Our featured Angler for July is Radio star Tommy Griffiths

Tommy Griffiths
A Star on the Waves and the Airwaves.

Tommy admiring a topwater fish

Tommy Griffiths talks a good fishing tale. He does it as a member of Region 7's Blue and Gray Bassmasters. And he does it at work. He takes the adage that "the medium is the message" to heart, and has managed to seamlessly weave his career in radio with his passion for fishing.

Griffiths is the Tommy half of the daily "Tommy and Rumble" morning show on WNOR, FM99 in Hampton Roads. For a few hours each morning, this rock and roll station gives over its airways to the duo's format of "comedy bits, cutting up, and having fun."

Largely because of the substantial military population within WNOR's range, a disproportionate percentage of Tommy and Rumble's listeners are male. In order to appeal to their listeners' prurient interests, talk naturally turns to.........fishing.

A native of South Florida, Tommy came to the Hampton Roads area 12 years ago and brought with him not only his on-air skills, but also a lifelong love of various types of angling. Given the demographics of his listeners, many of whom fish themselves, it’s not at all a stretch to bring that interest to his radio show. He frequently makes mention of fishing trips and fishing-related topics during the course of his show.

One frequent listener to Tommy and Rumble is Bassmasters Classic qualifier Curt Lytle of Suffolk. After hearing Griffiths talk about fishing, Lytle called into the show and invited Griffiths along for a day on the water. Shortly thereafter, the two fished a team tournament on the Chowan River, finishing second. Their friendship led Griffiths to join Lytle's club, the Blue and Gray Bassmasters. While Lytle is a great admirer of Griffiths' radio skills, Tommy credits Lytle with making him a better fisherman. Lytle is "so efficient, and does the basics so well," Griffiths states, "but is willing to think outside the box and try unconventional tactics as well."

In addition to giving Griffiths a chance to talk about fishing to a huge audience, his radio show provides the platform for him to promote fishing in other ways. He recently contributed his talents to organizing a charity tournament, co-sponsored by Hooters, on the Chickahominy River.

Additionally, Tommy has served as the co-host of the "Coastal Sportsman" television show, currently shown locally on ESPN2, and soon to be seen on the Outdoor Life Network. Apparently he doesn't have "a face made for radio."

Shortly before Lytle heads off to New Orleans for the Bassmasters Classic next month, he and Griffiths will be filming a TV show on the "Rhine River." They won't be traveling to Europe, though. They've been given permission to fish the previously untapped waters of Virginia's own Busch Gardens. Griffiths is convinced that there's a world-record bluegill there with his name on it.

Tommy and Rumble also use their show to promote an annual "PETA Fishing Tournament" on the Elizabeth River, directly in front of the animal rights group's headquarters. Usually they get about one hundred boats to come out for the event, some of them sporting mounted deer on their decks and sausages hanging from the sides of the boats.

Any time you're within the range of WNOR, be sure to tune in to fellow Federation angler Tommy Griffiths and his partner Rumble. In addition to the laughs, their show provides a valuable, upbeat image of fishermen and a platform for events and information which directly benefit issues of interest to Federation members.

You can drop Tommy a line at gatorfl84@aol.com