Spot in Virginia
Virginia spot: limits, record, stocking and waters.
- 50 a day (salt)bag
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spot from the Blue Ridge to Tidewater
For spot, the rules sit in the Marine Resources Commission chapters of the Administrative Code rather than DWR's freshwater table. In tidal water the Administrative Code sets 50 per person a day (Virginia tidal waters).
For now it shows up on no record row, stocking date or water page.
Virginia Administrative Code 4VAC20-1380-30 on law.lis.virginia.gov, as of November 6, 2026 (VMRC rules change by emergency order; check the VMRC regulations page before keeping fish).
How the Administrative Code treats spot
| Area as written | Size | Per person | Season | Code section |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia tidal waters | not stated | 50 | not stated | 4VAC20-1380-30 |
Per day. Charter live bait: 50 per day times customer capacity (4VAC20-1380-40).
Virginia Administrative Code 4VAC20-1380-30 on law.lis.virginia.gov, as of November 6, 2026 (VMRC rules change by emergency order; check the VMRC regulations page before keeping fish).
Quoted Virginia rule text for spot
4VAC20-1380-30, Recreational harvest limit.
“A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally with any gear type to harvest or possess more than 50 spot per day. B. When fishing from a recreational vessel, the possession limit shall be equal to the number of persons on board who are legally eligible to fish multiplied by the personal possession limits as described in subsection A of this section. The operator of the recreational vessel shall be responsible for any recreational vessel possession limit.”
Virginia Administrative Code 4VAC20-1380-30 on law.lis.virginia.gov, as of November 6, 2026 (VMRC rules change by emergency order; check the VMRC regulations page before keeping fish).
Fish kin to spot on this site
- Atlantic Croaker50 a day (salt)
- Atlantic Spadefish4 a day (salt)
- Black Drum1 a day (salt)
- Black Sea Bass15 a day (salt)
- Bluefish5 a day (salt)
- Blueline Tilefish3 a day (salt)
- Cobia1 a day (salt)
- Golden Tilefish8 a day (salt)
Piscifun tackle that suits Virginia spot
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How the banks by Spot look on a clear day
Photo: ted, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: ted, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Tidewater-to-mountain questions on Spot
How many spot may I keep per day in Virginia?
Per the VMRC chapter as of November 6, 2026: 50 per person a day (Virginia tidal waters).
What is the Virginia record spot?
DWR's record list carries no row for it.
Which Commonwealth lake or river lists spot?
The Virginia freshwater pages leave it off for now.
Does the digest print local spot rules?
No digest exception names it, though water-wide rules still apply.
How often does DWR stock spot?
No DWR stocking line covers it.
How much is a Virginia license to fish for spot?
A Virginia saltwater license is $17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents 16 and older.
Which fish family are Virginia spot in?
Not printed in the data used.
Can I fish for spot 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 spot near your Virginia base
Every linked water shows DWR access sites.