ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 1, 1996 TAG: 9601020025
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B8 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
The 1996 Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament is embracing the tautog, and that isn't an easy task.
The ``tog'' is no beauty queen. It is a fish with a plump, dull-gray body and a face that looks like a Halloween mask complete with thick lips and huge, protruding teeth.
But on the end of a fishing line, the tautog is something special. That's why this year's saltwater tournament, the 39th, will be open for the entire year to cover some of the season's best tautog action. Last year, the contest didn't open until March 1.
``We have had some of our best tautog fishing in January and February, particularly during the warm winters the past five to seven years,'' said Claude Bain, director of the tournament.
While the tournament dates have been expanded at both ends the past several years, it is the first time the popular contest has become a year-round affair.
``This has been the most requested change for the tournament by Virginia anglers over the last four years,'' said Bain. ``The tournament committee decided the dramatic increase in winter fishing, particularly for tautog, warranted opening the program on a year-round basis.''
The extra months aren't the only change for the 1996 edition of the tournament. To participate in the contest, you must have a saltwater fishing license, or be aboard a boat or on a commercial fishing pier that is covered under a ``blanket'' saltwater license.
That change was initiated because the contest now is funded by fishing license money. In the past, sponsorship came from state tax money.
``We lost our general-fund money last year,'' said Bain. ``The requirement that participants be license holders was placed upon the tournament by the commissioners of the Marine Resources Commission when they approved funding the program with saltwater-license revenues.''
When the tournament was sponsored by state tax funds, it often was looked upon as a tourist promotion. Now that it is funded by fishermen, it is going to be geared more to the fishermen, Bain said.
``In my opinion, it makes us a lot more responsible to the general angling public alone,'' he said. ``We aren't getting tourist business in January and February, but we are going to open the program then, because that is what anglers want.''
If there is a down side to the license requirement it is this: A saltwater license is required only of Chesapeake Bay fishermen, but the tournament will demand it of all its participants.
``Some 60 to 70 percent of our citations are ocean-type fish or fish such as billfish and amberjack that are only caught in the ocean,'' said Bain.
This means ocean anglers who want the opportunity to participate in the tournament will need to buy a license, even though otherwise they wouldn't be required to have one.
``We have had some complaints about that down here,'' Bain said. ``I have told them this was not our decision. It was a requirement placed on us when they funded the program with license money. It wasn't an option for us. This is the way we have to do it.''
The tournament could have been made a bay affair only, but Bain didn't like that option.
``You don't want to gut the program,'' he said.
Bain doesn't expect the license requirement to make a major impact on the number of participants. Most small boat operators buy a license anyway.
``What it will depend on is what the charter boat industry does, whether the charter boats out of Rudee Inlet or Wachapreague decide to spend $150 for a `blanket' license,'' he said. A license for an individual fisherman sells for $7.50.
Several changes have been made in eligible species and minimum weights. All species of billfish will be eligible for release awards only. Also, swordfish and spearfish will join marlin and sailfish on the list of billfish species that qualify.
The minimum weight for a spadefish citation has been lowered from 9 to 7 pounds. Kingfish, also known as roundheads, whiting and sea mullet, will be eligible for a citation if they meet a 7-pound minimum size.
The tournament has inaugurated an Outstanding Angler Award for fishermen entering citation catches for six species or more.
Last year's tournament was big on cobia, with more than 600 citations registered.
``That more than doubled our best past year,'' Bain said.
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. A tautog may not win a beauty contest, but it canby CNBearn you fame in a fishing tournament. color
2. Cobia was the big catch in 1995 tournament. color