Common Carp in Virginia
Virginia common carp: limits, record, stocking and waters.
- 20 a daybag
- 60 lbs.record
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not a Virginia water: Dezidor, CC BY-SA 3.0
common carp from the Blue Ridge to Tidewater
DWR's creel and length table puts common carp on the line "Other native or naturalized nongame fish". Creel as printed: 20 per day. Length: No length limits.
DWR's list credits Private Pond with the 60 lbs. record common carp, set in 1970. DWR lists common carp on 38 waters covered here, Claytor Lake, Flannagan Reservoir and Diascund Reservoir among the biggest. See Statewide: 1 water carry a digest exception for it.
Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), Minnows and Carps (Cyprindae).
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.
Keeping common carp legally in Virginia freshwater
| Where it applies | Row as printed | Creel | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| statewide | Other native or naturalized nongame fish | 20 per day | No length limits |
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 waters with their own common carp rule
| Water as printed | Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide | See Noname Fish, Reptile, Amphibian, and Aquatic Invertebrate Regulations for exceptions |
Water-specific exceptions as printed, 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
Heaviest Virginia common carp on file
| Weight as printed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 60 lbs. | Private Pond | 7-5-1970 (retired category) |
| 49 lbs. 4 oz. | Lake Prince | 6-25-1986 |
| 45 lbs. 7 oz. | Claytor Lake | 10-15-2016 |
State Record Freshwater Fish as of 9-2-2025 (keeper: Virginia DWR (State Record Freshwater Fish list as of 9-2-2025); angler names left off here), read November 6, 2026.
Places to try for Virginia common carp
- Claytor Lake4,363 acres, Pulaski County
- Flannagan Reservoir1,143 acres, Dickenson County
- Diascund Reservoir1,110 acres, New Kent County
- Lake Prince946 acres, City of Suffolk
- Sandy Bottom Park Pond465 acres, City of Hampton
- Waller Mill Reservoir360 acres, York County
- Mill Creek Reservoir189 acres, Augusta County
- Swift Creek Lake156 acres, Chesterfield County
- North Fork Pound Reservoir154 acres, Wise County
- Lake Orange124 acres, Orange County
- Hungry Mother Lake108 acres, Smyth County
- Lake Burton76 acres, Pittsylvania County
- Gardy’s Millpond75 acres, Northumberland County
- Bark Camp Lake61 acres, Scott County
- Trashmore Lake52 acres, City of Virginia Beach
- Lake Laura44 acres, Shenandoah County
- Lakeview Reservoir42 acres, City of Colonial Heights
- Lake Nelson40 acres, Nelson County
- Arrowhead Lake39 acres, Page County
- Lake Shenandoah36 acres, Rockingham County
- Lake Robertson31 acres, Rockbridge County
- Silver Lake23 acres, Rockingham County
- Echo Lake12 acres, Henrico County
- Shields Lake7 acres, City of Richmond
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Fish kin to common carp on this site
- Alabama Bassno daily cap
- Alewifeno possession
- American Eel25 a day
- American Shadno possession
- Black Crappie25 a day
- Blue Catfish20 a day
- Blueback Herringno possession
- Bluegill50 a day
Piscifun tackle that suits Virginia common carp
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How the banks by Common Carp look on a clear day
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Tidewater-to-mountain questions on Common Carp
How many common carp may I keep per day in Virginia?
The statewide row reads 20 per day, with length No length limits.
What is the Virginia record common carp?
60 lbs. from Private Pond, 1970.
Which Commonwealth lake or river lists common carp?
See Claytor Lake, Flannagan Reservoir and Diascund Reservoir, the first of 38 Virginia pages naming it.
Does the digest print local common carp rules?
On 1 water, for example Statewide.
How often does DWR stock common carp?
No DWR stocking line covers it.
How much is a Virginia license to fish for common carp?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older.
Which fish family are Virginia common carp in?
Cyprinus carpio; family Minnows and Carps (Cyprindae), per the DWR species profile.
Can I fish for common carp on a Virginia Free Fishing Day?
Virginia DWR set Free Fishing Days for June 5–7, 2026: no freshwater fishing license needed, all other rules apply. Creel and length rules still apply.
Find common carp near your Virginia base
Every linked water shows DWR access sites.