Longnose Gar in Virginia
Virginia longnose gar: limits, record, stocking and waters.
- July 1 to April bag
- 25 lbs. 2 oz.record
Angler pickPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of the species, not a Virginia water: Steven & Courtney Johnson & Horwitz, CC BY-SA 2.0
longnose gar from the Blue Ridge to Tidewater
DWR's creel and length table puts longnose gar on the line "Longnose Gar". Creel as printed: July 1 to April 14: 5 per day. Length: April 15 to June 30: 1 per day No statewide length limits.
DWR's list credits Lake Prince with the 25 lbs. 2 oz. record longnose gar, set in 1987. DWR lists longnose gar on 11 waters covered here, Lake Drummond, Diascund Reservoir and Lake Prince among the biggest.
Longnose Gar (Lepisosteus osseus), Gars (Lepisosteidae).
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 longnose gar legally in Virginia freshwater
| Where it applies | Row as printed | Creel | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| statewide | Longnose Gar | July 1 to April 14: 5 per day | April 15 to June 30: 1 per day No statewide 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.
Heaviest Virginia longnose gar on file
| Weight as printed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 25 lbs. 2 oz. | Lake Prince | 5-28-1987 |
| 23 lbs | Pamunkey River | 8-13-2021 |
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 longnose gar
- Lake Drummond3,142 acres, City of Chesapeake
- Diascund Reservoir1,110 acres, New Kent County
- Lake Prince946 acres, City of Suffolk
- Emporia Reservoir210 acres, Greensville County
- Blackwater RiverIsle of Wight County
- Nottoway RiverGreensville County
- Meherrin RiverGreensville County
- Chickahominy RiverCharles City County
- Clinch RiverRussell County
- Pamunkey RiverCaroline County
- Rivanna RiverFluvanna County
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Fish kin to longnose gar 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 longnose gar
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How the banks by Longnose Gar look on a clear day
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Mark Fischer, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jim, CC BY-SA 2.0
Tidewater-to-mountain questions on Longnose Gar
How many longnose gar may I keep per day in Virginia?
The statewide row reads July 1 to April 14: 5 per day, with length April 15 to June 30: 1 per day No statewide length limits.
What is the Virginia record longnose gar?
25 lbs. 2 oz. from Lake Prince, 1987.
Which Commonwealth lake or river lists longnose gar?
See Lake Drummond, Diascund Reservoir and Lake Prince, the first of 11 Virginia pages naming it.
Does the digest print local longnose gar rules?
No digest exception names it, though water-wide rules still apply.
How often does DWR stock longnose gar?
No DWR stocking line covers it.
How much is a Virginia license to fish for longnose gar?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older.
Which fish family are Virginia longnose gar in?
Lepisosteus osseus; family Gars (Lepisosteidae), per the DWR species profile.
Can I fish for longnose gar 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 longnose gar near your Virginia base
Every linked water shows DWR access sites.