Fishing in Williamsburg
Located near an Abundance of Water, Williamsburg will be Teeming with Anglers this Summer
Last summer, a group of friends made the First Colony Marina their hangout spot. Pictured above, Chase Smith reels in a big catfish after getting a bite.
In the summer, Williamsburg has so much to offer, it’s almost impossible to have nothing to do. One thing people like to do is fish. The sport is fairly common since there are many bodies of water throughout the area. It sits on the James River, which makes fishing very popular. There are many neighborhoods with houses on the river as well as marinas, which make fishing easy. Williamsburg is a fairly wealthy town where many residents own boats, which makes fishing easily accessible and enjoyable. Also, there are many ponds where people like to enjoy the summer weather by reeling in some fish.
There are many reasons why fishing is so popular and enjoyed by so many pe
Enjoying some alone time, Chase Smith shows off his monster catch at a pond off of Centerville.
ople. It can be peaceful and relaxing. One can fish by themselves and just enjoy nature, or they can with friends. At first, it is very relaxing, just waiting for a fish to bite. This is when the action happens. When a fish bites and the tip of the rod jerks down, the adrenaline rush begins. It is now a mad dash to reel the fish to the bank of the water, and when it is finally reeled in there is no better feeling. Many people, especially if their fish is a big one, like to take pictures to brag about it.
Experiences can be different for everyone while angling. There are many different types of fish that people can catch in Williamsburg. The location and body of water changes the nature of how people fish. Angling in the James River is very different than a pond. An ECU sophomore, Chase Bauer, who fishes regularly stated, “The biggest fish I ever caught was a 30lbs catfish while at the marina in First Colony.” This type involves the least amount of work. Normally, to catch catfish one can just put some bait on the end of their line, like a piece of squid for example and just cast it as far as they can. After the line is in the water, the rod doesn’t even have to be held to catch a fish. Catfishing can be relaxing since people can set their rod
After a fun day on the boat on the James River, Jack Nice checks on his lines that he set earlier in the day. When checking his first line, he pulled up this monster catfish.
down and just wait for a bite, which gives them time to do other things. However, once that rod starts to jerk and bend, it is time to grab the rod and bring that fish in. The peacefulness that comes with catching catfish in the James is the reason why it is local business owner Richard Sullivan’s favorite place. Richard, who loves to fish when he isn’t making guns stated, “I really enjoy being out on the river because I can just throw my line out, set it down, and pick up a good book to read while I wait for that fish to bite.” Although many people enjoy catching catfish in the James, people can also enjoy catching bass. Noah Gilley, a senior at Lafayette who participates in many fishing tournaments along the east coast noted, “My favorite thing to do in the summer is fish for bass in the James. I have a boat and I live on the water so I take it out often and fish to practice for my tournaments.”
Bass fishing is very different from catfishing because it involves giving the rod constant attention. Bass are caught using fishing lures, which is artificial bait that is designed to attract a fish’s attention. They use movement, vibration, flash and color to bait fish. Depending on which type of lure is used, the way the rod is handled changes. A junior
Fishing at the Wisc pond with his friends, Chase Bauer flexes with his large.mouth bass
at Lafayette, Flynn Crisci, who enjoys fishing in his free time, noted, “My favorite type of lure is soft plastics. I normally fish in ponds off Centerville because I have lots of luck with soft plastics there.” Austin Bauer, a senior at ECU stated, “My favorite place to fish is ponds. Preferably, the Wisc ponds because I caught a 10lbs bass there.” Bass are fun to catch and when they are caught, they can be grabbed by the lip and are easily ready for a picture.
Fishing in Williamsburg is very popular because of all the diversity. Some people like to pond hop with friends, while others like to sit by the river and wait for a fish to bite. This summer wherever you are, if you pass a body of water there will surely be someone fishing there.
