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Fishing in Virginia
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Fishing regulations in Virginia
Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.
Fishing regulations in Virginia can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.
Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Largemouth bass as of March 28th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Seasons
Bag limit
Aggregate
No statewide length limit. Statewide regulations are shown above.
Exceptions - LAKES
Briery Creek Lake: No largemouth or smallmouth bass 16 to 24 inches, only 1 per day longer than 24-inches total length
Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir: Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14-inches total length
Claytor Lake: No smallmouth less than 14-inches total length
Flannagan Reservoir: No largemouth bass less than 12-inches; no smallmouth bass less than 15-inches total length
Lake Gaston: Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14-inches total length
Leesville Reservoir: Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14-inches total length
Lake Moomaw: No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 12-inches total length
Philpott Reservoir: No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 12-inches total length
Quantico Marine Base waters: No largemouth or smallmouth bass 12 to 15-inches total length
Smith Mt. Lake and its tributaries below Niagara Dam: Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14-inches total length
South Holston Reservoir: No smallmouth less than 15-inches total length
Exceptions - RIVERS
Clinch River–within the boundaries of Scott, Wise, Russell or Tazewell counties: No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20-inches, only 1 per day longer than 20-inches total length
Dan River and tributaries downstream from the Union Street Dam, Danville: Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14-inches total length
James River–Confluence of the Jackson and Cowpasture rivers (Botetourt Cty) downstream to the 14th St. Bridge in Richmond: No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22-inches, only 1 per day longer than 22-inches total length
Levisa Fork River–within the boundaries Buchanan County: No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20-inches, only 1 per day longer than 20-inches total length
New River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) downstream to the VA-WV state line and its tributaries Little River downstream from Little River Dam in Montgomery County, Big Walker Creek from the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge downstream to the New River and Wolf Creek from the Narrows Dam downstream to the New River in Giles County. (Not includING Claytor Lake which is delineated as the upper end of the island at Allisonia downstream to the dam.): No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22-inches, only 1 per day longer than 22-inches total length
North Fork Holston River–Rt. 91 Bridge upstream of Saltville, Va. downstream to the VA-TN state line: No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20-inches, only 1 per day longer than 20-inches total length
Potomac River – Virginia tidal tributaries above Rt. 301 bridge: No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 15-inches total length from March 1 through June 15
Staunton (Roanoke) River–and its tributaries below Difficult Creek, Charlotte County: Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14-inches total length
North Fork, South Fork and Mainstem Shenandoah River: No largemouth or smallmouth bass 11 to 14-inches total length
Staunton River–Leesville Dam (Campbell County) downstream to the mouth of Difficult Creek, Charlotte County: No smallmouth bass less than 20-inches, only 1 per day longer than 20-inches total length
For additional information, see Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Micropterus nigricans
Regulations for
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