No Changes in Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament

Saltwater Licenses now Valid for 365 Days
   Newport News, VA -- The 54th annual Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, which opened January 1, 2011 and runs throughout the year, will see no modifications in its popular Citation program. “The Tournament Committee felt the current Citation standards were at appropriate levels, but did discuss lowering the Citation weight minimum for spadefish. After a careful discussion, the Committee requested a more detailed review of spadefish be provided for their next annual meeting when they will again consider lowering the minimum weight for spadefish,” 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 2011. 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.
  On another note, anglers should check their current saltwater fishing license for its expiration date before heading out on the water in 2011, as saltwater fishing licenses are now valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. Anglers must have a valid Virginia saltwater fishing license.
New for 2011, those anglers 16 years of age and older but not required to purchase a saltwater fishing license (such as over 65 or fishing on another angler’s licensed vessel) must register with the Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (it is free and can be done online at www.mrc.virginia.gov/FIP ).
  Anglers are also advised to pay attention to all 2011 fishery regulations as 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, 2600 Washington Avenue, Third Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, (757) 491-5160, (757)247-8014 (fax), or vswft@mrc.virginia.gov.