Virginia state waters, out to 3 miles
Closed May 15 - Jul 15.
VMRC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
How to tell it
Barbels, tiny mouth, rounded fins; naps under ledges. More on the nurse shark page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for nurse shark in Virginia?
54 in FL min. Measured as fork length: snout to the fork of the tail.
How many nurse shark can you keep in Virginia?
1 per vessel per trip (all permitted sharks combined). Counts toward the Sharks (1 per vessel) aggregate.
When is nurse shark season in Virginia?
Open year-round except May 15 - Jul 15. As of Sep 21, 2026 it is open.
How current is this Virginia nurse shark 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 nurse shark in Virginia and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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