Virginia state waters, out to 3 miles
Listed by VMRC as gray trout.
VMRC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Past 3 miles: federal waters Different rule
Federal-waters minimum size only; most states impose a 1-fish limit that applies once landed.
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked 2026-09-20
Often mistaken for
Spotted seatroutBigger scattered spots reaching the tail. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
Virginia state record
VMRC Saltwater Fishing Tournament, 2025 brochure · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Small spots in diagonal rows along the back, yellow-tinged fins, sea-trout body. More on the weakfish page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for weakfish in Virginia?
12 in min. Measured as total length: snout to the tip of the tail, tail lobes squeezed together.
How many weakfish can you keep in Virginia?
1 per person.
When is weakfish season in Virginia?
Open year-round.
What is the Virginia record weakfish?
19 lb, Ches. Bay Br. Tunnel (1983).
How current is this Virginia weakfish 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 weakfish in Virginia and this rule is on the screen before you take the picture. No signal needed.
Get the app