Virginia Marine Resources Commission approved amendments to state regulations pertaining to speckled trout during a meeting on March 29 at commission headquarters in Newport News.

The commission voted to modify possession and size limits for speckled trout taken during the winter season, Dec. 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012. The commission reduced the recreational daily speckled trout possession limit from 10 fish to five from Dec. 1 to March 31, and allow one of those fish to be 24 inches or longer during that time frame.

"The move was an effort to preserve a world-class speckled trout fishery centered in the Hot Ditch of the Elizabeth River," VMRC spokesman John Bull said.

The recreational fishery has been managed by a year-round possession limit of 10 speckled trout and a 14-inch minimum size limit, with no maximum size limit.

In other matters, Bull said the commission approved two requests by Dominion Power concerning power lines in Mathews. Dominion was given pe...