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Fishing regulations at Wescott Cove, VA
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.
Regulations for top species
Largemouth bass
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
The maximum number of individual fish across an aggregate group of species legally harvested per harvester per day.
Gigging
Harvest by gigging prohibited.
Snagging
Harvest of this species by snagging (snatch hooking) is prohibited.
Spears
Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.
VA SCUBA
It is illegal to use SCUBA gear to take or attempt to take fish. (SCUBA = Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus)
VA Noxious Substances
It is unlawful to use lime, dynamite, or any other substances to destroy fish, or to cast or allow noxious matter to pass into watercourses that might destroy fish or fish spawn, or to deposit trash in streams or lakes or along their banks.
VA Altered Fish
It shall be unlawful for any person, while fishing, to remove the head or tail or otherwise change the appearance of any gamefish (except bluegill sunfish and bream of the sunfish family) having a daily creel or size limit so as to obscure its species or render it impracticable to measure its total original length or count the number of such fish in possession. In addition, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess or transport such altered gamefish while on the water. However, the prohibition against possession and transportation in the previous sentence shall not apply to the preparation of lawfully obtained fish for immediate use as food or any lawful commercial use of such fish.
VA Hook and Line
Fishing in inland waters must be by angling with a hook and line or rod and reel. A hand landing net may be used to land fish legally hooked in all waters. See Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website for exceptions.
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.
Red drum
The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
No person shall harvest any individual fish greater than the maximum size except as permitted.
Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
Snagging
Harvest of this species by snagging (snatch hooking) is prohibited.
Note: In Back Bay and tributaries, including Brinson's Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its tributaries: 1 red drum per day between 18 to 27-inches total length
Release Citation 46 inches
Atlantic bluefin tuna
No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.
HMS Tuna
Anglers with an HMS Angling permit may harvest Bigeye, Albacore, Yellowfin, Skipjack using handline, rod and reel, or speargun. Bluefin tuna may only be harvested using handline or rod and reel (no speargun).
Curved fork length means the length of a tuna taken in a line tracing the contour of the body from the tip of the upper jaw to the fork of the tail. The measuring tape must pass over (and touch) the pectoral fin and the caudal keel.
Gigging
Harvest by gigging prohibited.
Snagging
Harvest of this species by snagging (snatch hooking) is prohibited.
Spears
Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.
The Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) daily retention limit applies to vessels permitted in the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling category when fishing recreationally for bluefin tuna. Retention limits for HMS Angling category-permitted vessels are as follows:
Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT):
- < 27" curved fork length: bag limit = 0
- 27" to <73" curved fork length: bag limit = 1 per vessel per day or trip
- > 73" curved fork length: bag limit = 1 per vessel per year provided the "trophy" category subquota in the respective region is available at the time of harvest (see below).
- Gulf of Maine: open
- Southern New England: open
- Trophy South: closed
- Gulf of America: closed
For additional regulations and bag limits, see the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Recreational Bag Limits webpage .
Bluefin tuna retention limits may change throughout the season. To confirm current limits, call 1-888-872-8862 or 1-978-281-9260.
Anglers must report all recreational bluefin tuna landings. Report all non-tournament recreational Atlantic bluefin tuna landings to NMFS within 24 hours by calling 1-888-872-8862 or hmspermits.noaa.gov.
You must report recreational landings of bluefin tuna in North Carolina by calling 1-800-338-7804.
You must report recreational landings of bluefin tuna in Maryland by calling 1-410-213-1531.
Fishing for highly migratory species recreationally requires an HMS Angling or Charter/Headboat vessel permit from NOAA Fisheries. Permits are available by calling 1-888-872-8862, or by visiting hmspermits.noaa.gov. No sale permitted for HMS species caught under an HMS Angling Permit.
For complete HMS regulations contact NOAA Fisheries HMS Management Division at 1-301-427-8503 or visit www.fisheries.noaa.gov
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