I attended the VSWFT committee meeting tonight and thought I’d update everyone on the changes to the citation program coming for 2006. I gave some lengthy public comment at the start of the meeting however I’ll leave my remarks out of this and just report the results. They are as follows:

Spanish Mackerel citation will be lowered to 4 lbs.

Sheepshead citation will be raised to 10 lbs., release goes to 24”.

A citation will be added for True Albacore, 40 lbs. minimum weight.

Only lip gaffing allowed for a release citation.

Black Seabass, Spanish Mackerel, Wahoo, Dolphin and King Mackerel will no longer have a release citation.

After a long discussion the State Record Striped Bass citation for Alvin Wimbrough was denied because he holds a commercial hook and line license. A sub-committee was formed that will meet next month to tackle the issue of how to deal with commercial fisherman entering fish in the tournament. A full committee meeting will be held in early Dec. to tackle this issue.

Spot citation minimum will be reviewed for possible change at the Dec. meeting.

Coming soon will be a combined citation for weight and release citations for an angler entering both for the same species.