Striper info:Virginia Coastal Seasons ..................................................................January 1 through March 31 &
.......................................................................................................................…May 16 through December 31
........................................Minimum Size Limit............................................... 28 inches
........................................Possession Limit.................................................... 2 per person
Coastal regulations apply in Virginia's Territorial Sea, plus all of the creeks, bays, inlets, and tributaries on the seaside of Accomack County, Northhampton County (including areas east of the causeway from Fisherman Island to the mainland) and the City of Virginia Beach (including federal areas and state parks fronting on the Atlantic Ocean and east and south of the point where the shoreward boundary of the Territorial Sea joins the mainland at Cape Henry). Click here for map of coastal boundary near the CBBT.
Chesapeake Bay Spring Season .................................................May 16 through June 15
........................................Minimum Size Limit.............................................. 18 inches
........................................Maximum Size Limit * ......................................... 28 inches
........................................Possession Limit.................................................. 2 per person
* 1 fish of the 2 fish possession limit may be larger than 32 inches ( catch report required if striped bass 32" or greater is kept ); No possession of 32" or greater striped bass in the Spawning Reaches May 1 through June 15.
Chesapeake Bay Fall Season .........................................................October 4 through December 31
........................................Minimum Size Limit................................................ 18 inches
........................................Possession Limit..................................................... 2 per person
Chesapeake Bay regulations for both the Spring and Fall seasons described above apply in the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia's Chesapeake Bay tributary rivers, except for the tributary rivers emptying into the Potomac River (see note below for more information on Potomac River striper regulations).
Virginia Trophy Season......................................................................May 1 through June 15
........................................Minimum Size Limit................................................32 inches
........................................Possession Limit.....................................................1 per person
Additional Trophy Season Regulations: Catch Report Required; no possession of 32" or greater striped bass in the Spawning Reaches May 1 through June 15. Trophy Season regulations apply in Virginia's Territorial Sea and the Chesapeake Bay and its Virginia tributary rivers, except for the tributary rivers emptying into the Potomac River (see note below for more information on Potomac River striper regulations).
Other Virginia restrictions: You may not combine possession limits when seasons overlap or you fish in multiple jurisdictions. Gaffing striped bass or attempting to gaff striped bass is illegal in Virginia marine waters.
Federal water striped bass regulations: Atlantic Ocean waters beyond the 3 mile limit are closed to the taking and possession of striped bass all year.
Potomac River striped bass regulations: Different regulations apply in the Potomac River and its tributaries, including its Virginia tributaries. These areas are subject to the rules and regulations of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, P.O. Box 9, Colonial Beach, VA 22443, (804) 224-7148; (800) 266-3904. PRFC rules as of 2/26/03 are below, for further information on these rules contact PRFC directly.
2003 PRFC Spring Season: April 19, 2003 - May 15, 2003 2003 PRFC Summer/Fall Season: May 16, 2002 - December 31, 2002
Open Area: Below Harry W. Nice Bridge (Rt.301) Open Area: Below Woodrow Wilson Bridge (I-95)
Minimum Size Limit: 28 inches Minimum Size Limit: 18 inches with only 1 over 28 inches
Possession Limit: 1 per person Possession Limit: 2 per person
Bait Restrictions: No live eel. No more than 2 hooks Bait Restrictions: None
General PRFC Restrictions: When fishing for striped bass during closed season - barbless hooks are required; sport fish license is required (check reciprocity status by using link below this table on saltwater fishing license requirements); possession of fillets is prohibited; fish caught by hook&line may not be sold or offered for sale except by commercial license; fish whose size is prohibited, season is closed, or is in excess of possession limit must be immediately released to the waters where found.
.......................................................................................................................…May 16 through December 31
........................................Minimum Size Limit............................................... 28 inches
........................................Possession Limit.................................................... 2 per person
Coastal regulations apply in Virginia's Territorial Sea, plus all of the creeks, bays, inlets, and tributaries on the seaside of Accomack County, Northhampton County (including areas east of the causeway from Fisherman Island to the mainland) and the City of Virginia Beach (including federal areas and state parks fronting on the Atlantic Ocean and east and south of the point where the shoreward boundary of the Territorial Sea joins the mainland at Cape Henry). Click here for map of coastal boundary near the CBBT.
Chesapeake Bay Spring Season .................................................May 16 through June 15
........................................Minimum Size Limit.............................................. 18 inches
........................................Maximum Size Limit * ......................................... 28 inches
........................................Possession Limit.................................................. 2 per person
* 1 fish of the 2 fish possession limit may be larger than 32 inches ( catch report required if striped bass 32" or greater is kept ); No possession of 32" or greater striped bass in the Spawning Reaches May 1 through June 15.
Chesapeake Bay Fall Season .........................................................October 4 through December 31
........................................Minimum Size Limit................................................ 18 inches
........................................Possession Limit..................................................... 2 per person
Chesapeake Bay regulations for both the Spring and Fall seasons described above apply in the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia's Chesapeake Bay tributary rivers, except for the tributary rivers emptying into the Potomac River (see note below for more information on Potomac River striper regulations).
Virginia Trophy Season......................................................................May 1 through June 15
........................................Minimum Size Limit................................................32 inches
........................................Possession Limit.....................................................1 per person
Additional Trophy Season Regulations: Catch Report Required; no possession of 32" or greater striped bass in the Spawning Reaches May 1 through June 15. Trophy Season regulations apply in Virginia's Territorial Sea and the Chesapeake Bay and its Virginia tributary rivers, except for the tributary rivers emptying into the Potomac River (see note below for more information on Potomac River striper regulations).
Other Virginia restrictions: You may not combine possession limits when seasons overlap or you fish in multiple jurisdictions. Gaffing striped bass or attempting to gaff striped bass is illegal in Virginia marine waters.
Federal water striped bass regulations: Atlantic Ocean waters beyond the 3 mile limit are closed to the taking and possession of striped bass all year.
Potomac River striped bass regulations: Different regulations apply in the Potomac River and its tributaries, including its Virginia tributaries. These areas are subject to the rules and regulations of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, P.O. Box 9, Colonial Beach, VA 22443, (804) 224-7148; (800) 266-3904. PRFC rules as of 2/26/03 are below, for further information on these rules contact PRFC directly.
2003 PRFC Spring Season: April 19, 2003 - May 15, 2003 2003 PRFC Summer/Fall Season: May 16, 2002 - December 31, 2002
Open Area: Below Harry W. Nice Bridge (Rt.301) Open Area: Below Woodrow Wilson Bridge (I-95)
Minimum Size Limit: 28 inches Minimum Size Limit: 18 inches with only 1 over 28 inches
Possession Limit: 1 per person Possession Limit: 2 per person
Bait Restrictions: No live eel. No more than 2 hooks Bait Restrictions: None
General PRFC Restrictions: When fishing for striped bass during closed season - barbless hooks are required; sport fish license is required (check reciprocity status by using link below this table on saltwater fishing license requirements); possession of fillets is prohibited; fish caught by hook&line may not be sold or offered for sale except by commercial license; fish whose size is prohibited, season is closed, or is in excess of possession limit must be immediately released to the waters where found.
