Statistics from the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament tell the story. The 2013 citation count for stripers stands at around 325, with a few more to be added as late forms are tallied. In 2012 the count was nearly a thousand more, the second highest on record at 1,331. Of that number, 107 fish weighed more than 50-pounds apiece; 11 of those were more than 60 pounds. Included was a massive 74-pound state record landed off Virginia Beach by Cary Wolfe of Bristow.

In the minds of many anglers, the final test for this season, as to whether it will be a dud or just a late starter, would be the Jan. 9-11 Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout. The 11-year old event attracts the experts by offered more than $217,000 in prizes for big fish. It has the reputation of being the largest striper tournament in the country.

 

The anglers showed up, so did bystanders at the weigh-in station, where Hooter girls served rockfish chowder, hot cocoa and gourmet coffee.

 

The stripers were a no-show. The shootout, organized in 2004 to highlight what the sponsors said was some of the finest striper fishing on the East Coast, was telling a different story:

 

Thursday, no fish weighed in.

 

Friday, skunked again.

 

Saturday, tournament ends, no fish weighed, prize money raffled off, contest Web site has pictures of skunks rather than stripers.