Title: Get Hooked!
By Jim Baugh
Reporting from the Flybridge
OK. I have had enough. Tired of it, officially I am announcing that I am sick of winter. This one has been a bear. The weather has been so bad the past couple of months, no one even comes down to the dock to say hello and lie about what fish they have caught! Now that is a bad winter. The flybridge is cold, the water on the docks is still cut off, and the winter boat projects are just about over. There was one very interesting moment on the old Trojan during a brief snowstorm we had in Hampton during January. Snow fell throughout the night and I awoke in the morning to find about four inches of fresh snow covering the boat, the docks, the lines, everything. This was the first time that I had stayed on the boat during a snowstorm and there was something very unusual that I could not quite put my finger on. Then I figured it out. Not a sound. Nothing. Not a creak, a stretch in the lines, no movement, perfect silence. This is something I had never heard before on a boat. What happened was there was not a breath of wind after the storm and the weight of the snow on the boat and dock lines made for very little movement of anything. It was unusual, however about as peaceful and quiet as one could imagine. Now I know this sounds romantic and quite charming, and it was, right up to the point I had to get the shovels and start to get all the snow off the boat. Then many sounds started to be heard off of the old Trojan, none of which I will repeat here. Here is a good tip, when shoveling snow off of a wood or fiberglass boat, use a plastic shovel.
Getting Hooked On Hampton
First, I would like all the readers to know that although Hampton is our base port and I am Hampton Virginia's biggest fan, It was not my idea to name this column "Get Hooked On Hampton". Here is how the name came about. I had invited the publisher of the Sportsman's Magazine Sheri Carneal down to Hampton for a tour of the city and to do some fishing. I sat Sheri down on the Trojan Flybridge and began to explain to her everything that goes on in Hampton and why it is simply the best place for boating and fishing on the East Coast. She was rather blown away with the Hampton waterfront and the many waterfront activities, festivals, and the incredible location. The credit goes to Sheri, it was her idea to name this monthly column, "Get Hooked On Hampton". She also thought it would be a good tie in with the Get Hooked On Hampton Fishing Tournaments. This year there will be two tourneys; one spring open held during the Blackbeard Festival weekend, the Get Hooked On Hampton Rockfish Tourney held in the fall. So why have we gotten so hooked on Hampton?
Some Background
The way I look at fishing is that it is a good excuse to go boating. The way I look at boating is that is a good excuse to go fishing. Either way, spending time on the water with family, friends, and the "fishing Buddies" is about my favorite thing to do. My childhood from about five years of age, until I was in my late teens, was spent every weekend on the boat at York River Yacht Haven with my Dad. This is how I was raised, crabbing the docks by 6pm on Fridays, cooking up crabs and steaks on the dock by eight pm, then going into the restaurant and listening to the band play. The next day, a little dip in the pool, then off to fish for the rest of the day with my dad and all of his boat buddies. All of the kids, including me, were called, Dock Rats. Does this sound like a good childhood? YOU BET!! We even managed to go to school and my brother and I also joined the Boy Scouts. The only weekends we were not on the boat were when we went off camping with the scouts.
What a life, until that day when old pops decided to sell the boat and build
a house on the water. That was the end of the Dock Rats and all the marina
fun. From that point on I went to college, married, built a house, had two
kids, and started an outdoor show now in it's 15th year.
Then it happened. I luckily produced a show featuring Hampton Virginia in
cooperation with Virginia Tourism. Hampton's waterfront reminded me a lot
of my childhood days running around the docks catching crabs, however there
was one main difference. If you are a boater or fisherman, Hampton has 50
times more things to do then any other harbor I have ever had the pleasure
of spending time in.
Instead of listing all the attractions and trying to explain how wonderful
the area is, I will simply detail out a fairly average fishing trip that we
would regularly do on a Saturday in Hampton Virginia. Here we go! Prepare
to cast the lines!
A) For a day of Flounder fishing, we usually fish the tides and often do not
need to head out to early. Our crew will meet at the Hampton Public Piers,
then walk maybe100 feet to the Radisson for a delicious breakfast. I love
the eggs benedict, all the food is good, and the restaurant is large enough
that you usually never have to wait.
B) Next, we get in the boats and head over to Sunset Boating Center for fresh
bait, Ice, and fuel. Sunset is conveniently located on Sunset Creek on the
way out of the river.
C) No need to burn much gas, the Hampton Bar has been the hottest Flounder
spot in the Bay two years running. Maybe a 10-minute run and lines are in
the water.
D) By 2 or 3 in the afternoon everyone has usually caught plenty of Flounder
and Croaker and is ready to head in. At the end of a 15 minute boat ride back
to the Hampton River sits the new Bluewater Yachting Center. There is a wonderful
Surfrider restaurant, which overlooks the beautiful Hampton River waterfront.
If you dine in the lounge area you will have a great view of the new swimming
pool and all the Marina activities. Surfriders serves up the best Calamari
you will ever eat. I personally never pass Bluewater without stopping in for
some delicious Squid fixed just perfect.
E) After the Bluewater snack, we motor maybe four hundred yards back to the
Radisson for an afternoon of lying by the pool and enjoying the hot tub.
F) At 6pm the band starts to play in front of the Radisson and we all sit
back for a while on the boat and enjoy the music. For dinner we either cook
on the boat, go to the Radisson or any one of the fine restaurants on Queens
Way Street.
G) One block from the docks on Queens Way the weekend block party starts where
live bands play, beer trucks are brought in, and the restaurants also have
bands playing and are open late. Queens Way is a beautiful historic street
with antique shops and unique restaurants. This street has always reminded
me of some of the streets I used to see in Savanna Georgia.
This is a good example of how we plan a weekend flounder trip in Hampton.
It certainly beats towing a boat home at the end of a long day. When we fish
offshore or head up the James for giant catfish we have longer days and are
not always able to take in the local activities like we are fond of doing.
Simply put, the Hampton waterfront has everything a boater or fisherman needs
all in one very convenient location. The proximity of the Hampton River to
the Bay is fantastic. A great place to base out of and starting this year
there is no more personal property tax on boats in Hampton!! Dock now and
Save.
If you would like contact information regarding Hampton's Marinas, charter
captains, bait shops, fishing piers, etc, just visit our website at jimbaughoutdoors.com.
We have links for the Hampton CVB, the Public Piers, the Radisson, Bluewater
Yachting Center, etc. There are also two new great brochures out, one is called
Hampton Is For Boaters, and the other is the Hampton's Great Outdoor Guide.
Both brouchures are available at the Hampton Public Piers waterfront office.
For more information about the Public Piers just call (757) 727-1276. Charter
boat information can also be found on our web site under the "Bookum
Danno" Link.
Upcoming events, I will be there, how about you?
If you would like to come visit us in Hampton to help kick off the 2003 season,
here are a couple of don't miss events. The St. Patrick's Day Festival for
Children will be held March 15th from 11 to 4 at Queens Way and King Street.
There is also a St. Patrick's Block Bash held on Queens Way featuring the
Celtic music of Coyote Run. For more information log on to www.hamptoneventmakers.com
Coming up April 26-27 is the Downtown Hampton in water boat show. This show
will feature all sorts of boats from power to sail and there will be a fantastic
Saturday night block party held on Queens Way during the evening hours. For
more info call Dock master Reeny at (757) 727-1276.
Be sure to book your rooms for both events at the Radisson at (757) 727-9700
* One last thing. Once I arrive in the downtown waterfront area I usually
do not get back in my car until I leave for the weekend. Hampton is very unique
in the fact that the waterfront area has many attractions in close proximity
to each other. The Radisson, the Virginia Air and Space Museum, the Public
Piers, the Carousel, Mill Point Park (concerts and festivals), the restaurants
and activities at Queens Way, marinas, shops, etc., are just a short walk
away from ground zero, my boat. (Docked in front of the Radisson.)
Look forward to seeing everyone this year in Hampton and lets hope March
does not bring us any surprise snowstorms.
Wishing everyone dry bilges,
Jim Baugh
Jim Baugh Outdoors TV
www.jimbaughoutdoors.com
Sponsored by:
Suzuki Marine, Hampton CVB, Sunset Boating Center, the Radisson Hotel Hampton,
Boaters World, the Venture Inn, Virginia Tourism, Marine Fabricators, and
Reel Jacket.
