SlotGaugeCheck a catch

Virginia fish species, A to Z

All 75 species named in the 2026 Virginia Marine Resources Commission regulations. Regulations opens the size limit, season and daily limit for every zone; About opens the species' Wikipedia article (identification, range, habits). Updated 2026-09-21.

Saltwater

• 
  Alewife · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Amberjack · 32 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  American Eel · 9 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  American Shad · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Atlantic Croaker · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Atlantic Sharpnose SharkSharks · No minimum size
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Bigeye TunaHighly migratory species · Set by NMFS
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Black Drum · 16 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Black Sea Bass · 13 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Blueback Herring · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
• no photo
  Bluefin TunaHighly migratory species · Set by NMFS
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Bluefish · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Blueline Tilefish · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Bonnethead SharkSharks · No minimum size
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Cobia · 43 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Dogfish (smooth & spiny)Sharks · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi) · No Virginia size limit printed
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Golden Tilefish · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Groupers · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  King Mackerel · 27 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Kingfish (Sea Mullet) · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Red Drum · 18–26 inch slot
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Scup · 9 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Sharks (blacknose & finetooth)Sharks · No minimum size
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Sharks (coastal species) · Minimum Size Limit: 54 inches fork length; hammerhead sharks 78 inches FL or greater; no minimum for Atlantic Sharpnose, Bonnethead, Blacknose, and Finetooth
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Sharks (large coastal group)Sharks · 54 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Sharks (pelagic: blue, porbeagle, thresher)Sharks · 54 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Sharks (recreationally prohibited)Sharks · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Sheepshead · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Spadefish · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Spanish Mackerel · 14 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Spot · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Spotted Seatrout · 14 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Striped Bass · 28–31 inch slot
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Sturgeon · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Summer Flounder · 16 inch minimum (January 1 – May 31); 17.5 inch minimum (June 1 – December 31)
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  SwordfishHighly migratory species · Set by NMFS
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Tautog · 16 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Wahoo · Set by SAFMC
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Weakfish · 12 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Yellowfin TunaHighly migratory species · Set by NMFS
  RegulationsAbout

Freshwater

• 
  Blue Catfish · None
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Bowfin · No length limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Chain Pickerel · None
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Channel Catfish · None
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Common Carp · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Crappie · None
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  CrayfishAquatic invertebrates · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Grass Carp · No length limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Hickory Shad · No length limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Hybrid Striped Bass · 20 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Largemouth Bass · No statewide length limits
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Longnose Gar · None
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Muskellunge · 40 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• no photo
  Nongame fish (no possession limit)Nongame fish · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Northern Pike · None
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Northern Snakehead · None
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Other nongame fish (20 per day)Nongame fish · No length limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Roanoke Bass · No length limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Rock Bass · None
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Sauger · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Smallmouth Bass · No statewide length limits
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Southern Flounder · 15 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Spotted Bass · No size limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Sunfish · None
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Threatened and endangered fish (no possession) · closed to harvest
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Trout · 7 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Walleye · 18 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  White Bass · No statewide length limits
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  White Perch · No length limit
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Yellow Perch · None
  RegulationsAbout

Shellfish & crabs

• 
  American LobsterCrustaceans · 3.53–5.25 inch slot
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Blue CrabCrabs · 5 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  Hard ClamClams & oysters · None stated for personal use
  RegulationsAbout
• 
  OysterClams & oysters · 3 inch minimum
  RegulationsAbout