SlotGaugeCheck a catchAmerican Shad regulations in Virginia
· Saltwater · 2026 season
American Shad size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia marine waters | Open year-round | Illegal to possess | Illegal to possess |
Notes
- A 2026-10-31 check against the official source found a discrepancy in this species' zones[0].closed / bagNote and zones. Read the official wording before keeping the fish: https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/reports/swrecfishingrules.php
- Illegal to possess American shad.
Exact Virginia Marine Resources Commission wording
- Season
- Closed
- Size
- Illegal to possess
- Limit
- Illegal to possess
- statewide — as printed
- “SHAD, AMERICAN … Illegal to possess American shad.”
Source: Virginia Marine Resources Commission, captured 2026-09-21 (2026 season).
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About the american shad
Species of fish
The American shad is a species of anadromous clupeid fish naturally distributed on the North American coast of the North Atlantic, from Newfoundland to Florida, and as an introduced species on the North Pacific coast. The American shad is not closely related to the other North American shads. Rather, it seems to form a lineage that diverged from a common ancestor of the European taxa before these diversified.
Read more about American shad on Wikipedia →
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Virginia Marine Resources Commission, not Wikipedia.
Frequently asked
What is the size limit for American Shad in Virginia?
Illegal to possess in Virginia state waters.
How many American Shad can you keep per day in Virginia?
Illegal to possess.
When is American Shad season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
Is my American Shad a keeper today?
American Shad is closed to harvest. Release it.