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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 Striped bass as of May 1st, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.
Seasons
Bag limit
Min size
Max size
Measurement
Regulations provided here are for the Virginia Coastal Season.
Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Union Street Dam (Danville)
October 1–May 31: 2 per day in the aggregate (combined) No striped bass or hybrid
striped bass less than 20 inches or greater than 26 inches
June 1–September 30: 4 per day in the aggregate (combined) No length limit
Claytor Lake and its tributaries
September 16–June 30: 2 per day in the aggregate, no striped bass or hybrid bass
less than 20 inches
July 1–September 15: 4 per day in the aggregate; no length limit
Lake Gaston
4 per day in the aggregate (combined)
October 1–May 31: No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inches
June 1–September 30: No length limit
Smith Mountain Lake and its tributaries, including the Roanoke River upstream to Niagara Dam 2 per day in the aggregate (combined)
November 1–May 31: No striped bass 30 to 40 inches
June 1–October 31: No length limit
Striped bass in the Meherrin, Nottoway, Blackwater (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers and their tributaries plus Back Bay
CREEL AND LENGTH LIMIT = No possession
GEOGRAPHIC EXCEPTIONS = None apply
CREEL OR LENGTH LIMITS = None apply
Anadromous (coastal) striped bass above the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and Crane Lake (City of Suffolk)
CREEL AND LENGTH LIMIT = Creel and length limits shall be as set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for recreational fishing in tidal waters
GEOGRAPHIC EXCEPTIONS = None apply
CREEL OR LENGTH LIMITS FOR EXCEPTIONS = None apply
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR) maintains a database of wildlife locations, including threatened and endangered species, trout streams, and anadromous fish waters that may contain information not documented in this letter. Their database may be accessed https://services.dwr.virginia.gov/fwis/ or contact Amy Martin at 804-367-2211 or amy.martin@dwr.virginia.gov.
Morone saxatilis
Regulations for
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