2012 Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament Opening Press Release

Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament
2600 Washington Avenue, Third Floor
Newport News, VA 23607
(757) 491-5160

For Immediate Release:  December 20, 2011


No Changes Slated for Tournament in 2012

The 55th annual Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, which opens January 1, 2012 and runs throughout the year, will see no modifications in its popular Citation program. At its annual meeting last month, the Tournament Committee reviewed the Spadefish minimum qualifying standards, as several Committee members supported lowering the Citation minimums. Following this discussion the Committee voted to maintain the current qualifying standards for Spadefish at 9 pounds for a capture and 22 inches for a release. “The Tournament Committee once again reaffirmed their stance regarding the current minimum qualifying standards as representing a true trophy catch that warrants recognition by the Tournament,” 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.

At the annual meeting the Tournament Committee did modify the language that describes those persons not eligible to participate to include all paid crew members for the duration of the trip. This situation is rare but it does occur on long range trips in excess of 12 hours where the Coast Guard requires two separate captains and crew members must be present, as none can be on duty for more than 12 hours. The uncertainty in the existing language was whether a paid crew member’s catch, made during his “off time” of the trip, would be eligible for Citation recognition. In such a situation, “the language change clarifies that the intent of the Committee is such a catch would not be eligible,” said Gillingham.

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 2012. 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 2012, as saltwater fishing licenses are now valid for 365 days from the date of purchase. Anglers must have a valid Virginia saltwater fishing license. Again in 2012, those anglers 16 years of age and older but not required to purchase a saltwater fishing license (such as those anglers over 65 years of age or anglers 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 2012 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