Striped Bass in Virginia
Where striped bass swim in Virginia, and what may be kept.
- 4 a daybag
- 53 lbs. 7 oz.record
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striped bass in the Old Dominion
Virginia freshwater rules group striped bass under the heading "Landlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids". How many to keep, word for word: 4 per day in the aggregate. Length rule as printed: No fish less than 20 inches. Below the license line the marine chapter gives 19 to 24 inches; 1 per person a day; May 16 through June 15 (Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries (spring/summer)).
Leesville Reservoir produced the state striped bass mark of 53 lbs. 7 oz. in 2000. DWR names striped bass at 27 waters with pages here; Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir), Smith Mountain Lake and Lake Gaston come first. The digest rewrites the rule on 4 waters, Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Union Street Dam (Danville) and Claytor Lake and its tributaries included.
Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis), Temperate Basses (Moronidae).
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 | Landlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids | 4 per day in the aggregate | No fish less than 20 inches |
| Anadromous (coastal) striped bass above the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and Crane Lake (City of Suffolk) | Striped Bass | 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 in the Meherrin, Nottoway, Blackwater (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers and their tributaries plus Back Bay | Striped Bass | No possession | 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.
Virginia tidal-water rules for striped bass
| Area as written | Size | Per person | Season | Code section |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries (spring/summer) | 19 in minimum, 24 in maximum | 1 | May 16 through June 15 | 4VAC20-252-80 |
| Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries (fall) | 19 in minimum, 24 in maximum | 1 | October 4 through December 31 | 4VAC20-252-90 |
| Potomac River tributaries | 19 in minimum, 24 in maximum | 1 | May 16 through July 6 and August 21 through December 31 | 4VAC20-252-100 |
| Coastal area | 28 in minimum, 31 in maximum | 1 | January 1 through March 31 and May 16 through December 31 | 4VAC20-252-110 |
| All Virginia waters | not stated | not stated | not stated | 4VAC20-252-50 |
Daily possession limit one fish per person; total length.
Daily possession limit one fish per person; total length.
Season corresponds to the Potomac River Fisheries Commission mainstem season.
Virginia Administrative Code 4VAC20-252-80 on law.lis.virginia.gov, as of November 6, 2026 (VMRC rules change by emergency order; check the VMRC regulations page before keeping fish).
The Virginia code section on striped bass, quoted
4VAC20-252-30, General prohibitions and requirements.
“A. It shall be unlawful for any person while aboard any boat or vessel or while fishing from shore or pier to alter any striped bass or to possess any altered striped bass such that its total length cannot be determined. B. It shall be unlawful for any person to gaff or attempt to gaff any striped bass at any time. C. It shall be unlawful to place, set, or fish any gill net within 300 feet of any bridge, bridge-tunnel, jetty, or pier during any open recreational striped bass season in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, except during the period midnight Sunday through midnight Wednesday. D.”
Virginia Administrative Code 4VAC20-252-30 on law.lis.virginia.gov, as of November 6, 2026 (VMRC rules change by emergency order; check the VMRC regulations page before keeping fish).
Local striped bass lines in the Virginia digest
| Water as printed | Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Union Street Dam (Danville) | October 1–May 31: 2 per day in the aggregate (combined) No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inches or greater than 26 inches; June 1–September 30: 4 per day in the aggregate (combined) No length limit | |
| Claytor Lake and its tributaries | September 16–June 30: 2 per day in the aggregate, no striped bass or hybrid bass less than 20 inches; July 1–September 15: 4 per day in the aggregate; no length limit | |
| Lake Gaston | 4 per day in the aggregate (combined); October 1–May 31: No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inches; June 1–September 30: No length limit | |
| Smith Mountain Lake and its tributaries, including the Roanoke River upstream to Niagara Dam | 2 per day in the aggregate (combined); November 1–May 31: No striped bass 30 to 40 inches; June 1–October 31: No length limit |
Water-specific exceptions as printed, 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026.
Top Virginia striped bass by weight
| Weight as printed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 53 lbs. 7 oz. | Leesville Reservoir | 3-16-2000 |
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.
Where DWR lists striped bass in Virginia
- Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir)48,900 acres, Mecklenburg County
- Smith Mountain Lake20,600 acres, Franklin County
- Lake Gaston20,300 acres, Brunswick County
- Lake Anna9,600 acres, Louisa County
- Claytor Lake4,363 acres, Pulaski County
- Leesville Reservoir3,400 acres, Bedford County
- Lake Chesdin3,100 acres, Dinwiddie County
- Lake Moomaw2,530 acres, Bath County
- Occoquan Reservoir2,100 acres, Fairfax County
- Western Branch Reservoir1,265 acres, City of Suffolk
- Chickahominy Lake1,230 acres, New Kent County
- Flannagan Reservoir1,143 acres, Dickenson County
- Lake Prince946 acres, City of Suffolk
- Lake Meade512 acres, City of Suffolk
- Waller Mill Reservoir360 acres, York County
- Lone Star Lakes50 acres, City of Suffolk
- Little Creek Reservoir20 acres, James City County
- New RiverCarroll County
- Nottoway RiverGreensville County
- Appomattox RiverAppomattox County
- Dan RiverPatrick County
- Mattaponi RiverCaroline County
- Pamunkey RiverCaroline County
- Upper Rappahannock RiverCulpeper County
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Fish grouped with striped bass here
- Hybrid Striped Bass4 a day
- White Bass5 a day
- White Perchno daily cap
- Alabama Bassno daily cap
- Alewifeno possession
- American Eel25 a day
- American Shadno possession
- Black Crappie25 a day
Piscifun kit lined up for a day on Virginia striped bass
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Old Dominion water near Striped Bass, on camera
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: David Tansey, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Striped Bass across Virginia: reader questions answered
How many striped bass can go home from a Virginia water?
It reads 4 per day in the aggregate; the length column says No fish less than 20 inches.
When was the Virginia striped bass record set?
53 lbs. 7 oz., from Leesville Reservoir in 2000.
Where do striped bass turn up in Virginia?
DWR names it on 27 Virginia pages here, Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir), Smith Mountain Lake and Lake Gaston included.
Is the striped bass rule the same on every Virginia water?
Virginia's digest has 4 waters with special wording, Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Union Street Dam (Danville) for one.
Does Virginia DWR stock striped bass?
No stocking date names it.
Is one Virginia license enough for striped bass?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older, and a saltwater license is $17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents.
What is the Latin name DWR gives striped bass?
Morone saxatilis; family Temperate Basses (Moronidae), per the DWR species profile.
When can I fish for striped bass in Virginia without a license?
Virginia DWR set Free Fishing Days for June 5–7, 2026: no freshwater fishing license needed, all other rules apply. The daily creel still counts.
Plan a Virginia day after striped bass
The waters linked above list piers and ramps.