Virginia state waters, out to 3 miles
VMRC table lists the row as 'Amberjack'.
VMRC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Almaco jackDeeper body, tall sickle-shaped dorsal lobe. Tell them apartNot listed by Virginia: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Not listed by Virginia: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Virginia state record
VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Dark band through the eye to the first dorsal; amber side stripe; 11 or fewer dorsal rays than almaco's tall sickle. More on the greater amberjack page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Greater amberjack in other states10 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for greater amberjack in Virginia?
32 in min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many greater amberjack can you keep in Virginia?
2 per person.
When is greater amberjack season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
What is the Virginia record greater amberjack?
118 lb, Ches. Light Tower (1986).
How current is this Virginia greater amberjack 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.
In the appPoint the camera at a greater amberjack in Virginia and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the app