Virginia
saltwater rules

Q: Do I need a license to fish saltwater in Virginia?

A Virginia saltwater recreational fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older, unless covered by a boat licensed for everyone aboard, fishing from a licensed commercial pier or private property, or age 65 and over.

Q: How far out do Virginia state waters go?

3 nautical miles from shore. Inside that line the Virginia Marine Resources Commission sets the rules on this page. Beyond it, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council sets the federal rules, and where Virginia has no rule of its own this page shows the federal one, labelled.

Q: What if a fish is not listed for Virginia?

Virginia sets no specific rule for it. Size: No size limit. Bag: No bag limit. Season: Open year-round. Species not listed in the VMRC recreational regulations table have no state size, bag, or season limits; saltwater license rules still apply.

Q: Which federal catches must be reported to NOAA?

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Swordfish, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish. HMS Angling and Charter/Headboat permit holders must report every bluefin tuna landing or dead discard, and every swordfish, marlin, or sailfish landing, within 24 hours of returning — online at hmspermits.noaa.gov, in the Catch Reporting app, or by phone.

Q: How current are these Virginia rules?

Every row shows its source and the day it was last checked; the latest is Sep 16, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency pages nightly and the date advances when they are unchanged. Rules change mid-season by proclamation, so the official rulebook is the final word.

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission sets the rules inside Virginia’s state waters, out to 3 nautical miles from shore. Beyond that, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council writes the federal rules.

Nearby waters: Maryland · North Carolina

82 species with a rule on file, checked Sep 16, 2026. 12 of them carry a federal-waters rule because Virginia lists none of its own; those rows say so. Every row names its source and the day it was last checked; the official rulebook is the final word.

Albacore

Longfin, Longfin tuna Thunnus alalunga

Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). Virginia lists none of its own.

Size
No size limit

Bag
No bag limit

Season
Open year-round

Open

No recreational limits, unlike yellowfin's 3-fish/27-inch rule — but the boat still needs an HMS Angling permit.
NOAA HMS 2025 · checked 2026-09-16
Alewife

River herring, Buckie Alosa pseudoharengus

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed (moratorium)

Put it back

River herring moratorium; illegal to possess in Virginia tidal waters.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
American Eel

Yellow eel, Silver eel Anguilla rostrata

Size
9 in min

Bag
25 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
American Shad

Alosa sapidissima

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed (moratorium)

Put it back

Statewide moratorium since 2019; illegal to possess, catch-and-release only.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Thunnus thynnus

Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). Virginia lists none of its own.

Size
27" curved FL min; keepable slot 27–<73"

Bag
Private vessels: 2 per vessel per day (only 1 of 47–<73"); trophy 73"+ closed for 2026

Season
Open under in-season limits

Open

HMS Angling permit required. Retention limits are adjusted in-season by NOAA — verify the current limit before keeping a fish.
NOAA HMS 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Atlantic Butterfish

Dollarfish Peprilus triacanthus

Federal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters). Virginia lists none of its own.

Size
No size limit

Bag
No bag limit

Season
Open all year

Open

Federally managed but no recreational size or possession limits.
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Atlantic Croaker

Hardhead Micropogonias undulatus

Size
No size limit

Bag
50 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

Additional 50 allowed as live bait on for-hire vessels.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Atlantic Mackerel

Boston mackerel, Tinker (small) Scomber scombrus

Federal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters). Virginia lists none of its own.

Size
No size limit

Bag
25 per person per trip (private); 50 per person per trip (for-hire)

Season
All year

Open

Mode-specific limits raised from 20 fish in 2026 under MSB Framework Adjustment 17 (NOAA species page updated Aug 2026).
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark

Rhizoprionodon terraenovae

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 per person per trip (in addition to shark vessel limit)

Season
Open year-round

Open

Exempt from size limit; each angler may keep 1 in addition to the one-shark vessel limit; rod-and-reel/handline only, fins attached.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Atlantic Spadefish

Chaetodipterus faber

Size
No size limit

Bag
4 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Atlantic Sturgeon

Acipenser oxyrinchus

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed

Put it back

Illegal to possess; federally endangered.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Black Drum

Drum Pogonias cromis

Size
16 in min

Bag
1 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Black Grouper

Mycteroperca bonaci

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Black Sea Bass

Sea bass Centropristis striata

Size
13 in min

Bag
15 per person

Season
May 11 - Dec 31

Open

State-waters season; federal-waters rules differ.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Blacknose Shark

Carcharhinus acronotus

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

Exempt from the 54 in size limit; counts against the one-shark vessel limit.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Blacktip Shark

Carcharhinus limbatus

Size
54 in FL min

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15

Open

Closed May 15 - Jul 15; circle hooks required with bait; head and fins must stay attached.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Blue Marlin

Makaira nigricans

Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). Virginia lists none of its own.

Size
99" LJFL min

Bag
No federal bag limit; annual US 250-marlin landings cap (blue + white combined)

Season
Year-round

Open

HMS permit required.
NOAA HMS 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Blue Shark

Blue dog Prionace glauca

Size
54 in FL min

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

Not subject to the May 15 - Jul 15 species closure.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Blueback Herring

River herring Alosa aestivalis

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed (moratorium)

Put it back

River herring moratorium; illegal to possess in Virginia tidal waters.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Bluefish

Chopper, Snapper blue Pomatomus saltatrix

Size
No size limit

Bag
5 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

5-per-person limit applies from shore, private, and for-hire vessels.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Blueline Tilefish

Caulolatilus microps

Size
No size limit

Bag
3 per person (5 uninspected / 7 inspected for-hire)

Season
May 15 - Nov 15

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Bluntnose Sixgill Shark

Sixgill shark, Cow shark Hexanchus griseus

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed

Put it back

Federally prohibited shark (bluntnose sixgill) — release in the water with minimal injury.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Bonnethead

Sphyrna tiburo

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 per person per trip (in addition to shark vessel limit)

Season
Open year-round

Open

Exempt from size limit; each angler may keep 1 in addition to the one-shark vessel limit.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Bull Shark

Carcharhinus leucas

Size
54 in FL min

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15

Open

Closed May 15 - Jul 15.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Caribbean Reef Shark

Carcharhinus perezii

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed

Put it back

On Virginia's recreationally prohibited shark list (4VAC20-490-20).
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Clearnose Skate

Brier skate Rostroraja eglanteria

Federal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters). Virginia lists none of its own.

Size
No size limit

Bag
No bag limit

Season
Open all year

Open

Clearnose, little, rosette, and winter skates open with no limits; barndoor, smooth, and thorny skates are prohibited.
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Cobia

Ling, Lemonfish Rachycentron canadum

Size
43 in min

Bag
1 per person, max 2 per vessel

Season
Jun 15 - Sep 20

Open

Gaffing prohibited; the former VA cobia permit/mandatory reporting ended in 2023; size raised from 40 to 43 in for 2026.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Common Thresher

Thresher, Whiptail Alopias vulpinus

Size
54 in FL min

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

Listed as 'Thresher' on the VA permitted list; not in the May 15 - Jul 15 closure list.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Coney

Cephalopholis fulva

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Dusky Shark

Carcharhinus obscurus

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed

Put it back

On Virginia's recreationally prohibited shark list (4VAC20-490-20).
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Finetooth Shark

Carcharhinus isodon

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

Exempt from the 54 in size limit.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Gag Grouper

Gray grouper Mycteroperca microlepis

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Galapagos Shark

Carcharhinus galapagensis

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed

Put it back

Federally prohibited shark (Galapagos) — release in the water with minimal injury.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Golden Tilefish

Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps

Size
No size limit

Bag
8 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Goliath Grouper

Epinephelus itajara

Size
Release only

Bag
0

Season
Closed year-round

Put it back

No-take coastwide under federal rules; VA itself lists only the 1-fish grouper aggregate
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Graysby

Cephalopholis cruentata

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Great Hammerhead

Sphyrna mokarran

Size
78 in FL min

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15

Open

Closed May 15 - Jul 15.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Great White Shark

White shark Carcharodon carcharias

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed

Put it back

On Virginia's recreationally prohibited shark list (4VAC20-490-20).
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Greater Amberjack

AJ, Reef donkey Seriola dumerili

Size
32 in min

Bag
2 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC table lists the row as 'Amberjack'.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
King Mackerel

King, Kingfish, Smoker Scomberomorus cavalla

Size
27 in min

Bag
3 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Lemon Shark

Negaprion brevirostris

Size
54 in FL min

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15

Open

Closed May 15 - Jul 15.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Monkfish

Goosefish, Anglerfish Lophius americanus

Federal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters). Virginia lists none of its own.

Size
17 in whole (11 in tail)

Bag
No bag limit

Season
Open all year

Open

Minimum size 17 inches whole or 11 inches for tails; skin must remain attached for sizing.
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Nassau Grouper

Epinephelus striatus

Size
Release only

Bag
0

Season
Closed year-round

Put it back

No-take coastwide under federal rules; VA itself lists only the 1-fish grouper aggregate
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

Size
54 in FL min

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15

Open

Closed May 15 - Jul 15.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Whitetip shark Carcharhinus longimanus

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed

Put it back

Federally prohibited shark (oceanic whitetip) — release in the water with minimal injury. Listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Porbeagle

Lamna nasus

Size
54 in FL min

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

Not subject to the May 15 - Jul 15 species closure.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Red Drum

Redfish, Puppy drum, Channel bass, Spottail bass Sciaenops ocellatus

Size
18-26 in slot

Bag
3 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Red Grouper

Epinephelus morio

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Red Hind

Epinephelus guttatus

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Rock Hind

Epinephelus adscensionis

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Sailfish

Istiophorus platypterus

Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). Virginia lists none of its own.

Size
63" LJFL min

Bag
No federal bag limit

Season
Year-round

Open

HMS permit required.
NOAA HMS 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Sand Tiger

Carcharias taurus

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed

Put it back

On Virginia's recreationally prohibited shark list (4VAC20-490-20).
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Sandbar Shark

Carcharhinus plumbeus

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed

Put it back

On Virginia's recreationally prohibited shark list (4VAC20-490-20).
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Scalloped Hammerhead

Sphyrna lewini

Size
78 in FL min

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15

Open

Closed May 15 - Jul 15.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Scamp Grouper

Broomtail Mycteroperca phenax

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Scup

Stenotomus chrysops

Size
9 in min

Bag
30 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

Federal-waters rules may differ.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Sheepshead

Convict fish Archosargus probatocephalus

Size
No size limit

Bag
4 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Shortfin Mako

Isurus oxyrinchus

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed

Put it back

On Virginia's recreationally prohibited shark list; also prohibited federally.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Silky Shark

Ridgeback shark Carcharhinus falciformis

Size
No harvest

Bag
0

Season
Closed

Put it back

Federally prohibited shark (silky) — release in the water with minimal injury.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Skipjack Tuna

Skippy, Oceanic bonito Katsuwonus pelamis

Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). Virginia lists none of its own.

Size
No size limit

Bag
No bag limit

Season
Open year-round

Open

The boat needs an HMS Angling permit to fish for Atlantic tunas.
NOAA HMS 2025 · checked 2026-09-16
Smooth Dogfish

Mustelus canis

Size
No size limit

Bag
No bag limit

Season
Open year-round

Open

Recreationally permitted but excluded from the one-shark possession limit; no size limit.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Smooth Hammerhead

Sphyrna zygaena

Size
78 in FL min

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15

Open

Closed May 15 - Jul 15.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Snowy Grouper

Hyporthodus niveatus

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Spanish Mackerel

Spanish Scomberomorus maculatus

Size
14 in min

Bag
15 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Speckled Hind

Hyporthodus drummondhayi

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Spinner Shark

Carcharhinus brevipinna

Size
54 in FL min

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15

Open

Closed May 15 - Jul 15.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Spiny Dogfish

Squalus acanthias

Size
No size limit

Bag
No bag limit

Season
Open year-round

Open

Dog sharks are exempt from Virginia's recreational shark limits; not on the permitted/prohibited lists — treated as unrestricted
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Spot

Leiostomus xanthurus

Size
No size limit

Bag
50 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

Additional 50 allowed as live bait on for-hire vessels.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Spotted Seatrout

Speck, Spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus

Size
14 in min

Bag
5/person (only 1 over 24 in)

Season
2026: closed Apr 1 - Jun 30, otherwise open

Open

Apr 1 - Jun 30 closure is a 2026-specific measure; normally open year-round
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Striped Bass

Striper, Rockfish Morone saxatilis

Size
19-24 in slot (Chesapeake Bay)

Bag
1 per person

Season
Bay: May 16 - Jun 15 and Oct 4 - Dec 31

Closed

Chesapeake Bay (dominant) shown; coastal slot 28-31 in is open Jan 1 - Mar 31 and May 16 - Dec 31 (open today); EEZ harvest prohibited; circle hooks required with bait; gaffing illegal.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Summer Flounder

Fluke Paralichthys dentatus

Size
17.5 in min (16 in Jan 1 - May 31)

Bag
4 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

Minimum size is 16 in Jan 1 - May 31 and 17.5 in Jun 1 - Dec 31.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Swordfish

Xiphias gladius

Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). Virginia lists none of its own.

Size
47" LJFL min

Bag
1 per person, up to 4 per vessel per trip (private); higher for-hire vessel caps

Season
Year-round

Open

May not be retained if a hammerhead or oceanic whitetip shark is aboard.
NOAA HMS 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Tautog

Tautoga onitis

Size
16 in min

Bag
4 per person

Season
Open year-round except May 16 - Jun 30

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Tiger Grouper

Mycteroperca tigris

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Tiger Shark

Galeocerdo cuvier

Size
54 in FL min

Bag
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined)

Season
Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15

Open

Closed May 15 - Jul 15.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Warsaw Grouper

Hyporthodus nigritus

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Weakfish

Gray trout, Squeteague Cynoscion regalis

Size
12 in min

Bag
1 per person

Season
Open year-round

Open

Listed by VMRC as gray trout.
VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
White Marlin

Kajikia albida

Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species). Virginia lists none of its own.

Size
66" LJFL min

Bag
No federal bag limit; annual US 250-marlin landings cap (blue + white combined)

Season
Year-round

Open

HMS permit required.
NOAA HMS 2026 · checked 2026-09-16
Winter Skate

Leucoraja ocellata

Federal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters). Virginia lists none of its own.

Size
No size limit

Bag
No bag limit

Season
Open all year

Open

Open with no limits; barndoor, smooth, and thorny skates are prohibited.
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Yellowedge Grouper

Hyporthodus flavolimbatus

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Yellowfin Grouper

Fireback, Princess rockfish Mycteroperca venenosa

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely
Yellowmouth Grouper

Mycteroperca interstitialis

Size
No size limit

Bag
1 grouper per person (all grouper species combined)

Season
Open year-round

Open

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16 · likely

Every other species

Species not listed in the VMRC recreational regulations table have no state size, bag, or season limits; saltwater license rules still apply.

Size: No size limit
Bag: No bag limit
Season: Open year-round

VMRC 2026 · checked 2026-09-16

Report to NOAA within 24 hours

HMS Angling and Charter/Headboat permit holders must report every bluefin tuna landing or dead discard, and every swordfish, marlin, or sailfish landing, within 24 hours of returning — online at hmspermits.noaa.gov, in the Catch Reporting app, or by phone.

Species: Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Swordfish, Blue Marlin, White Marlin, Sailfish.

How to report · NOAA HMS · checked 2026-09-04

Licences and the fine print

A Virginia saltwater recreational fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older, unless covered by a boat licensed for everyone aboard, fishing from a licensed commercial pier or private property, or age 65 and over.
Anglers 16 and older who are exempt from buying a license — including those 65 and over — must still register (free) with the Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP). Registration also applies in tidal fresh water when fishing for striped bass and other migratory sea species.

Get a Virginia license

Nearby waters: Maryland · North Carolina · all 19 rulebooks

Questions anglers ask about Virginia

Do I need a license to fish saltwater in Virginia?