By Jim Baugh
Reporting from the Flybridge
Title: Plan your summer now.
First off, mark your calendars for the Get Hooked On Hampton Spring Open held
June 4-5. Entry forms are available in this issues of the Sportsman's Magazine.
We have close to $8000.00 in cash and prizes this year to hand out to the
lucky winners. Be sure to bring the entire family because it will be a huge
weekend in the downtown Hampton waterfront area. The annual Blackbeard festival
will also be held the same weekend complete with in water pirate ship reenactments
of Blackbeards capture. This is just a fantastic event that you do not want
your kids to miss.
Here are some other events that are held around our homeport of Hampton Virginia.
When you take a look at some of these festivals and activities, you will soon
see why we keep our boats in Hampton Virginia.
· Starting April 17th, the weekly Saturday night block party held on
Queens Way will begin. This weekly event features great bands, beverage trucks,
and all sorts of entertainment right in front of some of Hampton's favorite
pubs and restaurants. Yes it is true, we fish all day on Saturday, then listen
to the bands play not only on Queens Way, but in front of Oyster Alley at
the Radisson Hotel as well. The entire downtown area is just one big party.-It
is one you should not miss, and it happens every weekend.
· Friday night Jazz will be starting up June 11 and runs threw Aug.
6. Wonderful Jazz artist play on stage at Mill Point Park along the downtown
Hampton waterfront. I always try to get down to the boat early on Friday's,
cook up something on the boat grill, then head over and listen to live Jazz
while planning Saturdays fishing trip. This is just an awesome way to start
the weekend.
· *MORE JAZZ-The annual Hampton Jazz festival and Afrikan-American
Festival will be held June 25 & 26. This is an unreal weekend that is
a must for boaters. Just navigate your way to Hampton Creek, tie up at the
Hampton Public Piers, or ony one of the great marinas like Customs House or
the new Bluewater Yachting Center, tie up for the weekend and great ready
for a lot of Jazz. The Hampton Coliseum is a short cab ride away from the
waterfront, and the Afrikan-American festival is held at Mill Point Park only
a block away from the Public Piers.
· Hydroplane boat racing is something that gets this old fisherman as excited as a Labrador in a Frisbee factory. The Hampton Cup Regatta will be held Aug 20-22 complete with tons of hot racing action, a children's area, and a lot of great food. Just a great way to spend a summer day. Mark your calendar now for the Hampton Cup Regatta.
· August is a good time to stop by the New Bass Pro Shops in Hampton Virginia. Aug 5-8 the fall hunting classic will be held. I have been to Bass Pro now on several occasions and I must say, I have never seen so much hunting attire in my life. Great clothing gear that can also be used during Rockfish season.
· Looking a little further out, plan on Sept 10-12 to be in Hampton
for Hampton Bay Days. This is a very popular festival that is known throughout
the mid Atlantic. Tons of activities, concerts, educational vendor displays,
just a great time for the entire family. Boat slips for this event book up
fast so call early, we will be there.
· A couple of quick "don't miss" that is happening real soon.
May 20-23 Bass Pro will be hosting their camping and boating classic, and
May 21-23, the Air Power over Hampton Roads will be held at Langley air force
base.
These are just a few of the events that are happening over the next few month,
and yes, I will be attending all of them, I hope you will to. For more information
about these and other events, just call the Hampton visitors center at 1-800-800-2202.
Be sure to ask for your free outdoor brochure, it is GREAT. Everything you
need to know about fishing out of the Hampton area, charters, tackle stores,
restaurants, etc.
Fishing? I have a date for everybody-May 22. I will say it once again, May
22. Yes it is a Saturday. Friday May 21st all readers of the Sportsman's Magazine
are going to meet in Signals Sports Bar at the Radisson Hotel. Why? It will
be toast to our fantastic SPADEFISHING trip that will be the next morning.
I cannot wait, it will be our first fishing shoot for the year, sort of our
own rite of spring. If you need a slip, just contact Reeney the Dockmaster
at Hampton Public Piers toll free 1-866-556-9631
We just love to Spadefish, it is the best. So we hope to see everyone in Hampton
Friday night May 21'st getting ready for the first annual Spadefish run to
the Chesapeake Bay light tower.
"Watch out" "Move over!!" "You got my spot!!"
"Hey, is this your anchor line?" "Which way is the CBBT"
"Can we get lunch out here?" "Is that a scuba diver, can we
catch them to?" "Why is the boat still moving, I put out the anchor?-what
chain" "Hey dad, why is there a 13 foot Jon boat 13 miles offshore?"
"Clams for sale, going quick" "Can't I just use a net and scoop
them up" "How much did you say Boaters World was selling that Windless
for?" "Can you eat Spadefish?" "Darn shame the don't make
Pizza up there, all you get is the weather"
And my favorite line I always hear while Spadefishng at the tower is--
"Hey Jim, can you through me over another can of those Sardines? -Yeah,
the mustard barbeque. And please leave the lid on this time.
I can smell the Pursuit being fuel now. See everyone in Signals May 21, 7pm.
Hampton Virginia.
I'll be there.
Tight Lines,
Jim Baugh
www.jimbaughoutdoors.com
Sponsored by:
Suzuki Marine, Hampton CVB, Sunset Boating Center, the Radisson Hotel Hampton,
Boaters World,Marine Fabricators, Berkley Big Game Fishing Line, Sea Search,
Customs House Marina, KWC electronics