Virginia state waters, out to 3 miles
SizeNo size limit
Bag4 per person
SeasonOpen year-roundOpen today
VMRC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Black drumJuvenile drum bars fade; drum has chin barbels. Tell them apartSize16 in min
Bag1 per person
SeasonOpen year-round
Atlantic spadefishRounder, disc-shaped, small mouth. Tell them apartSizeNo size limit
Bag4 per person
SeasonOpen year-round
Keep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Virginia state record
20 lb 12 ozCBBT, Seagull Fishing Pier, 2005
VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Bold black vertical bars and startlingly human-like teeth. More on the sheepshead page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Sheepshead in other states10 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for sheepshead in Virginia?
No size limit.
How many sheepshead can you keep in Virginia?
4 per person.
When is sheepshead season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
What is the Virginia record sheepshead?
20 lb 12 oz, CBBT, Seagull Fishing Pier (2005).
How current is this Virginia sheepshead 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 sheepshead in Virginia and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
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