Fish Bait Information
| Bait Type | Possession Limit |
|---|---|
| 2 Shad (Gizzard, Threadfin, Herring) | Unlimited |
| 3 Trout | Unlimited |
| 4 Virginia Game Fish | See Creel and Length Limit Table (PDF) |
| Fathead minnows, golden shiners, goldfish | Unlimited |
Can you keep shad in VA?
BY-CATCH FISHERY: A. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, catch, possess, or land any American shad in Virginia without first having obtained an American shad bycatch permit from the Marine Resources Commission.
What fish can you keep in Virginia?
Virginia Game Fish
Includes the following: trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, rock bass, roanoke bass, bream, bluegill, crappie, walleye, sauger, saugeye, chain pickerel, muskellunge, northern pike, striped bass, and white bass.
How many fish can you catch in a day in Virginia?
Virginia Trout Limits: For trout in Virginia, the trout season is open year-round. The statewide limits are 6 per day, and no fish caught shall be less than 7 inches.
Fish Size and Limits (Lakes)
| Briery Creek Lake | No bass 16 to 24 inches, only 1 per day longer than 24 inches |
|---|---|
| Lake Moomaw | No bass less than 12 inches |
How many bluegill can you keep in VA?
4VAC15-320-25. Creel and length limits.
| Type of fish | Creel and length limits |
|---|---|
| muskellunge | 2 per day No muskellunge less than 30 inches |
| bluegill (bream) and other sunfish excluding crappie, rock bass (redeye) and Roanoke bass | 50 per day in the aggregate No statewide length limits |
Can you use bluegill for bait in Virginia?
The only game fish that can be used as cut bait are bluegill, sunfish, and bream. It is unlawful to remove the head, tail, or change the appearance of any other game fish since it would be impractical to measure original lengths or count the number of fish in possession.
How many hooks can you have on a line in Virginia?
Not all states allow you to legally use 5 hooks.
States with a 5 Hook or No Limit:
| State | Alabama Rig Hook Limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | No Limit | Virginia Alabama Rig Laws |
| Washington | 3 | Washington Alabama Rig Laws |
How many hickory shad can you keep in Virginia?
How to Measure a Fish
| Creel and Length Limit | Geographic Exceptions | Creel or Length Limits for Exceptions |
|---|---|---|
| No daily limit No length limits | None apply | None apply |
| All Catfish | ||
| South Holston Reservoir | 20 per day, only 1 catfish per day longer than 34 inches | |
| Hickory Shad |
How many fish can you keep in Virginia?
6 per day 7 inch minimum size See Trout Waters, pages 31–35 No minimum size limit South Holston Reservoir 7 fish per day—only 2 lake trout. No minimum size.
What is the difference between American shad and hickory shad?
The hickory shad has a superior mouth where the lower jaw protrudes substantially beyond the upper jaw when the mouth is closed. American shad tend to be larger and more symmetrical (top to bottom) than hickory shad.
Do you need a fishing license on private property in VA?
Tenants, on the land they rent and occupy, are not required to have a license, but must have the written permission of the landowner. Guests fishing in individually owned private ponds. Nonresident children under 16 years of age (also do not need a trout license).
At what age do you no longer need a fishing license in Virginia?
Residents 65 and older: You are not required to buy a Saltwater Fishing License, but you are required to register annually with the Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) by visiting www.mrc.virginia.gov/FIP.
What’s the best time to fish in Virginia?
Best Times & Seasons to Catch Fish in Virginia Beach (Guide)
| Species | Peak Fishing Seasons in Virginia Beach |
|---|---|
| Cobia | June through September are best. |
| Tuna | July through September for bluefin tuna; big-eyed tuna peak September to October. |
| Marlin | Best months are August and September. |
Is there a size limit on crappie in Virginia?
Crappie, black and white. — The daily creel limit for black crappie and white crappie is 30 in aggregate and the possession limit for black crappie and white crappie is 60 in aggregate.
How many black drum can you keep in Virginia?
It shall be unlawful for any person using hook and line, rod and reel, or hand line to take or catch from Virginia tidal waters more than one black drum per day. Any black drum taken after the possession limit of one has been reached shall be returned to the water immediately.
How many flounder can you keep in Virginia?
Summary
| 2022 Specifications | Scup | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial ACL = Commercial Annual Catch Target (ACT) | 25.05 | 18.48 |
| Commercial Quota | 20.38 | 15.53 |
| Recreational ACL = ACT | 7.06 | 14.64 |
| Recreational Harvest Limit (RHL) | 6.08 | 10.36 |
Is jug fishing legal in Virginia?
Except as otherwise provided by local legislation and by subsections B and C of this section, and except on waters stocked with trout and within 600 feet of any dam, it shall be lawful to use trotlines, juglines (single hook, including one treble hook, and line attached to a float), or set poles for the purpose of
Can I use goldfish as bait?
In most states it is illegal to use live goldfish as fishing bait in order to prevent the release of invasive species that can damage native ecosystems. However, there are some states that still allow the use of dead or living goldfish when fishing.
Can you buy gizzard shad?
We recommend stocking gizzard shad in trophy bass ponds when they have a large number of bass over 16 inches in length in the population. They are usually stocked in the spring but can be stocked later in the growing season when available.
How many rods can you fish with in VA?
It is unlawful to feed, bait, or snag trout in designated stocked trout waters. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing in designated stocked trout waters to use more than one rod, one line, and one baited hook (a treble hook is considered one hook); however, any combination of artificial lures is allowed.
How many rods are you allowed to fish with in Virginia?
The freshwater rod & reel limit for every state in America:
| State | Lines Allowed | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 2 | Each line may not have more than two baited hooks or three artificial flies or two lures with or without bait |
| Virginia | Unlimited | 1 while trout fishing |
| Washington | 2 | 2 pole permits required |
| West Virginia | 2 |
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