Understanding Creel & Length Limits

When venturing out for a day of fishing, it's essential to grasp the regulations governing the number and size of fish you can keep. In Virginia, these regulations are outlined in the Creel & Length Limit Table. Let's delve into how to decipher and utilize this valuable resource effectively.

Statewide Regulations

Across Virginia, the statewide creel limit for bass stands at 5 fish in total, with no specific length restrictions. This means you can keep a combined total of 5 bass from different species without worrying about individual lengths. However, it's crucial to note that geographical exceptions may apply.

Geographical Exceptions

For instance, let's consider Lake Moomaw. While the statewide regulations generally apply, Lake Moomaw has its exceptions. Here, no bass under 12 inches in length may be kept. Therefore, if you're fishing at Lake Moomaw, you can still keep 5 bass, but none of them can measure less than 12 inches, unless otherwise posted.

Understanding "In the Aggregate"

The term "in the aggregate" simply means combined. In practical terms, this implies that you can mix and match different species of bass to reach your creel limit. For example, you could keep 3 largemouth bass and 2 smallmouth bass, totaling 5 fish, as long as none of them are below the specified minimum length, such as 12 inches at Lake Moomaw.

Specific Lake Regulations

Moving on to Lake Brittle in Fauquier County, specific regulations may apply. While it's not listed as a geographical exception, there might still be unique rules to follow. For instance, at Lake Brittle, there could be a slot limit on largemouth bass, requiring all bass between 12 and 15 inches to be released. This information should be readily available on the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) website or posted at the site itself.

Accessing Additional Information

For comprehensive information on regulations, particularly for smaller lakes and boat access areas, it's advisable to check the DWR website or look for posted regulations onsite. Creel limits are enforced per person per day, ensuring sustainable fishing practices and the conservation of aquatic resources.

Creel and Length Limit Regulations for Fishing in Virginia

Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 5 per day in the aggregate (combined)
  • No statewide length limits

Lakes

• Briery Creek Lake:
  • No largemouth or smallmouth bass between 16 to 24 inches; only 1 per day longer than 24 inches allowed
• Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir:
  • Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches allowed
• Claytor Lake:
  • No smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
• Flannagan Reservoir:
  • No largemouth bass less than 12 inches; no smallmouth bass less than 15 inches
• Lake Gaston:
  • Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches allowed
• Leesville Reservoir:
  • Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches allowed
• Lake Moomaw:
  • No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 12 inches
• Philpott Reservoir:
  • No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 12 inches
• Quantico Marine Base Waters:
  • No largemouth or smallmouth bass between 12 to 15 inches
• Smith Mt. Lake and its Tributaries below Niagara Dam:
  • Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches allowed
• South Holston Reservoir:
  • No smallmouth bass less than 15 inches

Rivers

• Clinch River–within the boundaries of Scott, Wise, Russell, or Tazewell Counties:
  • No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches; only 1 per day longer than 20 inches allowed
• Dan River and Tributaries downstream from the Union Street Dam, Danville:
  • Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches allowed
• James River–Confluence of the Jackson and Cowpasture Rivers (Botetourt County) downstream to the 14th St. Bridge in Richmond:
  • No largemouth or smallmouth bass between 14 to 22 inches; only 1 per day longer than 22 inches allowed
• Levisa Fork River–within the boundaries Buchanan County:
  • No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches; only 1 per day longer than 20 inches allowed
• New River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) downstream to the VA-WV state line and its tributaries Little River downstream from Little River Dam in Montgomery County, Big Walker Creek from the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge downstream to the New River and Wolf Creek from the Narrows Dam downstream to the New River in Giles County:
  • No largemouth or smallmouth bass between 14 to 22 inches; only 1 per day longer than 22 inches allowed
• North Fork Holston River–Rt. 91 Bridge upstream of Saltville, Va. downstream to the VA-TN state line:
  • No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches; only 1 per day longer than 20 inches allowed
• Potomac River – Virginia Tidal Tributaries above Rt. 301 Bridge:
  • No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 15 inches from March 1 through June 15
• Staunton (Roanoke) River–and its tributaries below Difficult Creek, Charlotte County:
  • Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches allowed
• North Fork, South Fork, and Mainstem Shenandoah River:
  • No largemouth or smallmouth bass between 11 to 14 inches allowed
• Staunton River–Leesville Dam (Campbell County) downstream to the mouth of Difficult Creek, Charlotte County:
  • No smallmouth bass less than 20 inches; only 1 per day longer than 20 inches allowed

Alabama and Spotted Bass

• Statewide Regulations:
  • No statewide daily limit
  • No statewide length limit

Striped Bass

• Landlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids:
  • 4 per day in the aggregate
  • No fish less than 20 inches
• Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Union Street Dam (Danville):
  • October 1–May 31: 2 per day in the aggregate; no striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inches or greater than 26 inches
  • June 1–September 30: 4 per day in the aggregate; no length limit
• Claytor Lake and its Tributaries:
  • September 16–June 30: 2 per day in the aggregate; no striped bass or hybrid bass less than 20 inches
  • July 1–September 15: 4 per day in the aggregate; no length limit
• Lake Gaston:
  • 4 per day in the aggregate
  • October 1–May 31: No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inches
  • June 1–September 30: No length limit
• Smith Mountain Lake and its Tributaries, including the Roanoke River upstream to Niagara Dam:
  • 2 per day in the aggregate
  • November 1–May 31: No striped bass 30 to 40 inches
  • June 1–October 31: No length limit

Anadromous (Coastal) Striped Bass

• Above the Fall Line in all Coastal Rivers of the Chesapeake Bay:
  • Creel and length limits set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for recreational fishing in tidal waters
  • None apply

Walleye and Saugeye

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 5 per day in the aggregate
  • No walleye or saugeye less than 18 inches

Claytor Lake and the New River upstream to Fries Dam in Grayson County

• 2 walleye per day; no walleye 19 to 28 inches

Sauger

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 2 per day
  • No statewide length limits

White Bass

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 5 per day
  • No statewide length limits

South Holston Reservoir

• No harvest or possession (catch and release only)

Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir, including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to Union Street Dam (Danville)

• 10 per day; no white bass less than 14 inches

Chain Pickerel

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 5 per day
  • No statewide length limits

Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir

• No daily limit

Northern Pike

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 2 per day
  • No pike less than 20 inches

Muskellunge

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 2 per day
  • No muskellunge less than 30 inches

New River-Fields Dam (Grayson County) downstream to Claytor Dam, including Claytor Lake

• 1 per day; no muskellunge less than 42 inches

New River-Claytor Dam downstream to VA-WV state line

• June 1–last day of February: No muskellunge 40 to 48 inches
• March 1–May 31: No muskellunge less than 48 inches

Bluegill (Bream) and Other Sunfish Excluding Crappie, Rock Bass (Redeye), and Roanoke Bass

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 50 per day in the aggregate
  • No statewide length limits

Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Difficult Creek, Charlotte County; and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Banister River, Halifax County; and that portion of the New River from the VA–NC state line downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Grayson County

• No daily limit

Crappie (Black or White)

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 25 per day in the aggregate
  • No statewide length limits

Lake Gaston and that portion of the New River from the VA–NC state line downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Grayson County

• No daily limit

Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Difficult Creek, Charlotte County; and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Banister River, Halifax County

• No crappie less than 9 inches

Briery Creek and Sandy River Reservoirs

• No crappie less than 9 inches

Flannagan and South Holston Reservoirs

• No crappie less than 10 inches; South Holston Res. — 15 per day in the aggregate (combined)

Rock Bass (Redeye)

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 25 per day in the aggregate with Roanoke bass
  • No statewide length limits

Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir and that portion of the New River from the VA–NC state line downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Grayson County

• No daily limit

Nottoway, Meherrin, Blackwater (Franklin County), Falling, and Smith rivers and their tributaries

• 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) with Roanoke bass
• No rock bass less than 8 inches

South Holston Reservoir

• 20 per day

Roanoke Bass

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 25 per day in the aggregate with rock bass
  • No statewide length limits

Nottoway, Meherrin, and Blackwater (Franklin County), Falling, and Smith rivers and their tributaries

• 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) with rock bass
• No Roanoke bass less than 8 inches

Perch (Yellow and White)

• Statewide Regulations:
  • No statewide daily limit
  • No statewide length limit

Lake Moomaw

• 10 per day

Tidal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay below the fall line

• No yellow perch less than 9 inches

Trout

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 6 per day
  • 7-inch minimum size

South Holston Reservoir

• 7 fish per day—only 2 lake trout. No minimum size.

Catfish

• Statewide Regulations:
  • Channel, White, and Flathead: 20 per day; no length limits
  • Blue: 20 per day; no statewide length limits

Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Difficult Creek, Charlotte County; and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Banister River, Halifax County

• 20 per day, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches

James River and its tributaries below the fall line, Rappahannock River and its tributaries below the fall line, and York River and its tributaries (including the Pamunkey River and Mattaponi River) below the fall line

• No daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches

Lake Gaston

• No daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches

All rivers below the fall line other than the James River and its tributaries, the Rappahannock River and its tributaries, and the York River and its tributaries

• No daily limit

Northern Snakehead

• Statewide Regulations:
  • No statewide daily limit
  • No statewide length limit

Non-Native (Exotic) Fish

• Statewide Regulations:
  • See Nongame Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians & Invertebrates

Spotted Sea Trout

• Back Bay and Tributaries, Including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its Tributaries:
  • 4 per day, no fish less than 14 inches

Red Drum

• Back Bay and Tributaries, Including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its Tributaries:
  • 1 per day between 18 and 27 inches

Grey Trout

• Back Bay and Tributaries, Including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its Tributaries:
  • 1 per day, no fish less than 12 inches

Southern Flounder

• Back Bay and Tributaries, Including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its Tributaries:
  • 6 per day, no fish less than 15 inches

Longnose Gar

• July 1 to April 14:
  • 5 per day
• April 15 to June 30:
  • 1 per day
• No statewide length limits

Bowfin

• July 1 to April 14:
  • 5 per day
• April 15 to June 30:
  • 1 per day
• No statewide length limits

American Eel

• Statewide Regulations:
  • 25 per day; no eel less than 9 inches

Back Bay and North Landing River

• No possession limit for those individuals possessing a permit obtained under 4VAC15-340-80

Grass Carp

• Statewide Regulations:
  • No statewide daily limit
  • No statewide length limit
• Anglers may possess grass carp taken from inland public waters, except for public lakes and reservoirs. Anglers must ensure that harvested grass carp are dead.

Threatened and Endangered Species

• Statewide Regulations:
  • No possession

American Shad

• Statewide Regulations:
  • No possession (catch and release only)

Anadromous (Coastal) Alewife and Blueback Herring

• Back Bay and Tributaries, Including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its Tributaries:
  • No possession

For additional information on regulations for saltwater marine species, please refer to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission website: www.mrc.virginia.gov.