White Crappie in Virginia
Virginia white crappie: limits, record, stocking and waters.
- 25 a daybag
- not printedrecord
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white crappie from the Blue Ridge to Tidewater
DWR's creel and length table puts white crappie on the line "Crappie (black or white)". Creel as printed: 25 per day in the aggregate (combined). Length: No statewide length limits.
DWR's list credits a water DWR leaves unnamed with the not printed record white crappie, set in date not printed. DWR lists white crappie on 10 waters covered here, Leesville Reservoir, Lake Chesdin and Occoquan Reservoir among the biggest. See Lake Gaston and that portion of the New River from the VA–NC state line downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Grayson County and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Difficult Creek, Charlotte County; and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Banister River, Halifax County;: 4 waters carry a digest exception for it.
White Crappie (Pomoxis annularis), Sunfishes (Centrarchidae).
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 | Crappie (black or white) | 25 per day in the aggregate (combined) | 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.
Virginia waters with their own white crappie rule
| Water as printed | Group | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Gaston and that portion of the New River from the VA–NC state line downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Grayson County | No daily limit | |
| Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Difficult Creek, Charlotte County; and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Banister River, Halifax County; | No crappie less than 9 inches | |
| Briery Creek and Sandy River reservoirs | No crappie less than 9 inches | |
| Flannagan and South Holston reservoirs | No crappie less than 10 inches; South Holston Res. — 15 per day in the aggregate (combined) |
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 white crappie on file
| Weight as printed | Water | Date |
|---|---|---|
| not printed | not printed | date not printed |
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 white crappie
- Leesville Reservoir3,400 acres, Bedford County
- Lake Chesdin3,100 acres, Dinwiddie County
- Occoquan Reservoir2,100 acres, Fairfax County
- Rivanna Reservoir450 acres, Albemarle County
- Emporia Reservoir210 acres, Greensville County
- Martinsville Reservoir175 acres, Henry County
- North Fork Pound Reservoir154 acres, Wise County
- Amelia Lake100 acres, Amelia County
- South Fork Shenandoah RiverClarke County
- Shenandoah RiverClarke County
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Fish kin to white crappie on this site
- Alabama Bassno daily cap
- Black Crappie25 a day
- Flier50 a day
- Green Sunfish50 a day
- Largemouth Bass5 a day
- Pumpkinseed50 a day
- Redbreast Sunfish50 a day
- Roanoke Bass25 a day
- Rock Bass25 a day
- Smallmouth Bass5 a day
Piscifun tackle that suits Virginia white crappie
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How the banks by White Crappie look on a clear day
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Jason Riedy, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Blake Patterson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: schizoform, CC BY 2.0
Tidewater-to-mountain questions on White Crappie
How many white crappie may I keep per day in Virginia?
The statewide row reads 25 per day in the aggregate (combined), with length No statewide length limits.
What is the Virginia record white crappie?
not printed from a water not printed, date not printed.
Which Commonwealth lake or river lists white crappie?
See Leesville Reservoir, Lake Chesdin and Occoquan Reservoir, the first of 10 Virginia pages naming it.
Does the digest print local white crappie rules?
On 4 waters, for example Lake Gaston and that portion of the New River from the VA–NC state line downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Grayson County.
How often does DWR stock white crappie?
No DWR stocking line covers it.
How much is a Virginia license to fish for white crappie?
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older.
Which fish family are Virginia white crappie in?
Pomoxis annularis; family Sunfishes (Centrarchidae), per the DWR species profile.
Can I fish for white crappie 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 white crappie near your Virginia base
Every linked water shows DWR access sites.