Virginia state waters, out to 3 miles
Dog sharks are exempt from Virginia's recreational shark limits; not on the permitted/prohibited lists — treated as unrestricted
VMRC 2026 · checked · likely · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
No limits for private anglers; party/charter vessels with federal permits must follow commercial rules.
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
How to tell it
White spots on gray, a spine before each dorsal, no anal fin. More on the spiny dogfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Spiny dogfish in other states16 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask4
What is the size limit for spiny dogfish in Virginia?
No size limit.
How many spiny dogfish can you keep in Virginia?
No bag limit.
When is spiny dogfish season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
How current is this Virginia spiny dogfish 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.
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