Federal rule (NOAA Highly Migratory Species) · Virginia lists none of its own
HMS permit required.
NOAA HMS 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Virginia state record
VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
The sail says it all; lights up neon when hot. More on the sailfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for sailfish in Virginia?
63" LJFL min. Measured as lower-jaw fork length: tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.
How many sailfish can you keep in Virginia?
No federal bag limit.
When is sailfish season in Virginia?
Year-round.
What is the Virginia record sailfish?
68 lb 8 oz, Off Virginia Beach (1977).
How current is this Virginia sailfish rule?
Source: NOAA HMS 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 sailfish in Virginia and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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