VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION
Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament

Anglers registered 6133 trophy-size fish for Citation awards during the 41st Annual Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, which ran from January 1st through December 31st last year. This was the highest total in Tournament history, eclipsing the prior record of 6090 in 1973. The Citation total for 1998 also was an increase of more than 1700 over last year, when anglers earned 4385 awards.

For the second year in a row, summer flounder accounted for the largest number of Citations among the 31 eligible species. The 1203 flounder registered with the Tournament represented 20% of all Citation awards last year. The total was the best for the species in the Tournament's history, easily surpassing the 989 Citations earned in 1977.

Striped bass populations continued to surge, as large striped bass made their best showing since returning to Tournament eligibility in 1992. Anglers earned 708 Citation plaques for trophy stripers (12% of all awards), including 550 for fish released alive. Release awards accounted for 78% of all striper Citations, which is the highest release total for stripers in Tournament history.

White marlin produced the third largest number of Citations last year with 669, representing 11% of all awards. This was the third year in a row white marline have produced more the 650 Citations. As required by Tournament rules, all white marlin Citations were for fish released alive.

Bluefish provided the biggest surprise for recreational fishermen in 1998 as hordes of fish moved into the Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters in middle November. By the end of December, when the last bluefish were migrating south, anglers had earned 572 Citation awards. This was the most since 1985 when 635 Citation awards were issued, and the second highest total in 26 years.

Anglers enjoyed good fish for both red and black drum last year. A record was established for the number of red drum entered for Citation awards with 356. This easily surpassed the prior Tournament high of 286 set in 1997. Black drum awards totaled 428, the most since 1975 when anglers captured 1370 big black drum.

Three anglers became Master Saltwater Anglers in 1998, joining the only prior recipient of this award, James C. Wright, M.D. Craig R. Paige of Chesapeake and Carolyn W. Brown and Kevin Laxton of Virginia Beach earned their twenty-fifth Citation awards during the year and qualified for this long term achievement award. Thirty-five anglers registered at least six different species of fish for Citation awards during 1998 and qualified as Virginia Saltwater Expert Anglers.

The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament is operated by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission with funding provided by the Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing License. Awards are made to anglers catching fish meeting established weight criteria in 25 species. In addition, awards for the catch and release of fish meeting specified standards are available in 12 species.

Citation awards are full color, laminated plaques. Wall-mounted trophies are awarded to the anglers with the heaviest entries of the year for certain species or for the most releases for other species. Special awards are presented to anglers meeting the eligibility requirements of the Master Angler and Expert Angler programs.

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