Fishing in Virginia public spots, conditions & reports

The state report

Licenses and rules

• VMRC (tidal/marine)
• DWR (non-tidal/inland)
• PRFC (Potomac main stem)
• VA fishing licenses

Rules for what people fish for here

• Striped bass19" minimum · 24" maximum · 1 a dayVirginia Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers: 1 fish a day, 19–24", in two seasons, May 16–Jun 15 and Oct 4–Dec 31. Virginia rivers that empty into the Potomac follow PRFC rules. Non-offset circle hooks with bait; no gaffing.Open · Virginia tidal (VMRC) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Bluefish5 a dayVirginia marine waters: no size limit, 5 a day, including on for-hire trips.Open · Virginia tidal (VMRC) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Spotted seatrout14" minimum · 5 a dayVirginia tidal waters: 14" minimum, 5 a day with no more than 1 over 24". Recreational anglers may not take, catch or possess speckled trout from Apr 1 to Jun 30, 2026 (4VAC20-280-30).Open · Virginia tidal (VMRC) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Summer flounder16" minimum · 4 a dayVirginia tidal waters: 16" minimum Jan 1–May 31 and 17.5" Jun 1–Dec 31, 4 a day, open all year. Virginia rivers that empty into the Potomac follow PRFC rules.Open · Virginia tidal (VMRC) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Largemouth bass5 a dayVirginia statewide: 5 bass a day combined (largemouth and smallmouth), no statewide length limit. Many rivers and lakes have their own length rules, among them the James and New rivers (no bass 14–22", 1 over 22"), the Shenandoah (no bass 11–14"), and Kerr, Gaston, Leesville and Smith Mountain (only 2 of 5 under 14").Open · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Red drum18" minimum · 26" maximum · 3 a dayVirginia tidal waters: 18–26" slot, 3 a day, open all year.Open · Virginia tidal (VMRC) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Channel catfishno daily limitPRFC's 2026 recreational order (#2026-03) sets limits only for bullhead catfish (6" minimum, no limit) and blue catfish (no limits); it sets no recreational size or catch limit for channel catfish on the tidal Potomac main stem.Open · Potomac River Fisheries Commission · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• White perchno daily limitPRFC's 2026 recreational order (#2026-03) does not list white perch, so the Commission sets no recreational size or catch limit for it on the tidal Potomac main stem.Open · Potomac River Fisheries Commission · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Common carpno daily limitVirginia inland waters: carp may be possessed in unlimited numbers for personal use.Open · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) · verified Oct 18, 2026 · source
• Blue catfishno daily limitTidal Potomac main stem (PRFC): blue catfish have no size limit and no possession limit, open all year.Open · Potomac River Fisheries Commission · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Crappie25 a dayVirginia statewide: 25 crappie a day combined, no length limit. Exceptions include a 9" minimum on Kerr Reservoir and no daily limit on Lake Gaston.Open · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Northern snakeheadno daily limitTidal Potomac main stem (PRFC): no size limit, no possession limit. It is unlawful to possess a live snakehead or to release one alive.Open · Potomac River Fisheries Commission · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Cobia43" minimum · 1 a dayVirginia tidal waters: 43" minimum, 1 a person or 2 a boat, whichever is less, Jun 15–Sep 20. No gaffing or towing.Out of season · Virginia tidal (VMRC) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Smallmouth bass5 a dayVirginia statewide: 5 bass a day combined (largemouth and smallmouth), no statewide length limit. Many rivers and lakes have their own length rules, among them the James and New rivers (no bass 14–22", 1 over 22"), the Shenandoah (no bass 11–14"), Claytor Lake (no smallmouth under 14") and Lake Moomaw (12" minimum).Open · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Spanish mackerel14" minimum · 15 a dayVirginia tidal waters: 14" minimum (total length), 15 a day, open all year.Open · Virginia tidal (VMRC) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Sheepshead4 a dayVirginia tidal waters: no size limit, 4 a day, open all year.Open · Virginia tidal (VMRC) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Chain pickerel5 a dayVirginia statewide: 5 a day (chain pickerel and northern pike), no length limit. No daily limit on Lake Gaston and Kerr Reservoir.Open · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Walleye18" minimum · 5 a dayVirginia statewide: 5 walleye and saugeye a day combined, none under 18". Claytor Lake and the New River up to Fries Dam: 2 walleye a day, none 19–28".Open · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Black drum16" minimum · 1 a dayVirginia tidal waters: 16" minimum, 1 per person.Open · Virginia tidal (VMRC) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Yellow perchno daily limitVirginia statewide: no daily or length limit for yellow or white perch (Lake Moomaw: 10 a day).Open · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Muskellunge40" minimum · 1 a dayVirginia statewide: 1 a day, 40" minimum. On the New River from Claytor Dam to the West Virginia line, no muskie 40–48" may be kept Jun 1 to the last day of February, and none under 48" Mar 1–May 31.Open · Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source
• Atlantic spadefish4 a dayVirginia tidal waters: no size limit, 4 a day, open all year.Open · Virginia tidal (VMRC) · verified Oct 23, 2026 · source

Limits differ by water. Each spot page shows the limits for its own water.

About fishing in Virginia

Virginia spans three fishing regulatory worlds. The tidal Chesapeake and Atlantic coast are managed by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC); non-tidal inland waters are managed by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR — formerly known as VDGIF / DGIF). The tidal Potomac main stem follows its own rules under the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. Virginia's coastal waters hold Spanish mackerel, cobia, sheepshead, and spadefish seasonally in addition to the standard tidal Bay species.

23 public access points across 4 water bodies. Data from NOAA, NWS, VA DWR / VMRC, PRFC.

Water bodies

• Chesapeake BayThe defining estuary of the mid-Atlantic — striper country.
• Lower Virginia ChesapeakeEastern Shore, CBBT approaches, cobia country.
• Tidal PotomacDC to Point Lookout — PRFC jurisdiction.
• Upper PotomacAbove Great Falls — smallmouth water.