SlotGaugeCheck a catchVirginia fishing regulations, 2026
Size limits, seasons and daily limits for every species Virginia Marine Resources Commission regulates, rewritten in plain English and rechecked against the official pages automatically. Last captured 2026-09-21.
Most searched
Striped BassSummer FlounderBlack Sea BassTautogBluefishWeakfishLargemouth BassBlue CrabRed DrumScupAll 75 species A–Z →
Saltwater →
AlewifeIllegal to possessAmberjack32 inch minimumAmerican Eel9 inch minimumAmerican ShadIllegal to possessAtlantic CroakerNo size limitAtlantic Sharpnose SharkNo minimum sizeBigeye TunaSet by NMFSBlack Drum16 inch minimumBlack Sea Bass13 inch minimumBlueback HerringIllegal to possessBluefin TunaSet by NMFSBluefishNo size limitBlueline TilefishNo size limitBonnethead SharkNo minimum sizeCobia43 inch minimumDogfish (smooth & spiny)No size limitDolphin (Mahi-Mahi)No Virginia size limit printedGolden TilefishNo size limitGroupersNo size limitKing Mackerel27 inch minimumKingfish (Sea Mullet)No size limitRed Drum18–26 inch slotScup9 inch minimumSharks (blacknose & finetooth)No minimum sizeSharks (coastal species)Minimum Size Limit: 54 inches fork length; hammerhead sharks 78 inches FL or greater; no minimum for Atlantic Sharpnose, Bonnethead, Blacknose, and FinetoothSharks (large coastal group)54 inch minimumSharks (pelagic: blue, porbeagle, thresher)54 inch minimumSharks (recreationally prohibited)No size limitSheepsheadNo size limitSpadefishNo size limitSpanish Mackerel14 inch minimumSpotNo size limitSpotted Seatrout14 inch minimumStriped Bass28–31 inch slotSturgeonIllegal to possessSummer Flounder16 inch minimum (January 1 – May 31); 17.5 inch minimum (June 1 – December 31)SwordfishSet by NMFSTautog16 inch minimumWahooSet by SAFMCWeakfish12 inch minimumYellowfin TunaSet by NMFS
Freshwater →
Blue CatfishNoneBowfinNo length limitChain PickerelNoneChannel CatfishNoneCommon CarpNo size limitCrappieNoneCrayfishNo size limitGrass CarpNo length limitHickory ShadNo length limitHybrid Striped Bass20 inch minimumLargemouth BassNo statewide length limitsLongnose GarNoneMuskellunge40 inch minimumNongame fish (no possession limit)No size limitNorthern PikeNoneNorthern SnakeheadNoneOther nongame fish (20 per day)No length limitRoanoke BassNo length limitRock BassNoneSaugerNo size limitSmallmouth BassNo statewide length limitsSouthern Flounder15 inch minimumSpotted BassNo size limitSunfishNoneThreatened and endangered fish (no possession)No size limitTrout7 inch minimumWalleye18 inch minimumWhite BassNo statewide length limitsWhite PerchNo length limitYellow PerchNone
Shellfish & crabs →
American Lobster3.53–5.25 inch slotBlue Crab5 inch minimumHard ClamNone stated for personal useOyster3 inch minimum
Is it a keeper?
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