Virginia state waters, out to 3 miles
Federal-waters rules may differ.
VMRC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Federal coastwide measures; state rules may differ inside 3 miles.
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Virginia state record
VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Small northern porgy; dusky fins, concave forehead. More on the scup page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for scup in Virginia?
9 in min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many scup can you keep in Virginia?
30 per person.
When is scup season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
What is the Virginia record scup?
5 lb 5 oz, Off Chincoteague (1978).
How current is this Virginia scup 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 scup in Virginia and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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