SlotGaugeCheck a catchCommon Carp regulations in Virginia
· Freshwater · 2026 season
Common Carp size limit, season and daily limit
| Where | Season | Size limit | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia inland waters | Open year-round | No size limit | No possession limit |
Notes
- No limit on common carp.
- If taken by bow, the fish must be kept, not thrown back or dumped on the bank.
Exact Virginia Marine Resources Commission wording
- Season
- Open year-round
- Size
- None
- Limit
- No possession limit
- Virginia inland waters — as printed
- “No possession limits - can be possessed in unlimited numbers. Carp, mullet, white sucker, northern hogsucker, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, white perch, yellow perch (10 fish limit in Lake Moomaw), alewife and blueback herring [see limits under Anadromous (coastal) in creel and length limits table], stoneroller (hornyhead), fathead minnow, golden shiner, goldfish, and Asian clams.”
Source: Virginia Marine Resources Commission, captured 2026-09-21 (2026 season).
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About the common carp
Species of fish
The common carp, also known as European carp, Eurasian carp, or simply carp, is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia. The native wild populations are considered vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), but the species has also been domesticated and introduced into environments worldwide, and is often considered an invasive species, being included in the list of the world's 100 worst invasive species. It gives its name to the carp family, Cyprinidae.
Read more about Common carp 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 Common Carp in Virginia?
No size limit in Virginia state waters.
How many Common Carp can you keep per day in Virginia?
No possession limit.
When is Common Carp season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
Is my Common Carp a keeper today?
Common Carp has no size limit today, with No possession limit.