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Virginia saltwater size limits and seasons

41 species, 2026 rules for state waters. Tap a species for every zone, the exact Virginia Marine Resources Commission wording and a keeper check. Updated 2026-09-21. All 75 Virginia species A–Z →

Species	Season	Size limit	Daily limit
Alewife	Closed	—	—
Amberjack	Open year-round	32 inch minimum	2 per person per day
American Eel	Open year-round	9 inch minimum	25 per person per day
American Shad	Closed	—	—
Atlantic Croaker	Open year-round	No size limit	50 per person per day
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark	Open year-round	No minimum size	1 per person, in addition to the vessel's 1 other permitted shark
Bigeye Tuna	Open year-round	Set by NMFS	Managed by NMFS HMS; a federal HMS permit is required
Black Drum	Open year-round	16 inch minimum	1 per person per day
Black Sea Bass	May 11 – December 31	13 inch minimum	15 per person per day
Blueback Herring	Closed	—	—
Bluefin Tuna	Open year-round	Set by NMFS	Managed by NMFS HMS; a federal HMS permit is required
Bluefish	Open year-round	No size limit	5 per person (shore, private or for-hire vessel)
Blueline Tilefish	May 15 – November 15	No size limit	3 per person on a private vessel; 5 on an uninspected for-hire vessel; 7 on an inspected for-hire vessel
Bonnethead Shark	Open year-round	No minimum size	1 per person, in addition to the vessel's 1 other permitted shark
Cobia	June 15 – September 20	43 inch minimum	1 per person, 2 per vessel (whichever is more restrictive)
Dogfish (smooth & spiny)	Open year-round	No size limit	No size or possession limit
Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi)	Open year-round	No Virginia size limit printed	No Virginia limit printed; federal (SAFMC / 50 CFR 622) rules apply
Golden Tilefish	Open year-round	No size limit	8 per person per day
Groupers	Open year-round	No size limit	1 per person per day
King Mackerel	Open year-round	27 inch minimum	3 per person per day
Kingfish (Sea Mullet)	Open year-round	No size limit	No bag limit
Red Drum	Open year-round	18–26 inch slot	3 per person per day
Scup	Open year-round	9 inch minimum	30 per person per day
Sharks (blacknose & finetooth)	Open year-round	No minimum size	1 per vessel per trip (shares the single-shark vessel limit with the large coastal and pelagic groups)
Sharks (coastal species)	Season Closed May 15 - July 15	Minimum Size Limit: 54 inches fork length; hammerhead sharks 78 inches FL or greater; no minimum for Atlantic Sharpnose, Bonnethead, Blacknose, and Finetooth	1 per vessel (Atlantic Sharpnose and Bonnethead: 1 per person)
Sharks (large coastal group)	July 16 – May 14	54 inch minimum	1 recreationally permitted shark per vessel per trip (a non-boat shore angler gets the vessel limit per day)
Sharks (pelagic: blue, porbeagle, thresher)	Open year-round	54 inch minimum	1 per vessel per trip (shares the single-shark vessel limit)
Sharks (recreationally prohibited)	Closed	—	—
Sheepshead	Open year-round	No size limit	4 per person per day
Spadefish	Open year-round	No size limit	4 per person per day
Spanish Mackerel	Open year-round	14 inch minimum	15 per person per day
Spot	Open year-round	No size limit	50 per person per day
Spotted Seatrout	July 1 – March 31	14 inch minimum	5 per person, only 1 over 24 inches
Striped Bass	January 1 – March 31, May 16 – December 31	28–31 inch slot	1 per person per day
Sturgeon	Closed	—	—
Summer Flounder	Open year-round	16 inch minimum (January 1 – May 31); 17.5 inch minimum (June 1 – December 31)	4 per person per day
Swordfish	Open year-round	Set by NMFS	Managed by NMFS HMS; a federal HMS permit is required
Tautog	July 1 – May 15	16 inch minimum	4 per person per day
Wahoo	Open year-round	Set by SAFMC	Managed by SAFMC; no Virginia limit printed
Weakfish	Open year-round	12 inch minimum	1 per person per day
Yellowfin Tuna	Open year-round	Set by NMFS	Managed by NMFS HMS; a federal HMS permit is required