 shad season, which should start up in late January. Eureka! It sounds like a late Christmas present to me.
Let’s get back to signing YOU up in the TASS club. Let me clear up one misnomer right away. Even though “Saltwater” is in the name, TASS is also about freshwater fishing in a big way, too. The annual March Shad Tournament, April’s John Cherry Rockfish Tournament, and Pell’s Pond Party are proof in the pudding.
The stated purpose of TASS is to provide an organization for people in Edgecombe County, or those who have ties to the county, with a common interest and love of fishing. Public and community service quickly became its goal. Through funds raised from various projects, TASS has donated picnic tables to the river front park, established a scholarship at Edgecombe Community College, and promoted fishing fun for young and old. Soon, we can add putting a fishing platform on the Tar River to that list of worthy accomplishments.
I am fond of calling the TASS dues the best entertainment bargain in Eastern NC. One small annual fee and the whole family can enjoy all the benefits of TASS membership. Learn more about TASS at www.tassclub.com, or stop by Roberson & Dupree Shoe Store (TASS Central) at 418 Main Street in historic Tarboro, and say “Hey folks, tell me about TASS!”
Rick’s Soapbox - Hopefully, I can put together another “First Shad” prize package this year. It will be our 3rd annual. Henry Knight won last year’s prize package valued at over $300. Henry winning the first shad contest is about like Babe Ruth winning a home run derby. I kidded last year that we might need to consider making him wear a blindfold, or tying one arm behind his back for future shad contests. Even then, I wouldn’t bet against the man. Henry is one shad catching dude out there on the Tar River. I enjoy fishing at the “Shad Hole” on River Road with him, and watching a master at work. Robbie Webb summed it up best when he said, “Henry Knight has a PhD in Hickory Shad.”
Care to share? Tight Lines welcomes your fish snaps, tall tales, and outrageous lies at CarolinaAngler@Gmail.com.
See you on the water, my friend!
Tight Lines
Great time to consider joining TASS
- 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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