Virginia state waters, out to 3 miles
VMRC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Red drumNo barbels, has the tail spot. Tell them apart
SheepsheadBlack bars but sheepshead has human-like teeth. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Virginia state record
VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Chin barbels, high arched back, gray-black bars on juveniles that fade with age. More on the black drum page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Black drum in other states12 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for black drum in Virginia?
16 in min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many black drum can you keep in Virginia?
1 per person.
When is black drum season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
What is the Virginia record black drum?
111 lb, Off Cape Charles (1973).
How current is this Virginia black drum rule?
Source: VMRC 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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