Angler's rare catch may set world mark

JESS CADWALLENDER, 24, was fishing aboard the Jil Carries with Capt. Jim Brincefield on a Valentine's Day winter deep drop trip out of Virginia Beach when a 5-pound, 3-ounce blackbelly rosefish inhaled the bait he had stuck on his 6-0 size hook at the end of 80-pound line.

That may seem like some stout tackle, but Cadwallender needed that horsepower when he cranked up a 60-pound snowy grouper from 100 fathoms deep on the same trip, a 22-hour Atlantic outing that saw anglers haul aboard several big grouper, wreckfish, tilefish, sea bass and more.

Rosefish are often a "by-catch" fish for people seeking prime table-fare fish such as grouper and tilefish. While it may have seemed diminutive next to the groupers, Cadwallender's fish has been forwarded as a pending world record fish for that species. The weight certification was made at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle.

He said the fish is on ice, pending record certification. Afterward, its body will be donated to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science for study. A fiberglass replica will find a place of honor on Cadwallender's wall as an enduring reminder of a special day on the ocean.

Cadwallender, a Richmond resident, is the son of Nick Cadwallender, associate publisher of The Free Lance-Star. For more on Brincefield's charters, see captjim .com.

RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN COMMENTS

Area hunters, anglers, campers, canoeists and others interested in recreational uses of the 4,232 acres of Rappahannock River frontage the city of Fredericksburg placed under permanent conservation ease in 2006 have until April 15 to offer their comments as part of the first stage of a process examining river access and future uses.

The city is working with the Friends of the Rappahannock conservation organization on developing a management plan. The organi-zation received a grant to fund the plan.

Eric Nelson of the city's Planning and Community Development Department said FOR is viewed as "consultants" in the plan development.

Nelson said the City Council ultimately gets the final vote on a plan. The process associated with that phase is expected to also include additional opportunities for public comment.

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