Creel & Length Limits

Name: eRegulations
Price range: $

How To Use Creel & Length Limit Table

Q: I am fishing for smallmouth bass at Lake Moomaw. How many and what size may I keep?

A: The statewide creel limit for bass is 5 in the aggregate, with no length limit. However, under GEOGRAPHICAL EXCEPTIONS, Lake Moomaw is listed. The exception is that no bass may be kept less than 12 inches long. Unless otherwise posted at the site, you could keep 5 bass but none of them can be less than 12 inches long.

Q: What does the term “in the aggregate” mean?

A: Aggregate means combined. In the example above for Lake Moomaw, unless otherwise posted, you can keep 5 bass in the aggregate but none can be less than 12 inches long. Example: You could keep 3 largemouth bass and 2 smallmouth bass for a combined or aggregate total of 5 but none of the 5 can be less than 12 inches in length.

Q: I am fishing for largemouth bass at Lake Brittle in Fauquier County. How many can I keep and of what size length?

A: Lake Brittle is not listed as a GEOGRAPHICAL EXCEPTION since this is not a major lake. The DWR website at www.virginiawildlife.gov/lakes under Lake Brittle indicates there is a 12–15 inch slot limit on largemouth, where all bass between 12–15 inches must be released. You could keep 5 bass but none between 12–15 inches long. This restriction should also be posted at Lake Brittle.

The tables that follow give statewide creel (harvest) and length limits for major sport fish and exceptions for major rivers and lakes. Regulations for many smaller lakes and boat access areas are posted on site, and posted regulations are in effect (see “OTHER USES” under Department-owned Lakes, Ponds, Streams or Boat Access Sites in General Information). For smaller lakes, information can be found online at: www.virginiawildlife.gov/fishing. Creel limits are per person per day.

Creel and Length Limit	Geographic Exceptions	Creel or Length Limits for Exceptions
Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass
5 per day in the aggregate (combined) No statewide length limits	Lakes
	Briery Creek Lake	No largemouth or smallmouth bass 16 to 24 inches, only 1 per day longer than 24 inches
	Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir	Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
	Claytor Lake	No smallmouth 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
	Leesville Reservoir	Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
	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 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
	South Holston Reservoir	No smallmouth 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
	Dan River and tributaries downstream from the Union Street Dam, Danville	Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
	James River–Confluence of the Jackson and Cowpasture rivers (Botetourt Cty) downstream to the 14th St. Bridge in Richmond	No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches, only 1 per day longer than 22 inches
	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
	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. (This does not include Claytor Lake which is delineated as: The upper end of the island at Allisonia downstream to the dam.)	No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches, only 1 per day longer than 22 inches
	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
	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
	North Fork, South Fork and Mainstem Shenandoah River	No largemouth or smallmouth bass 11 to 14 inches
	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
Alabama, Spotted Bass
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 (combined) 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 (combined) 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 (combined)
		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 (combined)
		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 shall be as set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for recreational fishing in tidal waters	None apply	None apply
Striped bass in the Meherrin, Nottoway, Blackwater (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers and their tributaries plus Back Bay
2 per day No striped bass less than 18 inches	None apply	None apply
Walleye, Saugeye
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
2 per day No statewide length limits	None apply	None apply
White Bass
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
5 per day No statewide length limits	Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir	No daily limit
Northern Pike
2 per day No pike less than 20 inches	None apply	None apply
Muskellunge
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	1 per day 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
50 per day in the aggregate (combined) 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)
25 per day in the aggregate (combined) 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)
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
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)
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
6 per day 7 inch minimum size	See Special Regulation Trout Waters
	South Holston Reservoir	7 fish per day—only 2 lake trout. No minimum size.
Catfish
Channel, White and Flathead
20 per day No length limits	All rivers below the fall line	No daily limit
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
Yellow, brown, black, flat, and snail bullhead
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
Above and below the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and their tributaries
Creel and length limits shall be the same as those set by the Virginia Marine Resources Comm. in tidal rivers	None apply	None apply
Meherrin River below Emporia Dam, Nottoway River, Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers, and their tributaries plus Back Bay
10 per day No length limits	None apply	None apply
American Shad
No possession (catch and release only)
Anadromous (coastal) Alewife and Blueback Herring
Above and below the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and their tributaries
Creel and length limits shall be the same as those set by the Virginia Marine Resources Comm. for these species in tidal rivers	The Virginia Marine Resources Commission enacted a ban on the possession of river herring, effective January 1, 2012, due to the collapse of the stock, and to comply with an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries fishery management plan directive
Meherrin River, Nottoway River, Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers and their tributaries, plus Back Bay
No possession
Other native or naturalized nongame fish
20 per day No length limits	Statewide	See Nongame Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians & Invertebrates for exceptions
Threatened and endangered species
No possession	None apply	None apply
Grass Carp
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.
Northern Snakehead
No statewide daily limit No statewide length limit	Anglers may possess snakeheads taken from Virginia waters if they immediately kill the fish and notify the headquarters or a regional office of the department; notification may be made by calling (804) 367-2925.
Non-native (Exotic) Fish
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
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
Saltwater Marine Species
See Virginia Marine Resources website: www.mrc.virginia.gov

Don’t Let Them Hitch a Ride

Zebra mussels are small (<1") freshwater bivalves with dark and light bands on their shells. They can attach to surfaces, in clusters, leading to tremendous recreation, wildlife, and economic damage. They can be accidentally transported to Virginia by boaters and anglers, and we are counting on you to help stop the spread of zebra mussels by taking the following precautions:

Regulations require boaters to remove vegetation from vessel, trailer, and equipment in addition to removing drain plugs from bilges.
Visually inspect and scrub boat hulls, motors, anchors, and trailers, removing any attached vegetation at site of origin, then hose equipment with hot (140°F) and/or high-pressure water if possible.
Bilges, live wells, and any other water-holding compartments should be drained at the site of origin and flushed with disinfectant or hot water.
Boat and other equipment should remain completely dry for at least 24 hours before being used again.
Take same precautions with waders, bait buckets, and other equipment that can hold water or come into contact with water.

If you believe you have seen or found a zebra mussel, please contact the Department immediately at (804) 367-6913 or Brian Watson at the Department’s Forest Office (434-525-7522). For more information on zebra mussels, please see our website.