INDEPENDENT EAST COAST DESKSources, freshness & methodology
SALTWATERNEWSREAD THE WATER
Rules · VA · 13 species

Virginia saltwater fishing rules

Recreational size, bag and season for Lower Chesapeake Bay, the Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach, from Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Open as of Oct 13, 2026: striped bass, summer flounder, black sea bass, bluefish, red drum, tautog, scup, spotted seatrout, weakfish, black drum, sheepshead, spanish mackerel.

SpeciesSizeBagSeasonStatus
Striped bassChecked Oct 10, 2026Coastal: 28"–31" (slot); Chesapeake Bay: 19"–24" (slot)1 fish per personCoastal: Jan 1–Mar 31 and May 16–Dec 31. Chesapeake Bay: spring May 16–Jun 15; fall Oct 4–Dec 31Openas of Oct 13
Summer flounderChecked Oct 10, 202616" (Jan 1–May 31); 17.5" (Jun 1–Dec 31)4 per personOpen year-roundOpenas of Oct 13
Black sea bassChecked Oct 10, 202613" minimum15May 11 – Dec 31 (2026)Openas of Oct 13
BluefishChecked Oct 10, 2026No minimum size5 per person (shore, rented/private vessel, and for-hire/charter)No closed season listedOpenas of Oct 13
Red drumChecked Oct 10, 202618"–26" (slot)3 per personNo closed season listedOpenas of Oct 13
TautogChecked Oct 10, 202616" minimum4 per personJan 1 – May 15 and Jul 1 – Dec 31 (closed May 16 – Jun 30)Openas of Oct 13
ScupChecked Oct 10, 20269" minimum (state waters)30 per person (state waters)No closed season listed for state watersOpenas of Oct 13
Spotted seatroutChecked Oct 10, 202614" minimum5 per person, only 1 may exceed 24"Open except closed Apr 1 – Jun 30, 2026Openas of Oct 13
WeakfishChecked Oct 12, 202612" minimum total length1 fish per personNo closed season listedOpenas of Oct 13
Black drumChecked Oct 12, 202616" minimum total length1 fish per personNo closed season listedOpenas of Oct 13
SheepsheadChecked Oct 12, 2026No minimum size4 fish per personNo closed season listedOpenas of Oct 13
CobiaChecked Oct 12, 202643" minimum total length1 fish per person per day, 2 per vessel per day; whichever is more restrictiveJune 15 – September 20Closedas of Oct 13
Spanish mackerelChecked Oct 12, 202614" minimum total length15 fish per personNo closed season listedOpenas of Oct 13

This table summarizes Virginia Marine Resources Commission pages on the dates shown, and status is derived from each row's season dates on Oct 13, 2026. Rules change in season. The agency page controls:Virginia Marine Resources Commission ↗

Not on this list?

We publish a row only after checking it against the agency's own page. A species missing here is one we have not verified yet. That does not mean it has no rule. Use the agency link above, and see how we source.

Virginia portsVirginia Beach / Rudee Inlet