VSSA Fishing Tournament 2023.  VSSA will continue an annual fishing tournament with a few changes for 2023.  The biggest change is we are going to a 6-month tournament to have prizes for the main fishing months from May 1 – Oct 31st.  We are offering monthly cash prizes from May 2023 to October 2023 for the longest length (released or kept) for 10 different species.  In an effort to increase the prize money we will limit the number of fish species to 5 per month.  We are not putting a cap on the monthly prize awards.  This will be a 100% payout of prize money.  The more anglers in the tournament increases the monthly prize awards.   Your fish does not have to be a citation fish but does have to be a legal size per Virginia regulations.  We are going to use FishDonkey as our platform for submitting entries.  If you are releasing fish please use accepted release practices and get your measurements / pictures as fast as possible to return the fish back to the water.  You must be a VSSA member ($25) or affiliate club member (club pays your $1 member fee) to participate, then pay to enter the tournament of $50.  Check out FishDonkey for more details.  To join VSSA click here. 

Please note:  You must use the camera function inside FishDonkey to take a picture of your fish on a scale live.  You may not use photos previously taken.  

 

 

 

If you are already a paid VSSA Member and just want to enter the tournament you can pay the entry fee below

 

 

 

 

 

Tournament Overview.  Welcome to the Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association (VSSA) Fishing Tournament.  This event is for VSSA Members Only.

In an effort to sweeten the prizes for each month we will award prizes to these 5 fish per month:

May:  Black Drum, Red Drum, Striped Bass, Black Sea Bass, Flounder

June: Cobia, Flounder, Black Drum, Red Drum, Striped Bass

July: Cobia, Flounder, Sheepshead, Croaker, Black Sea Bass

August: Flounder, Speckled Trout, Sheepshead, Cobia, Black Sea Bass

September: Spot, Croaker, Speckled Trout, Red Drum, Sheepshead

October: Spot, Croaker, Speckled Trout, Black Sea Bass, Striped Bass

This is a monthly tournament anglers may fish any saltwater body in Virginia, Chesapeake Bay, Rivers, Tributary or offshore waters.   Anglers fishing by boat must leave and return to a Virginia port.  Fish may be released or kept.  A member may only win up to 3 months total in the year of any given species.  All paid members of VSSA are eligible to participate by paying the $50 entree fee.  To join VSSA visit:  

Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association (joinvssa.org)
 

All fish entered in the tournament will be photographed, measured, and  recorded with the FishDonkey app.  You do not have to purchase a measuring tape or board you may use any commercially bought ruler or tape measure you have on the boat. How to Enter a Fish.

How to properly Measure a Fish video. Awards are presented on the basis of length as determined through the mobile app and verified by tournament judges.  The categories, species, and official rules can be found in the FishDonkey app. Measurements………………..Size limits are in total length. Total length means the length of a fish measured from the most forward projection of the snout, with the mouth closed, to the tip of the longer lobe of the tail (caudal) fin, measured with the tail compressed along the midline, using a straight-line measure, not measured over the curve of the body. Snout means the most forward projection from a fish’s head that includes the upper and lower jaw.

Have fun and FISH ON!