Federal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) · Virginia lists none of its own
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 · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Atlantic chub mackerelDusky spots below the midline, bigger eye. Tell them apartNot listed by Virginia: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Spanish mackerelGold spots, southern. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
How to tell it
Bold black wavy bars over a metallic blue-green back with a CLEAN silver belly; finlets to the tail. More on the Atlantic mackerel page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Atlantic mackerel in other states8 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for Atlantic mackerel in Virginia?
No size limit.
How many Atlantic mackerel can you keep in Virginia?
25 per person per trip (private); 50 per person per trip (for-hire).
When is Atlantic mackerel season in Virginia?
All year.
How current is this Virginia Atlantic mackerel rule?
Source: NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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