Blueback Herring regulations in Virginia

· Saltwater · 2026 season

Is it a keeper? Blueback Herring is closed to harvest. Release it.

Blueback Herring 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
Moratorium on river herring: illegal to possess.

Exact Virginia Marine Resources Commission wording

Season: Closed
Size: Illegal to possess
Limit: Illegal to possess
statewide — as printed: “BLUEBACK HERRING … Moratorium on River Herring, illegal to possess.”

Source: Virginia Marine Resources Commission, captured 2026-09-21 (2026 season).

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About the blueback herring

Species of fish

The blueback herring, blueback shad, or summer shad is an anadromous species of herring from the east coast of North America, with a range from Nova Scotia to Florida. Blueback herring form schools and are believed to migrate offshore to overwinter near the bottom.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Regulations on this page come from Virginia Marine Resources Commission, not Wikipedia.

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Frequently asked

What is the size limit for Blueback Herring in Virginia?

Illegal to possess in Virginia state waters.

How many Blueback Herring can you keep per day in Virginia?

Illegal to possess.

When is Blueback Herring season in Virginia?

Open year-round.

Is my Blueback Herring a keeper today?

Blueback Herring is closed to harvest. Release it.