By Lee Tolliver
The Virginian-Pilot
For Beth Synowiec, catching trophy fish is no accident.
Synowiec had a banner year in 2010, earning her first Expert Angler award from the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. The Norfolk Anglers Club also named her Angler of the Year.
"I don't feel like I'm blind-lucking any of this," said Synowiec, 39, of Virginia Beach. "It's all a matter of being prepared."
In that case, Synowiec probably should teach angling preparedness courses.
In 2010 she registered 12 citations for eight species - her best year. She and husband Kevin shot two television shows with Kevin Baugh that will air this summer on the Outdoors Channel. While she works in her husband's construction business, she landed a side job as an advertising representative for the Chesapeake Angler magazine.
In addition to the Norfolk Anglers Club overall award, she also was named the club's Female Angler of the Year. And in the Virginia Beach Anglers Club, she earned Female Angler of the Year for the third consecutive time.
"I feel very fortunate to have had such a banner year," she said.
Make no mistake, though, Synowiec expects success when she hits the water. Her positive frame of mind is born from doing plenty of homework.
"I targeted three species last year that I never really fished for before," she said. "I went to seminars, looked things up on the Internet and asked questions from other club members."
Synowiec chose sheepshead, speckled trout and triggerfish. She set goals.
In three weeks of targeting sheepshead, Synowiec and Kevin, along with a few guests, caught 11 citations.
While they didn't catch any trophy triggerfish, several big fish were caught as they learned patterns and fishing techniques.
For speckled trout, Synowiec took the learningexperience to a new level and hired guide Blake Hayden.
"This fish was totally new to me and he taught me different methods," she said. "Casting and stuff like that for trout was totally new for me."
She had previously caught a 26-inch release citation but caught a 29-incher with Hayden.
"I'm learning this fish," Synowiec said. "It's exciting."
She's off to a good start this year, bagging a 14-pound, 14-ounce tautog before the season closed Saturday night.
Something even better is happening to Synowiec as she continues her quest to being a better angler. She said she is gaining a better appreciation of the big picture.
She realized that last fall on a sea-bass trip on the Rudee Angler. She figured the wrecks they were targeting might also hold some late-season flounder. So she set a goal to try to get a flatfish release citation.
As on most headboat trips, there was a "big fish" contest.
At the Triangle Wrecks, Synowiec boated a 26'-inch flounder that probably would have been a weight citation. It could have earned her about $145 in the "big fish" pot.
"I've learned to look at the bigger picture," she said. "I needed another citation to get Expert Angler. Why be greedy? It might have met weight for a citation and it definitely would have won the big fish money.
"But I knew it was a release citation. So I let it go and met my goal."
That mentality, Synowiec said, is part of a growing respect for the resource.
"I want fish to be around for my daughters and their children," she said. "I'm no tree-hugger ... I like to bring fish home to eat.
"But I love fishing and I want it to continue for everybody."
Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com
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Photo Courtesy of Beth Synowiec
Beth Synowiec with a trophy speckled trout from the Elizabeth River. Her 2010 success brought her first Expert Angler award from the Va. Saltwater Fishing Tournament. The Norfolk Anglers Club named her Angler of the Year.
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