Virginia’s Marine Resources Commision needs to get its shit together. Other coastal states publish concise compilations of the limits and seasons for all the different fish species (see links at bottom), but Virginia does not publish anything online, leaving us to decipher statutory language in Virginia Administrative Code. Nor do they optimize the code for search engines. Pertinent statutes for most species are found below 5-10 other Google results, most of which are wrong or outdated. If you don’t know what to look for, you might ignore the heading “VMRC: Pertaining to...” So, I’ve made a handy cheat sheet for the convenience of anyone spearing in Virginia.

Without further ado, here are the 2025 bag limits, size limits, and seasons for all of the saltwater fish we commonly take.

Tautog (Tautoga onitis)
Bag limit: 4 per day
Minimum size: 16 inches
Season: July 1 - May 15

Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis)
Bag limit: 1 per day
Size limit: 19 - 24 inches (Bay); 28 - 31 inches (Coastal)
Bay Season: July 1 - May 15; Oct 4 - Dec 31;
Coastal Season: Jan 1 - Mar 31 ; May 16 - Dec 31

Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus)
Bag limit: 4 per day
Minimum size: No restrictions
Season: No closed season

Spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber)
Bag limit: 4 per day
Minimum size: No restrictions
Season: No closed season

Cobia (Rachycentron canadum)
Bag limit: 1 per day ; MAX 2 per vessel
Minimum size: 43 inches
Season: June 15 - Sept 20

*Credit: South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council*

Amberjack, Greater (Seriola dumerili)
Bag limit: 2 per day
Minimum size: 32 inches
Season: No closed season

Almaco Jack (Seriola rivoliana)
Bag limit: No limit
Minimum size: No restrictions
Season: No closed season

Jack Crevalle (Caranx hippos)
Bag limit: No limit
Minimum size: No restrictions
Seasons: No closed season

Triggerfish, Grey (Balistes capriscus)
Bag limit: No limit
Minimum size: No restrictions
Season: No closed season

Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus)
Bag limit: 15 per day
Minimum size: 14 inches
Season: No closed season

King Mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla)
Bag limit: 3 per day
Minimum size: 27 inches
Season: No closed season

Bluefish (Pomatomus salatrix)
Bag limit: 3 per day
Minimum size: No restrictions
Season: No closed season

Flounder, Summer (Paralichthys dentatus)
Bag limit: 4 per day
Minimum size: 17.5 inches
Season: No closed season

Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata)
Bag limit: 15 per day
Minimum size: 13 inches
Season: May 15 - July 15 ; Aug 4 - Dec 31

Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus)
Bag limit: 50 per day
Minimum size: No restrictions
Season: No closed season

Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus)
Bag limit: 50 per day
Minimum size: No restrictions
Season: No closed season

** WARNING **

There is some confusion as to whether spearing is a legal method of harvest for red drum and speckled trout. Historically, they and other gamefish were protected from spearing. Striped bass were the first to add “spear” to the allowed fishing methods. As of 2021, VMRC code has clarified that red drum/speckled trout may be taken recreationally “by any gear type.” The confusion lies in how some other species specifically list “spear” as a method and “gear” usually describes nets, pots, etc.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse, but ambiguity is. 4 VAC 20 (Marine Resources Commission) has inconsistent definitions between statutes and insufficient definitions for a reasonable angler to determine the legality of spearing red drum and speckled trout. Given that “gear” is not defined and spearing is expressly prohibited elsewhere in code (sharks, freshwater gamefish), the language “any gear type” means that spearing is legal, whether or not VMRC meant it to be.

When fishing with us, we allow spearing of red drum and speckled trout. The Captain assumes all responsibility for bag limits and we’ll gladly fight this in court if it means VMRC updates their language. Do NOT rely on our representations or even those of a VMRC agent when fishing personally; only an Official Opinion from the Attorney General would be sufficient protection.

Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus)
Bag limit: 3 per day
Size limit: 18 - 26 inches
Season: No closed season

Speckled Trout (Cynoscion nebulosos)
Bag limit: 5 per day ; ONLY 1 over 24 inches
Minimum size: 14 inches
Season: No closed season

** WARNING **

Even more confusion surrounds the grey trout (weakfish) and black drum. Their respective statutes do not prescribe “any gear type”, instead stating that you may harvest “by hook and line, rod and reel or hand line.” Under the size section for black drum, the language is changed to “take, catch, or possess.” Neither section expressly prohibits spearing.

When fishing with us, we will allow you to spear black drum but NOT weakfish. Do NOT rely on our representations or even those of a VMRC agent when fishing personally; only an Official Opinion from the Virginia Attorney General would be sufficient protection.

Grey Trout (Cynoscion regalus)
Bag limit: 1 per day
Minimum size: 12 inches
Season: No closed season

Black Drum (Pogonias cromis)
Bag limit: 1 per day
Minimum size: 16 inches
Season: No closed season

Other States

We can run custom spearing expeditions up and down the East Coast, so here are the respective fishing rules for those of you in other states (and for VMRC if you’re taking notes):

Delaware: Tidal Seasons, Size & Creel Limits - Delaware Fishing | eRegulations

Maryland: Atlantic Seasons, Sizes, & Limits - Maryland Fishing | eRegulations

North Carolina: Recreational Size and Bag Limits | NC DEQ

South Carolina: Finfish Size & Catch Limits - South Carolina Fishing | eRegulations

Georgia: Finfish Seasons, Limits, Sizes - Georgia Fishing | eRegulations

Florida: Saltwater Recreational Fishing Regulations | FWC

NOAA: Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Minimum Sizes and Bag Limits | NOAA Fisheries

ASMFC: Managed Species - Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

SAFMC: Regulations - South Atlantic Fishery Management Council