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Virginia’s Recreational Fishing Regulations For Marine Waters

November 17, 2019 by Wayne Creed Leave a Comment

It is the angler’s responsibility to know and abide by all current regulations and laws. Individuals must obtain a saltwater recreational fishing license which entitles them to use rod and reel (hook and line), spear or gig, and hand line, cast net, dip net or two eel pots; other rules may apply to these specific gears. For detailed fish identification information, download our Angler’s Guide Fish ID

Regulation Cards are available at most tackle/bait shops and available below.

2019 Finfish Regulation Card
2019 Striped Bass Regulation Card
Size/Possession Limits Summary Sheet

ALEWIFE

Alewife
Regulation 4 VAC 20-1260-10 et seq.

Moratorium on River Herring, illegal to possess.

AMBERJACK

Amberjack
Regulation 4 VAC 20-510-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: 32 IN.

Possession Limit: 2 per person

Capture Citation: RELEASE ONLY

Release Citation: 50 IN.

State Record: 118 lbs, 1986, Mark J. Roberts

AMERICAN EEL

American Eel
Regulation 4 VAC 20-500-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: 9 IN.

Possession Limit: 25 per person

BLACK DRUM (DRUM,DRUMFISH)

Black Drum
Regulation 4 VAC 20-320-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: 16 IN.

Possession Limit: 1 per person

Capture Citation: 80 Lbs

Release Citation: 46 IN.

State Record: 111 lbs, 1973, Betty D. Hall

BLACK SEA BASS (SEA BASS)

Black Sea Bass
Regulation 4 VAC 20-950-10 et seq.

Regulations for black sea bass caught in federal waters are subject to change. Please contact NMFS.

It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to take, catch, or possess any black sea bass, from February 1 through February 28, without first having obtained a Recreational Black Sea Bass Permit from the Marine Resources Commission. It shall be unlawful for any black sea bass permittee to fail to contact the Marine Resources Commission Operation Station at (800) 541-4646 before returning to shore at the end of the fishing trip during the February black sea bass season. The permittee shall provide the Operations Station with his name, VMRC ID number, the point of landing, a description of the vessel, and an estimated return to shore time. Permits can be obtained online here or at an MRC Licensing Agent. Reporting can be done online through the Saltwater Journal or using forms provided by the VMRC.

Minimum Size Limit: 12.5 IN.

Possession Limit: 15

Season: May 15 – 31; June 22 – Dec 31

Capture Citation: 5 Lbs

Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE

State Record: 10 lbs 4 oz, 2000, Allen P. Paschall

BLUEBACK HERRING

BLUEBACK HERRING
Regulation 4 VAC 20-1260-10 et seq.

Moratorium on River Herring, illegal to possess.

BLUE CATFISH – Applicable DGIF Regulations

Blue Catfish
Visit Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website (dgif.virginia.gov) for full regulations.

1 blue catfish per day over 32 inches

BLUEFISH

Bluefish
Regulation 4 VAC 20-450-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: None

Possession Limit: 10 per person

Capture Citation: 16 Lbs

Release Citation: 36 IN.

State Record: 25 lbs 4 oz, 1986, Gayle E. Cozzens

COBIA

Cobia
Regulation 4 VAC 20-510-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: 40 IN.

Possession Limit: 1 per person, 3 Per Vessel; whichever is more restrictive

Season: June 1 through Sept 30

Capture Citation: 55 Lbs

Release Citation: 50 IN.

State Record: 109 lbs, 2006, Joseph F. Berberich, II

Recreational cobia regulations are as follows: 40-inch, total length, minimum size limit; 1-fish daily possession limit or 3-fish-daily vessel limit, whichever is more restrictive; only one fish per vessel per day may be greater than 50 inches in total length; an open season of June 1 through September 30; and gaffing is now allowed to land a cobia while fishing recreationally. All anglers, captains, and guides fishing for cobia must obtain a Recreational Cobia Permit from the Commission and report all harvest and cobia fishing activity. Permits can be obtained online here or at an MRC Licensing Agent. Reporting can be done online through the Saltwater Journal or using forms provided by the VMRC.

CREVALLE JACK

Crevalle Jack
Capture Citation: RELEASE ONLY

Release Citation: 40 IN.

State Record: 48 lbs 12 oz, 1993, Charles McCaskill, III

CROAKER

Croaker
Capture Citation: 3 Lbs

Release Citation: 20 IN.

State Record: 8 lbs 11 oz, 2007, Norman T. Jenkins

DOLPHIN

Dolphin
Capture Citation: 25 Lbs

Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE

Info: Managed by SAFMC – http://www.safmc.net/

State Record: 71 lbs 8 oz, 1991, Don Dorey

GREY TROUT (WEAKFISH)

Grey Trout
Regulation 4 VAC 20-380-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: 12 IN.

Possession Limit: 1 per person

Capture Citation: 9 Lbs

Release Citation: 30 IN.

State Record: 19 lbs, 1983, Philip W. Halstead

GROUPERS

Grouper
Regulation 4 VAC 20-1120-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: None

Possession Limit: 1 per person

State Record: Snowy Grouper, 70 lbs 7 oz, 2011, Roger C. Burnley

KINGFISH (ROUNDHEAD)

Southern Kingfish
Capture Citation: 1 Lb 8 oz

Release Citation: 16 IN.

State Record: 2 lbs 13 oz, 2002, Chip Watters

KING MACKEREL

King Mackerel
Regulation 4 VAC 20-540-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: 27 IN.

Possession Limit: 3 per person

Capture Citation: 20 Lbs

Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE

State Record: 63 lbs 1 oz, 2007, Susan M. Smith

POMPANO

Pompano
Capture Citation: 1.5 Lbs

Release Citation: 16 IN.

State Record: 5 lbs 10 oz, 1992, Robert T. Long

RED DRUM (CHANNEL BASS, REDFISH)

Red Drum
Regulation 4 VAC 20-280-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: Min 18 IN. to Max 26 IN.

Possession Limit: 3 per person

Capture Citation: RELEASE ONLY

Release Citation: 46 IN.

State Record: 85 lbs 4 oz, 1981, Herman Moore

SCUP (PORGY)

Scup (Porgy)
Regulation 4 VAC 20-910-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: 8 IN.

Possession Limit: 30 per person

State Record: 5 lbs 5 oz, 1978, Charles B. Haines, Sr.

SHAD, AMERICAN

American Shad
Regulation 4 VAC 20-530-10 et seq.

Illegal to possess American shad.

SHARKS (All species except smooth and spiny dog sharks)*

Shark
NMFS Shark Identification

Regulation 4 VAC 20-490-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: 54 inches fork length **

Possession Limit: 1 per vessel ***

A non-boat assisted shore angler is entitled to a vessel possession limit

Season Closed May 15 – July 15

(Includes Blacktip, Bull, Great Hammerhead, Lemon, Nurse, Scalloped Hammerhead, Smooth Hammerhead, Spinner, and Tiger Shark)

Federal waters, beyond the Three Mile Limit governed by different regulations set by the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council.

*Recreationally Prohibited Species – It is illegal to take, catch or possess any shark from the “Recreationally Prohibited Species” list, as defined in Regulation 4 VAC 20-490-10 et seq., including but not limited to the following species commonly encountered in Virginia: Atlantic Angel, Dusky, Sand Tiger, Sandbar, White, and Bigeye Thresher Sharks. No size or possession limits apply to Dog Sharks.

**All sharks (All species except Spiny Dog Sharks) must be landed with head and fins attached; hammerhead sharks must be 78 inches fork length (FL) or greater, no minimum size applies to Atlantic Sharpnose, Bonnethead, Blacknose, and Finetooth Sharks.

***Possession limit for Atlantic Sharpnose and Bonnethead Sharks is 1 per person.

Sharks may only be taken by handline or rod and reel; Spearing and bowfishing illegal.

Capture Citation: RELEASE ONLY

Release Citation: 72 IN.

SHEEPSHEAD

Sheepshead
Regulation 4 VAC 20-1110-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: None

Possession Limit: 4 per person

Capture Citation: 10 Lbs

Release Citation: 24 IN.

State Record: 20 lbs 12 oz, 2005, Arun Nhek

SPADEFISH

Spadefish
Regulation 4 VAC 20-970-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: None

Possession Limit: 4 per person

Capture Citation: 8 Lbs

Release Citation: 22 IN.

State Record: 14 lbs 14 oz, 2009, Roland E. Murphy

SPANISH MACKEREL

SPANISH
Regulation 4 VAC 20-540-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: 14 IN.

Possession Limit: 15 per person

Capture Citation: 4 Lbs

Release Citation: 26 IN.

State Record: 9 lbs 13 oz, 1993, Everett Cameron

SPECKLED TROUT (SPOTTED SEATROUT)

Speckled Trout
Regulation 4 VAC 20-280-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: 14 IN.

Possession Limit: 5 per person

Season: 5 per Person, only 1 greater than 24″

Capture Citation: 5 Lbs

Release Citation: 24 IN.

State Record: 16 lbs, 1977, Bill Katko

SPOT

Spot
Capture Citation: 1 Lbs

Release Citation: 13 IN.

State Record: 2 lbs 6 oz, 1980, Nathan Dryden

STRIPED BASS (ROCKFISH, STRIPED)

Striped Bass
Regulation 4 VAC 20-252-10 et seq.

Virginia Coastal Seasons

January 1 through March 31
May 16 through December 31

Minimum Size Limit: 28 inches

Maximum Size Limit: 36 inches (Effective: 8/27/2019)

Possession Limit: 1 per person (Effective: 1/1/2015)

Coastal regulations apply in Virginia’s Territorial Sea, plus all of the creeks, bays, inlets, and tributaries on the seaside of Accomack County, Northhampton County (including areas east of the causeway from Fisherman Island to the mainland) and the City of Virginia Beach (including federal areas and state parks fronting on the Atlantic Ocean and east and south of the point where the shoreward boundary of the Territorial Sea joins the mainland at Cape Henry). Click here for map of coastal boundary near the CBBT.

At the April 23, 2019 Commission Meeting, the Commission unanimously approved adopting the emergency amendments to Chapter 4 VAC 20-252-10 ET SEQ. to eliminate the Spring Striped Bass Trophy Season and to advertise a May public hearing.

Chesapeake Bay Spring Season

May 16 through June 15

Minimum Size Limit: 20 inches
Maximum Size Limit: 28 inches
Possession Limit: 1 per person
Chesapeake Bay Fall Season

October 4 through December 31

Minimum Size Limit: 20 inches

Maximum Size Limit: 36 inches (Effective 8/27/2019)

Possession Limit – October 4 through December 31: 1 per person

Chesapeake Bay regulations for both the Spring and Fall seasons described above apply in the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay tributary rivers, except for the tributary rivers emptying into the Potomac River (see note below for more information on Potomac River striper regulations).

Other Virginia restrictions: You may not combine possession limits when seasons overlap or you fish in multiple jurisdictions.

Gaffing striped bass or attempting to gaff striped bass is illegal in Virginia marine waters.

Federal water striped bass regulations: Atlantic Ocean waters beyond the 3 mile limit are closed to the taking and possession of striped bass all year.

Potomac River striped bass regulations: Different regulations apply in the Potomac River. These areas are subject to the rules and regulations of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, P.O. Box 9, Colonial Beach, VA 22443, (804) 224-7148; (800) 266-3904; For further information on PRFC rules contact PRFC directly or visit PRFC.

Capture Citation: 40 Lbs

Release Citation: 44 IN.

State Record: 74 lbs, 2012, Cary Wolfe

STURGEON

Sturgeon
Code Section 28.2-303

Illegal to possess

SUMMER FLOUNDER

Summer Flounder
Regulation 4 VAC 20-620-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: 16 1/2 IN.

Possession Limit: 4 per person

Season: Open year-round

Capture Citation: 6 Lbs

Release Citation: 26 IN.

State Record: 17 lbs 8 oz, 1971, Charles E. Cross

The above flounder restrictions apply to Virginia tidal waters, except that in Virginia’s Potomac River tributaries the minimum size limit, closed season, and possession limit will be the same as established by the PRFC for the mainstem Potomac River.

SWORDFISH

Capture Citation: 100 Lbs

Release Citation: NO MIN

Info: Managed by NMFS – http://www.hmspermits.gov/

State Record: 446 lbs, 2012, Joseph T. Harris

TAUTOG

Tautog
Regulation 4 VAC 20-960-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: 16 IN.

Possession Limit: 4 per person

Season: Closed Season: May 16 – June 30

Capture Citation: 9 Lbs

Release Citation: 23 IN.

State Record: 24 lbs 3 oz, 2012, Ken Neill, III

TILEFISH, BLUELINE

Tile Fish
Regulation 4 VAC 20-1120-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: None

Possession Limit: * see below

Season: May 1 through Oct 31

Capture Citation: 10 Lbs

Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE

State Record: 23 lbs 5 oz, 2009, Michael Akins

Three (3) fish per person on a recreational vessel; five (5) fish per person on a USCG uninspected for-hire vessel; seven (7) fish per person on a USCG inspected for hire vessel.

TILEFISH, GOLDEN

Regulation 4 VAC 20-1120-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit: None

Possession Limit: 8 Golden Tilefish per person

Capture Citation: 30 LBS

Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE

State Record: 56 lbs 8 oz, 2008, Aaron Sledd

TUNA (BLUEFIN)

Bluefin Tuna
Capture Citation: 100 Lbs

Release Citation: 60 IN.

Info: Managed by NMFS – http://www.hmspermits.gov/

State Record: 606 lbs, 2015, Chase Robinson

TUNA (YELLOWFIN, BIGEYE)

Big Eye Tuna
Capture Citation: 70 Lbs

Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE

Info: Managed by NMFS – http://www.hmspermits.gov/

State Record: Bigeye Tuna, 311 lbs, 2013, Vic Gaspeny
Yellowfin Tuna, 203 lbs 12 oz, 1981, Bruce C Gottwald, Jr.

WAHOO

Wahoo
Capture Citation: 35 Lbs

Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE

Info: Managed by SAFMC – http://www.safmc.net/

State Record: 122 lbs 1 oz, 2012, Susan Nelson

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