Saltwater Tournament 2008 Opening Press Release

2008 Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament Opening Press Release

Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament
968 S. Oriole Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
(757) 491-5160

For Immediate Release December 19, 2007

The 51st annual Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, which opens January 1, 2008 and runs throughout the year, will see just two minor changes in its popular Citation program. The minimum qualifying weight for swordfish will be decreased from 200 pounds to 100 pounds and the minimum length for a tarpon release Citation will decrease from 48 inches to 36 inches.

Swordfish were eligible for a release Citation regardless of size but the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament’s Committee added a weight Citation for swordfish in 2005, as angler interest and swordfish stocks began to rebound in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Committee adopted an initial qualifying weight of 200 pounds, and even though swordfish grow to over 1,000 pounds, only two fish have qualified for weight since 2005. The Committee felt 100 pounds was a more realistic minimum qualifying weight and unanimously adopted the change.

Tarpon have long been considered one of Virginia’s most elusive trophies and some anglers feel blessed just to witness one roll on the surface. Prior to 1996, any size tarpon was eligible for a release Citation. But a minimum size was adopted due to possible misidentification between American shad, hickory shad or ladyfish. Anglers have witnessed an increase in smaller-sized tarpon in recent years. It had always been the intent of the Program to recognize any size tarpon as a trophy catch. The Committee felt a qualifying release minimum size of 36 inches was sufficient to eliminate misidentifying an American shad, hickory or ladyfish for a tarpon and voted unanimously to lower the minimum qualifying length from 48 inches to 36 inches.

As for other changes in the Citation Program, “the Tournament Committee felt most Citation standards were at appropriate levels, so they recommended only these two minor adjustments to the Program,” stated Tournament Director Lewis Gillingham.

The Tournament Committee made major changes to the program in 2004, instituting release Citations for all species and increasing the qualifying minimums for more than a dozen species. In recent years, the Committee has attempted to fine tune individual minimum qualifying weights and lengths to coincide with historical trophy-fish standards.

Other popular programs administered by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, such as the Junior Angler Program, and the Expert and Master Angler Programs, will return unchanged in 2008. The Junior Angler Program challenges children less than 16 years of age to catch and release six species of saltwater fish. To qualify as an Expert Angler a fisherman must register fish in at least six different species for Citation awards during the year. Master Angler requirements are 25 Citations (with a maximum of one per species per year) in at least five different species over an unlimited period of time starting in 1996.

Anglers should check their current saltwater fishing license for its expiration date before heading out on the water in 2008. Anglers must have a valid Virginia saltwater fishing license and should pay attention to all 2008 fishery regulations when they are announced. All applicable fisheries regulations must be adhered to and a saltwater fishing license is required for Tournament participation. In addition, anglers fishing the territorial sea south of the Virginia border for striped bass are reminded these are North Carolina waters and anglers must have a valid North Carolina saltwater fishing license. Virginia does not have a reciprocity agreement with North Carolina and the Virginia saltwater license will not be accepted in North Carolina waters.

The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament is a program of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission funded with revenues from Virginia's saltwater fishing license. The Tournament offers handsome wooden wall Citation plaques or album sized certificates for 35 species of saltwater fish which meet minimum criteria. The Tournament operates all year. For more information, contact Lewis S. Gillingham, Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 968 S. Oriole Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23451, (757) 491-5160, (757) 491-5172 (fax), or vswft@mrc.virginia.gov (e-mail).