Can I Keep?Virginia Saltwater Fishing Regulations (2026)
Recreational size limits, bag limits and seasons for 39 saltwater species in Virginia, from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Last checked November 7, 2026. Where a species has several rules (by area or water), the table shows the first; open the species for all of them.
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Official Virginia regulations · Saltwater fishing license
Inshore
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic croaker | — | 50 per person | — |
| Black drum | 16 in minimum | 1 per person | — |
| Grey trout (weakfish) | 12 in minimum | 1 per person | — |
| Red drum | 18–26 in | 3 per person | — |
| Speckled trout | 14 in minimum | 5 per person | D. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to… |
| Spot | — | 50 per person | — |
| Striped bass (4 rules) | 19–24 in | D. The daily possession limit shall be one fish per person. | A. The open season for the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries… |
Reef fish
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amberjack | 32 in minimum | 2 per person | — |
| Black sea bass | 13 in minimum | 15 per person | C. In 2026, the open recreational fishing season shall be from May 11… |
| Grouper | — | 1 per person | — |
| Scup | 9 in minimum | 30 per person | — |
| Sheepshead | — | 4 per person | — |
| Spadefish | — | 4 per person | — |
| Tautog | 16 in minimum | 4 per person | B. The recreational fishing season shall be closed from May 16… |
Offshore & pelagic
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic sharpnose shark | Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, finetooth, blacknose, and smooth… | 1 per person | — |
| Atlantic tarpon | — | No harvest (0) | — |
| Bluefish | — | 5 per person | — |
| Bonnethead shark | Atlantic sharpnose, bonnethead, finetooth, blacknose, and smooth… | 1 per person | — |
| Cobia | 43 in minimum | 1 per person | B. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to… |
| Hammerhead sharks (great, scalloped, smooth) | 78 in minimum | A. Recreational fishing vessels are allowed a maximum possession… | E. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, harvest, land, or… |
| King mackerel | 27 in minimum | 3 per person | — |
| Recreationally permitted sharks | 54 in minimum | A. Recreational fishing vessels are allowed a maximum possession… | — |
| Recreationally prohibited sharks | — | No harvest (0) | — |
| Spanish mackerel | 14 in minimum | 15 per person | — |
Groundfish & flatfish
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blueline tilefish | — | 3 per person | It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to harvest… |
| Golden tilefish | — | 8 per person | — |
| Monkfish (goosefish) | — | A. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, harvest or possess… | — |
| Summer flounder (3 rules) | 16 in minimum | 4 per person | A. The recreational fishing season for any tidal waters of Virginia… |
Crabs, lobster & shrimp
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| American lobster | 3.53125–5.25 in | — | — |
| Blue crab (hard crabs) | 5 in minimum | All recreational crabbing is limited to 1 bushel of hard crabs and 2… | Up to 2 crab pots: March 17 - December 19 | Licensed 3-5 crab pots… |
| Blue crab (peeler and soft crabs) | Peeler Crabs March 17-July 15 3.25 inches 4VAC20-270-55; July… | All recreational crabbing is limited to 1 bushel of hard crabs and 2… | Up to 2 crab pots: March 17 - December 19 | Licensed 3-5 crab pots… |
| Jonah crab | — | 50 per person | — |
| Shrimp | — | B. The daily recreational possession limit for shrimp shall be 20… | — |
Clams, oysters & scallops
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay scallop | — | No harvest (0) | — |
| Clams | — | 250 per person | — |
| Oysters | — | Taking a maximum of one bushel of oysters in any one day for personal… | A person can harvest oysters only during the legal season and in… |
Other species
| Species | Size limit | Bag limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| American eel | 9 in minimum | 25 per person | — |
| American shad | — | No harvest (0) | — |
| River herring | — | No harvest (0) | — |