VA to relax striped-bass size limits for big tournament

[Sea Gristle]

State to relax striped-bass size limits for big tournament
Richmond Times-Dispatch

Jun 28, 2006


NEWPORT NEWS -- State fishery regulators will relax striped-bass size limits for a televised national fishing tournament based in Virginia Beach this winter.


The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted unanimously yesterday to temporarily exempt striped-bass tournaments from a regulation that prohibits the taking of striped bass between 28 and 34 inches long during the fall season.

A national organization called FLW Outdoors, which is sponsored by Wal-Mart and other businesses, sought the exemption for its three-day national championship in December. Up to 175 boats are expected to fish in the event after a series of qualifying tournaments this summer and fall along the northeastern Atlantic coast.

Tournament rules require all fish to be released alive. The event will enhance Virginia Beach's claim as "Striped Bass Capitol of the World," said Claude Bain, director of the commission's Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, which maintains records on saltwater angling.

Yesterday's meeting marked the last for William A. Pruitt. He will retire July 3 after serving 23 years as commissioner of Marine Resources. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has appointed Steven G. Bowman to take his place. Bowman is currently colonel of the Marine Patrol, the commission's law enforcement agency.

Several individuals and delegations bade Pruitt farewell, including two Chincoteague residents who presented him with a wooden carving of an oyster and a clam. -- Lawrence Latané III

[ragnad]

Do VA laws allow for "culling" of fish ? Is this mentioned in the exemption ?

[Sea Gristle]

There doesn't seem to be any prohibition against culling in the striped bass regs that I can find. I have been told these boats will have special livewells, they can't weigh-in a dead fish, etc similar to the professional largemouth tournament circuit.

[capt.george]

--Released alive --It should also read All fish must be caught in Virginia Waters---How can a Virginia port claim to be "the Striped Bass Capitol of the World" if fish are caught in other states ---

--Also the Special Permit is being issued by Virginia for Virginia caught fish---Maryland & No. Carolina should patrol their borders for three days to make sure of this --

--Large Brightly colored flags with Wal Mart Masked Smileys & boat tourn. Numbers should be required , flown from antennas, riggers or any high point above superstructure --Like Marylands Hook & line Flag location laws--

--Live well culling ?--Maybe ASMFC will allow that on the Nursery stock if we can get a sponser--He!!, Microsoft auta be good for at least a five day tournament from "Best Little Port in Maryland"--DEALE--OH WELL-[shy][shy]
--Thanks for the post S G---geo.

[Tom Powers]

George -- Some points of order.

The regulations that were modified were for the bay, not the coastal waters. The tournament fish must be between 28 and 34 inches fork length. All of those fish are legal in MD and NC Coastal waters. I believe when the tournament is being held (Dec 6-9) the bay season in MD is closed as is the sound season in NC (I could be wrong on either of those points). The Tournament in question is based out of Virginia Beach. I doubt that anybody is going to motor up the bay to MD to catch a 34 inch fish in December and a 28-34 inch fish is legal in NC coastal waters at that time of year.

The regulation that is being waived is the Chesapeake Bay fall season 28 to 34 inch no take slot. This was SELF imposed by VMRC without a requirement by ASMFC. In fact considering the difference between fork (The total length on a 34 inch FL fish is about 1.5 inches longer FL) the potentailly winning fish will be legal fish in VA.

Also dead fish can be weighed they will just incur a 2 pound penality.

Tom

[capt.george]

---TOM -Thanks for the comeback--I realize I'm in Md. & probably shouln't be venting on another states Fisheries desision-But after coming off a Restricted Trophy season controled by the ASMFC & the Coastal states board votes on Maryland matters , I must Voice my personal opinions--

Md. bay season ends 12-15--If that matters-

---[q]The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted unanimously yesterday to temporarily exempt striped-bass tournaments from a regulation that prohibits the taking of striped bass between 28 and 34 inches long during the fall season.

--As I read this ANY & ALL Tournaments will be Exempt,during the Fall season, not just the VA. Beach tourn.

--Will all tourn require the live fish releases rule

--Can limit of dead boxed fish also be aboard tourn. boats or just the live entry-

--Maryland law prohibits livewell Culling , keeping this paritcular type of tourny in Va. waters Bay or Oceanside--

--I'm not Familiar with live release of entered fish, If they cannot swim away w/o assistance are they considerd a dead fish & disqualified, or penalized 2#

--Possibly a copy of the rules posted here would put my question to rest -They must already be made up as the VMRC has OK'ed them---

--Tom , I could see this as a one time boost for Va. Beach, but not for All Va. Tourny during the fall season-

-- Did Claude include the Va. state on going tourny

--Col. Bowman as a enforcement officer, must be having Nightmares---



[smile]

[Tom Powers]

Let's see.

The law allows a tournament to apply for a special permit. It does not say that all tournaments will get one. Here are a few of the rules.

It must be a C&R tourny.

It must not be contrary to ASMFC, etc. mandates.

They must apply with lots of details 120 days in advance.

The tourny can last no more than 3 days.

There must be a penalty for dead fish. It does not define dead. This tourny is done like the Bass masters tournys.

VMRC and VIMS staff must be allowed back stage to inspect (or keep for research) any fish.

So not all tournys get the break. Each one must apply and be approved seperately. Here is a recording of the agenda item. I have not listened to it yet.

http://www.mrc.state.va.us/Commission_Audio/0606/0606am_16.mp3

Nothing prohibits those fishing the tourny to keep a limit of two per person (counting the exempted fish on board.) They can not go over that is it would require ASMFC approval.

My guess is that the boats will have to have an official entry form, etc. on board when they are inspected by the enforcement staff. It should be no worse of a deal than showing a fishing license.

VA does not have a no culling law. The law does say that once you reach your limit all fish caught must be promptly returned to the water. I am not aware of anyone getting a ticket for culling fish from a live well. Good or bad that is what VA law says.

Tom

PS I will be out of touch for a few days. I will respond to other questions when I get back on line.

[Sea Gristle]

Is this a team/boat tournament (like most rock tourneys) or an individual angler tournament Like BassMasters)? i.e. do the teams have captains and mates running the boat while anglers fish (i.e charters) legally allowing more fish to be held?

[ed robinson]

These will be team tourneys. minimum of two members, maximum of four members. They are not talking about livewells, but a special FLW "Keep Alive Box" (Striper Tube) that will be available for rent or sale at the captains meetings for these tourneys. Two fish to be weighed so you need two boxes. Two tourneys have been held so far and the early results claim only one fish died as a result.

The VA tourney is the Championship event for the series. You must have qualified for entry by finishing in the top 25 in one of the qualifier tournaments, so anyone in the VA tourney will already be familiar with the boxes and how to use them. The FLW has a slot limit of 28 - 34 inches and the boxes are designed with this in mind. If a bunch of teams enter two 33.99 inch fish, weights will all be very close, so keeping them alive to avoid the 2 lb. penalty is paramount.
It does seem to encourage culling, but if the boxes work as well as claimed I don't see a problem with it.
How is Marylands "no culling" rule worded exactly? Because there will be an FLW tourney out of Cambridge as well.

[capt.george]

The new $1 million FLW Striper Series features seven qualifying tournaments held on Saturdays plus a no-entry-fee $150,000 championship. Teams, ranging in size from two to four anglers each, compete for a guaranteed top award of $20,000 cash in each qualifier and as much as $50,000 cash based on boat and engine bonuses from Hydra-Sports, Seaswirl, Wellcraft, Evinrude and Yamaha. The winning team is determined by the heaviest accumulated weight of two striped bass falling within a 28- to 34-inch slot limit. The top 25 teams from each qualifier also advance to a three-day, no-entry-fee championship in Virginia Beach, Va., Dec. 7-9 for a shot at a top award of $50,000 cash on FSN (Fox Sports Net).


--I took a moment to look up the rules, on the FLW Striper Tourn seen above--

--I maybe wrong , but the Maryland tourny Anglers would be restricted to one fish up to 34"by tourny rule & one fish to 28" by Maryland Law --This would in a all day affair create an almost absolute need for unlawful culling from live wells-

---Being the Md. tourny In Cambridge Is in Nov. -Fish size hopefully will allow a quick return to the weighing dock--

--Another Question , are the boats restricted to the Maryland portion of the bay for the Md. tourny? if not a tourny flag should be included to identify boats when fishing in Md. waters--

--Is this a pro -am tourny--open to charter & fishing guides as a team effort ?

---Ed , Can you give us more info? might be intrested--geo.