Virginia Fishing Regulations
Not legal advice. Compiled from official government summaries. Regulations change each year — always check the official source before relying.
General Rules (barbless hooks are the #1 cause of fines)
- ⚠ Creel limits are per person per day.
- ⚠ It is unlawful to stock any species of fish into inland waters without DWR approval.
- ⚠ American shad: no possession (catch and release only).
- ⚠ Landowner permission required to fish on another's property (except designated stocked trout waters with signage).
Species Limits
| Species | Limit | Size / Season |
|---|---|---|
| Largemouth & smallmouth bass | 5 per day combined | No statewide length limits (lake exceptions apply) |
| Striped bass (landlocked) | 4 per day combined (with hybrids) | No fish under 20 in; reservoir exceptions |
| Bluegill & other sunfish (excl. crappie, rock bass, Roanoke bass) | 50 per day combined | No statewide length limits |
| Crappie (black & white) | 25 per day combined | No statewide length limits (9-10 in min on some reservoirs) |
| Catfish (all) | No statewide limit (South Holston: 20/day, 1 over 34 in) | |
| American eel | 25 per day | No eel under 9 in |
| Hickory shad | 10 per day (coastal rivers per VMRC) | No length limits |
Waterbody-Specific Rules
Briery Creek Lake
- No largemouth or smallmouth bass 16 to 24 inches, only 1 per day longer than 24 inches
Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir
- Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
Claytor Lake
- No smallmouth less than 14 inches
Flannagan Reservoir
- No largemouth bass less than 12 inches; no smallmouth bass less than 15 inches Lake Gaston Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
Lake Gaston
- Only 2 of 5 bass under 14 in; no crappie limit; striped bass Oct-May min 20 in.
Smith Mountain Lake
- Striped bass 2/day; Nov-May no 30-40 in slot retention.
Lake Moomaw
- No bass under 12 in.
South Holston Reservoir
- 20 per day, only 1 catfish per day longer than 34 inches Hickory Shad Above and below the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and their tributaries Creel and length limits shall be the same as those set by the Virginia Marine Resources Comm. in tidal rivers None apply None apply Me
Leesville Reservoir
- Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches Lake Moomaw No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 12 inches
Smith Mt. Lake and its tributaries below Niagara Dam
- Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir
- No daily limit Muskellunge 1 per day No muskellunge less than 40 inches New River-Claytor Dam downstream to VA-WV state line 1 per day June 1–last day of February: No muskel- lunge 40 to 48 inches March 1–May 31: No muskellunge less than 48 inches
Briery Creek and Sandy River reservoirs
- No crappie less than 9 inches Flannagan and South Holston reservoirs No crappie less than 10 inches; South Holston Res. — 15 per day in the aggregate (combined) Rock Bass (redeye) 25 per day in the aggregate with Roanoke bass No statewide length limits Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoi
Back Bay and North Landing River
- No possession limit for those individu- als possessing a permit obtained under 4VAC15-340-80 Saltwater Marine Species See Virginia Marine Resources website: www.mrc.virginia.gov REELFOOT LAKE is located in the Northwest corner of Tennessee. This 15,500-acre lake is located 5 miles from the Mississip
Seasons
Most freshwater species open year-round; striped bass have seasonal limits on major reservoirs.
Licence Fees
Virginia fishing license required (resident/non-resident); trout license for trout waters; fees per DWR.
Edition: 2026 Virginia Freshwater Fishing & Boating Guide (DWR) · Effective: 2026 season · Source: Virginia Dept. of Wildlife Resources (dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/regulations)
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