Waterbody · Virginia
James River Fishing Regulations 2026
James River fishing regulations in 2026: top targets are catfish, striped bass, smallmouth bass. 373 current rules across 20 species from DWR.
Species pages for James River
Dedicated rule pages for the most-targeted species at this water.
Rules (373)
DWR regulates 373 rules across 20 species at this water.
Smallmouth Bass
James River (Upper)Open
- Status
- Permitted
mountain sections (upstream from Lynchburg) and piedmont sections (between Lynchburg and Richmond)
James River–Confluence Of The Jackson And Cowpasture Rivers (Botetourt Cty) Downstream To The 14th St. Bridge In Richmond
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches no largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches
Big Walker Creek From The Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge Downstream To The New River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches
Briery Creek Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 16"
- Slot max
- 24"
longer than 24 inches
Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
Clinch River–Within The Boundaries Of Scott, Wise, Russell Or Tazewell Counties
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
longer than 20 inches no largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches
Dan River And Tributaries Downstream From The Union Street Dam, Danville
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches, 5 per day in the aggregate (combined)
Flannagan Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
no smallmouth bass less than 15 inches
Lake Gaston
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
Lake Moomaw
- Min size
- 12"
no largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 12 inches
Leesville Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
Levisa Fork River–Within The Boundaries Buchanan County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
longer than 20 inches no largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches
Little River Downstream From Little River Dam In Montgomery County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches
Maury RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
caught anywhere from the head waters to the mouth of the river where it enters the James
New RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 8 lbs. 1 oz. on 3-12-2003
New River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) Downstream To The Va-Wv State Line
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches
New River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) Downstream To The Va-Wv State Line And Its Tributaries Little River Downstream From Little River Dam In Montgomery County, Big Walker Creek From The Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge Downstream To The New River And Wolf Creek From The Narrows Dam Downstream To The New R
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
only 1 per day longer than 22 inches No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches
New River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) Downstream To The Va-Wv State Line And Its Tributaries Little River Downstream From Little River Dam In Montgomery County, Big Walker Creek From The Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge Downstream To The New River And Wolf Creek From The Narrows Dam Downstream To The New River In Giles County.
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches no largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches
North Fork Holston RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
outstanding population, good numbers of smallmouth 14 to 18 inches, about one-third more than 14 inches, and more than 10% longer than 17 inches
North Fork Holston River–Rt. 91 Bridge Upstream Of Saltville, Va. Downstream To The Va-Tn State Line
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
longer than 20 inches no largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20 inches
North Fork, South Fork And Mainstem Shenandoah River
- Slot min
- 11"
- Slot max
- 14"
no largemouth or smallmouth bass 11 to 14 inches
Potomac River – Virginia Tidal Tributaries Above Rt. 301 Bridge
- Min size
- 15"
no largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 15 inches from March 1 through June 15
Smith Mt. Lake And Its Tributaries Below Niagara Dam
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
South Holston Reservoir
- Min size
- 15"
no smallmouth less than 15 inches
Staunton (Roanoke) River–And Its Tributaries Below Difficult Creek, Charlotte County
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14 inches
Staunton River–Leesville Dam (Campbell County) Downstream To The Mouth Of Difficult Creek, Charlotte County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 20"
longer than 20 inches no smallmouth bass less than 20 inches
Wolf Creek From The Narrows Dam Downstream To The New River
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
Longer than 22 inches No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches
Wolf Creek From The Narrows Dam Downstream To The New River In Giles County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches
Striped Bass
Appomattox RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
seasonal fishery, run out of Lake Chesdin
Atlantic Ocean Waters Beyond The 3 Mile LimitClosed
- Status
- Closed
closed to the taking and possession of striped bass all year.
Back BayCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Blackwater (Chowan Drainage)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
No possession
Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage)Open
- Status
- Permitted
limited numbers
Chesapeake Bay Fall SeasonOut of season
- Season opens
- Oct 4
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/person
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
Chesapeake Bay Spring SeasonOut of season
- Season opens
- May 16
- Season closes
- Jun 15
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/person
- Min size
- 19"
- Max size
- 24"
Clinch RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
sometimes caught in lower stretches, migrate out of Norris Reservoir in Tennessee
Dan RiverOut of season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- May 31
run begins in late April run continues through May
Leesville ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 53 lbs. 7 oz. on 3-16-2000
Meherrin RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
North Landing RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Northwest RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Northwest Rivers And Their Tributaries Plus Back BayClosed
- Status
- Closed
No possession
Nottoway RiverCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Gear
- No Possession
No possession
Virginia Coastal SeasonsIn season
- Season opens
- May 16
- Season closes
- Dec 31
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/person
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
Catfish
Carroll County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Clinch River In Russell County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Clinch River In Scott County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Clinch River In Wise County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Dickenson County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Giles County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Grayson County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Montgomery County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Pulaski County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
South Holston Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 20 fish/day
- Max size
- 34"
- Slot max
- 34"
Only 1 catfish over 34 inches
Tidal Waters (Below Fall Line)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Bowfin and catfish may be taken in tidal waters (below Fall Line, see page 12)
Urban Fishing WatersOpen
- Status
- Open
- Daily bag
- 4 fish/day
NO CLOSED SEASON
Wythe County
- Gear
- No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Blue Catfish
Tidal James RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
unlimited harvest of any size below the freshwater-saltwater demarcation line. See page 24 for more.
Tidal James River Below The Freshwater-Saltwater Demarcation LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
unlimited harvest of any size
James River And Its Tributaries Below The Fall Line Downstream To A Line Connecting Hog Point On Hog Island (Surry County) And The Downstream Point Of The Mouth Of College Creek (James City County)Open
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 32"
No daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches longer than 32 inches only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches
All Rivers Below The Fall Line Other Than The Tidal James River And Its Tributaries Downstream To A Line Connecting Hog Point On Hog Island (Surry County) And The Downstream Point Of The Mouth Of College Creek (James City County)Open
- Status
- Permitted
No daily limit
Buggs Island LakeOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 143 lbs. on 6-18-2011
Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir Including The Staunton (Roanoke) River And Its Tributaries To Difficult Creek, Charlotte County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
longer than 32 inches
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
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
longer than 32 inches
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;
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 32"
only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches
Dan River And Its Tributaries To The Banister River, Halifax County
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
longer than 32 inches
Inland Waters Of VirginiaClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Unauthorized introduction (i.e., stocking) is illegal
Lake GastonOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Min size
- 32"
No daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches longer than 32 inches only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches
Privately Owned Ponds And LakesClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
cannot be stocked
Rappahannock RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Archery State Record: 68 lbs. 14 oz. on 10-20-2022
Virginia’s Rivers And LakesClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Unauthorized introduction (i.e., stocking) of fish or wildlife, including game, bait, and aquarium species, into new waters can harm the environment and destroy public fisheries. Releasing exotic or potentially harmful species is illegal.
York RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
unlimited harvest of any size below the fall line. See page 24 for more.
Channel Catfish
Rappahannock RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 31 lbs. 8 oz. on 10-2-1992
Flathead Catfish
Lake SmithOpen
- Status
- Permitted
State Record: 68 lbs. 12 oz. on 5-25-2018
Occoquan RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Archery State Record: 49 lbs. 3 oz. on 6-11-2025
Virginia’s Rivers And LakesClosed
- Status
- Prohibited
Unauthorized introduction (i.e., stocking) of fish or wildlife, including game, bait, and aquarium species, into new waters can harm the environment and destroy public fisheries. Releasing exotic or potentially harmful species is illegal.
All Species
James RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Freshwater license required upstream of a line connecting Hog Point on Hog Island (Surry County) and the downstream point of the mouth of College Creek (James City County)
James River (Richmond)Open
- Status
- Permitted
Fall Line: 14th Street Bridge (Mayo Bridge)
300 Feet Of Boshers Dam Fishway On The North Bank Of The James RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
- Season opens
- Mar 1
- Season closes
- Jun 15
It shall be unlawful to fish or to collect bait from March 1 through June 15
Boshers Dam Fishway On The North Bank Of The James RiverClosed
- Status
- Closed
unlawful to fish or to collect bait from March 1 through June 15 within 300 feet
Largemouth Bass
James River (Lower)Open
- Status
- Permitted
nationally recognized fishery; upstream from Hopewell, best in old river channels and abandoned gravel pits; downstream from Hopewell to Hog Island, most productive in larger tributary creeks and large expanses of vegetated tidal flats
James River–Confluence Of The Jackson And Cowpasture Rivers (Botetourt Cty) Downstream To The 14th St. Bridge In Richmond
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
longer than 22 inches no largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches
Smallmouth Bass Largemouth
James River–Confluence Of The Jackson And Cowpasture Rivers (Botetourt Cty) Downstream To The 14th St. Bridge In Richmond
- Daily bag
- 1 fish/day
- Slot min
- 14"
- Slot max
- 22"
only 1 per day longer than 22 inches No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22 inches
Hickory Shad
James River (Lower)Out of season
- Season opens
- Mar 1
- Season closes
- May 31
healthy run, popular spring fishery within the Fall Line from late March healthy run, popular spring fishery within the Fall Line through early May
Anadromous Striped Bass
James River (Lower)Out of season
- Season opens
- Apr 1
- Season closes
- May 31
seasonally excellent in the vicinity of the I-95 Bridge in Richmond during late April seasonally excellent in the vicinity of the I-95 Bridge in Richmond through May
Rainbow Trout
James RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
Artificially raised rainbow trout may be sold as bait
Plus 8 more species. See the Virginia pillar page for the full list.
FAQ
Who regulates fishing on James River?
DWR regulates fishing on James River.
What species can I target on James River?
James River is best known for catfish, striped bass, smallmouth bass. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.
Where should I verify these rules?
These rules summarize DWR's published content. Always confirm with the official source before keeping a catch.
Reference only. Regulations change mid-season. Always verify with the official source before keeping a catch.