Saugeye in Virginia
Virginia saugeye: limits, record, stocking and waters.
- 5 a daybag
- 6 lbs. 8 oz.record
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saugeye from the Blue Ridge to Tidewater
DWR's creel and length table puts saugeye on the line "Walleye, Saugeye". Creel as printed: 5 per day in the aggregate. Length: No walleye or saugeye less than 18 inches.
DWR's list credits Lake Gaston with the 6 lbs. 8 oz. record saugeye, set in 2023. DWR lists saugeye on 5 waters covered here, Lake Gaston, Lake Anna and Lake Chesdin among the biggest. See Claytor Lake and the New River upstream to Fries Dam in Grayson County: 1 water carry a digest exception for it.
Saugeye (Sander canadensis x vitreus), Perches (Percidae).
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.
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| Where it applies | Row as printed | Creel | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| statewide | Walleye, Saugeye | 5 per day in the aggregate | No walleye or saugeye less than 18 inches |
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 saugeye rule
| Water as printed | Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Claytor Lake and the New River upstream to Fries Dam in Grayson County | 2 walleye per day; no walleye 19 to 28 inches |
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 saugeye on file
| Weight as printed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 6 lbs. 8 oz. | Lake Gaston | 5-29-2023 |
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 saugeye
- Lake Gaston20,300 acres, Brunswick County
- Lake Anna9,600 acres, Louisa County
- Lake Chesdin3,100 acres, Dinwiddie County
- Waller Mill Reservoir360 acres, York County
- Little Creek Reservoir20 acres, James City County
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Fish kin to saugeye on this site
- Sauger2 a day
- Walleye5 a day
- Yellow Perchno daily cap
- Alabama Bassno daily cap
- Alewifeno possession
- American Eel25 a day
- American Shadno possession
- Black Crappie25 a day
Piscifun tackle that suits Virginia saugeye
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How the banks by Saugeye look on a clear day
Photo: ted, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jim, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Tidewater-to-mountain questions on Saugeye
How many saugeye may I keep per day in Virginia?
The statewide row reads 5 per day in the aggregate, with length No walleye or saugeye less than 18 inches.
What is the Virginia record saugeye?
6 lbs. 8 oz. from Lake Gaston, 2023.
Which Commonwealth lake or river lists saugeye?
See Lake Gaston, Lake Anna and Lake Chesdin, the first of 5 Virginia pages naming it.
Does the digest print local saugeye rules?
On 1 water, for example Claytor Lake and the New River upstream to Fries Dam in Grayson County.
How often does DWR stock saugeye?
No DWR stocking line covers it.
How much is a Virginia license to fish for saugeye?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older.
Which fish family are Virginia saugeye in?
Sander canadensis x vitreus; family Perches (Percidae), per the DWR species profile.
Can I fish for saugeye 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 saugeye near your Virginia base
Every linked water shows DWR access sites.