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  4. Sunfish fishing in Virginia

Sunfish fishing in Virginia

Virginia provides strong freshwater fishing opportunities for sunfish. Lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across the state offer reliable action for anglers.

Sunfish fishing spots in Virginia

Best baits and lures for Sunfish in Virginia

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Biggest Sunfish catches

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Latest Sunfish fishing reports in Virginia

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Redbreast sunfish

Lincolnshire Branch

length · weight

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Bluegill

Oak Grove Lake

8 in · 6 oz

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Bluegill

Oak Grove Lake

9 in · 1 lb

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Bluegill

Oak Grove Lake

9 in · 1 lb

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Bluegill

Oak Grove Lake

9 in · 1 lb

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Bluegill

East Shore Lake

length · weight

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Bluegill

East Shore Lake

length · weight

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Bluegill

East Shore Lake

length · weight

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Bluegill

East Shore Lake

length · weight

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Bluegill

Lake Anna

length · weight

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Regulations for Sunfish 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 Bluegill as of July 16th, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Bluegill

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

50

Aggregate

50
Restrictions & requirements
Additional information

No statewide length limit. The sunfish aggregate limit excludes Crappie, Rock Bass (redeye), and Roanoke Bass.

No daily bag limit in the following waters: Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Difficult Creek, Char- lotte County; and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Banister River, Halifax County; and that portion of the New River from the VA–NC state line downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Grayson County.

For more information, see Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Edibility
Synonyms

Lepomis macrochirus

Regulations for

38°00′12.4″N 79°25′15.3″W
Regulations in the map
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FAQ

🎣 What Sunfish species can you catch in Virginia?
Anglers in Virginia commonly catch several Sunfish species, including Bluegill, Pumpkinseed, Green sunfish, Redear sunfish, and Redbreast sunfish, according to reports from Fishbrain members.

These species can be found in many rivers and streams, lakes, estuaries throughout the area. If you are targeting a specific species, you can use the to filter catches by species and see where anglers are catching them and which baits they are using.
📍 Where are the best places to catch Sunfish in Virginia?
Sunfish are caught in rivers and streams, lakes, estuaries throughout Virginia. Popular fishing waters reported by Fishbrain members include James River, Smith Mountain Lake, and Four Mile Run.

The allows anglers to see exact catch locations shared by other members, helping you discover productive fishing spots where Sunfish have recently been caught.