Virginia Fishing License and Regulations
Fees, exemptions, the 2026 digest creel table and where Virginia's tidal rivers change rules.
For weighing a catchPiscifun Lip gripper with digital scale27% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Blacksburg: Christopher Bowns, CC BY-SA 2.0
Who carries a Virginia fishing license
Residents and nonresidents under 16 need no fishing or trout license (as printed).
All persons, except those listed below, must purchase the proper licenses before fishing. Resident or nonresident landowners, their spouses, their children and grandchildren and the spouses of such children and grandchildren, or the landowner’s parents, resident or nonresident, do not need a license to hunt, trap, or fish within the boundaries of their own lands and inland waters. Residents under 16 years of age (also do not need a trout license). Resident, active-duty members of the armed forces while on official leave are not required to purchase a license to fish, unless fishing for trout in designated waters, provided that person presents a copy of their leave papers upon request.
Resident and nonresident licenses are valid for one year from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted (issuance fee included in prices).
License requirements as printed in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest, read November 6, 2026.
Every Virginia resident fishing license and its price
| License as printed | Price |
|---|---|
| Sportsman’s License (16 years or older) | $100.00 |
| County/City Resident Freshwater Fishing * | $16.00 |
| Resident State Freshwater Fishing License, 1-year license | $23.00 |
| Resident State Freshwater Fishing License, 2-year license | $44.00 |
| Resident State Freshwater Fishing License, 3-year license | $65.00 |
| Resident State Freshwater Fishing License, 4-year license | $86.00 |
| Resident State Fresh/Saltwater Fishing * | $39.50 |
| Resident Saltwater Fishing License | $17.50 |
| Resident 5-Day Freshwater Fishing | $14.00 |
| Resident 5-Day Fresh/Saltwater Fishing | $24.00 |
| Resident 10-Day Saltwater Fishing | $10.00 |
| Resident Tidal Boat Sport Fishing (see License Information ) | $126.00 |
| Resident 65 and Over Annual Freshwater Fishing * | $9.00 |
| Resident Trout Fishing (October 1–June 15) | $23.00 |
Virginia license fees in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (licenses run one year from purchase unless noted), read November 6, 2026.
What a visiting angler pays in Virginia
| License as printed | Price |
|---|---|
| Nonresident State Freshwater Fishing ** (age 16 or older) | $47.00 |
| Nonresident Saltwater Fishing License | $25.00 |
| Nonresident State Fresh/Saltwater Fishing ** | $71.00 |
| Nonresident 1-Day Freshwater Fishing Not valid in designated stocked trout waters | $8.00 |
| Nonresident 5-Day Freshwater Fishing ** | $21.00 |
| Nonresident 10-Day Saltwater Fishing License | $10.00 |
| Nonresident 5-Day Fresh/Saltwater Fishing ** | $31.00 |
| Nonresident Tidal Boat Sport Fishing (see License Information ) | $201.00 |
| Nonresident Trout Fishing (October 1–June 15) | $23.00 |
DWR opened public comment on proposed fee increases on 7 Jul 2026 (press release https://dwr.virginia.gov/media/press-release/public-comment-period-opens-july-7-for-proposed-fee-increases-regulatory-changes/); prices here are those printed in the 2026 guide.
Virginia license fees in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (licenses run one year from purchase unless noted), read November 6, 2026.
Virginia permits that sit beside a fishing license
| Permit as printed | Price |
|---|---|
| South Holston Reservoir Fishing License | $21.00 |
| Daily Permit Required at Clinch Mountain, Crooked Creek, and Douthat State Park Fee Fishing Areas | $8.00 |
| National Forest Permit | $4.00 |
| Virginia State Forest Use Permit | $16.00 |
| Access Permit | $4.00 per day or $23.00 per year |
| County Dip Net Permit | $4.50 |
| Public Access Lands for Sportsmen (PALS) | $18 |
An access permit is required when using any DWR-owned or managed facility or boating access site. Such permit shall not be required for any person holding a valid hunting, freshwater fishing, or trapping license, or a current certificate of boat registration issued by the Department or persons under the age of 17. The Access Permit requirement does not apply to passengers of vessels launched from Department-owned boat ramps or segments of the Appalachian Trail on Department-owned land.
All persons are required to have a National Forest Permit (with the exceptions listed below) when fishing on National Forest lands except on the North and South Fork of the Shenandoah River, the James River, Skidmore Lake in Rockingham County, North Fork Pound Reservoir, Lake Moomaw, the Jackson River below Gathright Dam, and in Wilson Creek below Douthat Lake in Alleghany and Bath Counties.
Virginia license fees in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (licenses run one year from purchase unless noted), read November 6, 2026.
Virginia residency rules and the tidal boat license
Persons meeting the following criteria may purchase a state resident license. Individuals who, for two or more months immediately prior to purchasing a license, have been a domiciliary resident of Virginia and who execute a certificate of residency. Member of the U.S. armed forces, their spouse, and their dependents when the armed forces member (i) resides in Virginia, (ii) is on active duty, and (iii) is stationed at a military base within or on a ship based in Virginia. Persons meeting the following criteria may purchase a city or county resident license. U.S.
The tidal boat license is available to any boat owner, resident and nonresident. The license is a special combined sportfishing license that gives the boat owner a license to fish in saltwater and freshwater within Virginia. The license also covers all passengers on board the owner’s boat when fishing in Virginia tidal waters (to river Fall Lines) and saltwater only when the registered boat owner is present.
License information as printed, 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
The 2026 Virginia digest creel and length rows
| Fish as printed | Where it applies | Creel | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | statewide | 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Alabama, Spotted Bass | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Landlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids | statewide | 4 per day in the aggregate | No fish less than 20 inches |
| Striped Bass | Anadromous (coastal) striped bass above the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and Crane Lake (City of Suffolk) | Creel and length limits shall be as set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for recreational fishing in tidal waters | no length limit printed |
| Striped Bass | Striped bass in the Meherrin, Nottoway, Blackwater (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers and their tributaries plus Back Bay | No possession | no length limit printed |
| Walleye, Saugeye | statewide | 5 per day in the aggregate | No walleye or saugeye less than 18 inches |
| Sauger | statewide | 2 per day | No statewide length limits |
| White Bass | statewide | 5 per day | No statewide length limits |
| Chain Pickerel and Northern Pike | statewide | 5 per day | No statewide length limits |
| Muskellunge | statewide | 1 per day | No muskellunge less than 40 inches |
| Bluegill (bream) and other sunfish excluding Crappie, Rock Bass (redeye) and Roanoke Bass | statewide | 50 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Crappie (black or white) | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Rock Bass (redeye) | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate with Roanoke bass | No statewide length limits |
| Roanoke Bass | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate with rock bass | No statewide length limits |
| Perch (yellow and white) | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Trout | statewide | 6 per day | 7 inch minimum size |
| Channel, White, and Flathead | statewide | 20 per day | No length limits |
| Blue | statewide | 20 per day | No statewide length limits |
| 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 | no length limit printed |
| Hickory Shad | 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 |
| 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 | no length limit printed |
| Other native or naturalized nongame fish | statewide | 20 per day | No length limits |
| Threatened and endangered species | statewide | No possession | no length limit printed |
| Grass Carp | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Longnose Gar | statewide | July 1 to April 14: 5 per day | April 15 to June 30: 1 per day No statewide length limits |
| Bowfin | statewide | July 1 to April 14: 5 per day | April 15 to June 30: 1 per day No statewide length limits |
| Northern Snakehead | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| 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 | no length limit printed |
| 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 | no length limit printed |
| 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 | no length limit printed |
| 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 | no length limit printed |
| American Eel | statewide | 25 per day; no eel less than 9 inches | no length limit printed |
Statewide creel and length limits as printed (page updated August 17, 2026), 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
Where Virginia's tidal rivers turn fresh: the fall line
The Fall Line is defined as the following landmarks: Appomattox: The remnants of Harvell Dam approx. 0.5 mi upstream of Rt. 1 Chickahominy River: Walkers Dam James River (Richmond): 14th Street Bridge (Mayo Bridge) Mattaponi River: Rt. 360 Bridge Pamunkey River: Rt. 360 Bridge Potomac River: Little Falls Rappahannock River: Rt. 1 Bridge
Statewide creel and length limits as printed (page updated August 17, 2026), 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
What the Virginia digest changed for 2026
| Item | 2025 as printed | 2026 as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Blue catfish — York River and Rappahannock River and their tributaries below the fall line | No daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches. | No daily limit. No size restriction. Unlimited harvest of any size. |
| Blue catfish — tidal James River and its tributaries downstream to a line connecting Hog Point on Hog Island (Surry County) and the downstream point of the mouth of College Creek (James City County) | James River and its tributaries below the fall line: No daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches. No distinction between tidal and non-tidal portions. | Tidal James River and its tributaries downstream to the Hog Point/College Creek line: No daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches. James River and its tributaries below the fall line upstream of the demarcation line: No daily limit. No size restriction. Unlimited harvest of any size. |
| Wildcat Hollow — Fauquier County That portion within the G.R. Thompson WMA | Catch and release only. Artificial lures and flies only. | No longer a Special Regulation water. Defaults to statewide bag and size limit on trout: 6 fish per day, no fish less than 7 inches. DWR will not stock Wildcat Hollow. A trout license is not required to fish this stream. |
| Liberty Lake — Bedford County | Class A water. | Class B water. |
| Pandapas Pond — Montgomery County | Class A water. | Class B water. |
Statewide creel and length limits as printed (page updated August 17, 2026), 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
Virginia rule pages for salt, trout, single waters and borders
- Saltwater rulesMarine Resources Commission limits and the license lines on tidal rivers
- Special regulation waters49 water exceptions in the digest
- Special regulation trout waters63 streams and lakes with their own trout rules
- Border waterslicenses honored with North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland and DC
- Free Fishing DaysVirginia DWR set Free Fishing Days for June 5–7, 2026: no freshwater fishing license needed, all other rules apply.
- Protected fish23 fish that may not be possessed
Fish listed in Virginia Fishing License and Regulations, photographed
Photo: Watts, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, CC BY 2.0
_0125_(27330088657).jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Heath Alseike, CC BY 2.0
Virginia license and limit questions
Which anglers must carry a Virginia fishing license?
Anglers 16 and older, unless an exemption applies. Residents and nonresidents under 16 need no fishing or trout license (as printed).
How much is a Virginia freshwater license?
$23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents, as printed in the 2026 digest.
How much is a Virginia saltwater license?
$17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents; a fresh and saltwater combination is $39.50 and $71.
When is a trout license needed in Virginia?
Designated stocked trout waters require a trout license October 1 to June 15; urban waters November 1 to April 30 (as printed).
How many bass may I keep in Virginia?
The statewide digest row is 5 largemouth and smallmouth bass per day combined, with no statewide length limit; several waters set their own lines.
How many trout may a Virginia angler keep?
Six per day with a 7-inch minimum statewide; special regulation trout waters differ.
What changed for 2026?
Blue catfish — York River and Rappahannock River and their tributaries below the fall line: No daily limit. No size restriction. Unlimited harvest of any size.
Is a short-term license sold?
Yes: a nonresident 1-day freshwater license is $8 (not valid in designated stocked trout waters), and 5-day and 10-day licenses are listed.