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Rappahannock River Fishing Regulations 2026

Rappahannock River fishing regulations as of 2026-05-08: 341 current rules from DWR. Anglers target striped bass, catfish, largemouth bass.

DWRVerified Official source

Rules (341)

DWR regulates 341 rules across 8 species at this water.

Largemouth Bass

AbelOpen
Status
Permitted
AccotinkOpen
Status
Permitted
AnnaOpen
Status
Permitted
Appomattox RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
ArrowheadOpen
Status
Permitted
Augusta County Rec PondOpen
Status
Permitted
Bealer’s Ferry PondOpen
Status
Permitted
Beaverdam Cr.Open
Status
Permitted
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
Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage)Open
Status
Permitted
Braley PondOpen
Status
Permitted
BrieryOpen
Status
Permitted
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
Chickahominy RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
ClaytorOpen
Status
Permitted
Clearbrook Forest Service LakesOpen
Status
Permitted
Clifton Forge ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
Clinch RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
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
Coles Run ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
Conner LakeOpen
Status
Permitted
State Record: 16 lbs. 4 oz. on 5-20-1985
CookOpen
Status
Permitted
Dan RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
just west of Danville
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)
Douthat Forest Service LakesOpen
Status
Permitted
Dry RunOpen
Status
Permitted
ElkhornOpen
Status
Permitted
Flannagan Reservoir
Min size
12"
no largemouth bass less than 12 inches
FrederickOpen
Status
Permitted
GatewoodOpen
Status
Permitted
Germantown LakeOpen
Status
Permitted
Hone QuarryOpen
Status
Permitted
Hunting Run ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
Huntsman LakeOpen
Status
Permitted
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
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
Status
Permitted
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
Lake MooneyOpen
Status
Permitted
LauraOpen
Status
Permitted
LaurelOpen
Status
Permitted
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
LexingtonOpen
Status
Permitted
LincolnshireOpen
Status
Permitted
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
Locust ShadeOpen
Status
Permitted
Lovill’s CreekOpen
Status
Permitted
MoomawOpen
Status
Permitted
MottsOpen
Status
Permitted
Mtn. Run Ni ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
New RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
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
Newman LakeOpen
Status
Permitted
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 PoundOpen
Status
Permitted
North Fork Shenandoah RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
North Fork, South Fork And Mainstem Shenandoah River
Slot min
11"
Slot max
14"
no largemouth or smallmouth bass 11 to 14 inches
North Landing RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
Northwest RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
good numbers
Norton ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
Nottoway RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
below Rt. 630 Bridge, more common
Old Cossey PondOpen
Status
Permitted
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
ShenandoahOpen
Status
Permitted
Shenandoah River (Main Stem)Open
Status
Permitted
SherandoOpen
Status
Permitted
SilverOpen
Status
Permitted
SkidmoreOpen
Status
Permitted
Slate LickOpen
Status
Permitted
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 HolstonOpen
Status
Permitted
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
Tams City ParkOpen
Status
Permitted
TomahawkOpen
Status
Permitted
Virginia Department Of Wildlife Resources LakesOpen
Status
Permitted
Virginia Power Rec. PondsOpen
Status
Permitted
WilkinsOpen
Status
Permitted
Willis RobertsonOpen
Status
Permitted
WittenOpen
Status
Permitted
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
Woodrow Wilson PondOpen
Status
Permitted

Striped Bass

AbelOpen
Status
Permitted
AccotinkOpen
Status
Permitted
All Tidal RiversOpen
Status
Permitted
AnnaOpen
Status
Permitted
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
Beaverdam Cr.Open
Status
Permitted
Blackwater (Chowan Drainage)Catch & release
Status
Catch And Release
No possession
Blackwater (Chowan Drainage) River
Gear
No Possession
Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage)Open
Status
Permitted
limited numbers
BrieryOpen
Status
Permitted
Buggs IslandOpen
Status
Permitted
Carvins Cove
Min size
37"
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"
ClaytorOpen
Status
Permitted
Claytor Lake
Min size
37"
Clinch RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
sometimes caught in lower stretches, migrate out of Norris Reservoir in Tennessee
CookOpen
Status
Permitted
DanOpen
Status
Permitted
Dan RiverIn season
Season opens
Apr 1
Season closes
May 31
run begins in late April run continues through May
Dry RunOpen
Status
Permitted
Flannagan Res.
Min size
37"
FrederickOpen
Status
Permitted
GastonOpen
Status
Permitted
Germantown LakeOpen
Status
Permitted
Hone QuarryOpen
Status
Permitted
Hunting Run ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
Huntsman LakeOpen
Status
Permitted
Lake Anna
Min size
37"
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
Status
Permitted
Lake MooneyOpen
Status
Permitted
LauraOpen
Status
Permitted
LeesvilleOpen
Status
Permitted
Leesville ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
State Record: 53 lbs. 7 oz. on 3-16-2000
Locust ShadeOpen
Status
Permitted
MeherrinClosed
Status
Closed
No possession
Meherrin RiverCatch & release
Status
Catch And Release
Gear
No Possession
No possession
MottsOpen
Status
Permitted
Mtn. Run Ni ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
New RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
Newman LakeOpen
Status
Permitted
North LandingClosed
Status
Closed
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
NottowayClosed
Status
Closed
No possession
Nottoway RiverCatch & release
Status
Catch And Release
Gear
No Possession
No possession
Old Cossey PondOpen
Status
Permitted
ShenandoahOpen
Status
Permitted
SilverOpen
Status
Permitted
SkidmoreOpen
Status
Permitted
Slate LickOpen
Status
Permitted
Smith MountainOpen
Status
Permitted
Staunton/RoanokeOpen
Status
Permitted
TomahawkOpen
Status
Permitted
Virginia Coastal SeasonsOut of season
Season opens
May 16
Season closes
Dec 31
Daily bag
1 fish/person
Min size
28"
Max size
31"
Virginia Department Of Wildlife Resources LakesOpen
Status
Permitted
Western BranchOpen
Status
Permitted
WilkinsOpen
Status
Permitted
Woodrow Wilson PondOpen
Status
Permitted

Catfish

AbelOpen
Status
Permitted
AccotinkOpen
Status
Permitted
AnnaOpen
Status
Permitted
ArrowheadOpen
Status
Permitted
Augusta County Rec PondOpen
Status
Permitted
Bealer’s Ferry PondOpen
Status
Permitted
Beaverdam Cr.Open
Status
Permitted
Braley PondOpen
Status
Permitted
BrieryOpen
Status
Permitted
Carroll County
Gear
No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
ClaytorOpen
Status
Permitted
Clearbrook Forest Service LakesOpen
Status
Permitted
Clifton Forge ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
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
Coles Run ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
CookOpen
Status
Permitted
Dan RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
just west of Danville
Dickenson County
Gear
No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
Douthat Forest Service LakesOpen
Status
Permitted
Dry RunOpen
Status
Permitted
ElkhornOpen
Status
Permitted
FrederickOpen
Status
Permitted
GatewoodOpen
Status
Permitted
Germantown LakeOpen
Status
Permitted
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
Hone QuarryOpen
Status
Permitted
Hunting Run ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
Huntsman LakeOpen
Status
Permitted
Lake Anna State Park PondOpen
Status
Permitted
Lake MooneyOpen
Status
Permitted
LauraOpen
Status
Permitted
LaurelOpen
Status
Permitted
LexingtonOpen
Status
Permitted
LincolnshireOpen
Status
Permitted
Locust ShadeOpen
Status
Permitted
Lovill’s CreekOpen
Status
Permitted
Maury RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
Montgomery County
Gear
No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
MoomawOpen
Status
Permitted
MottsOpen
Status
Permitted
Mtn. Run Ni ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
Newman LakeOpen
Status
Permitted
North Fork PoundOpen
Status
Permitted
Norton ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
Old Cossey PondOpen
Status
Permitted
Pulaski County
Gear
No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish
ShenandoahOpen
Status
Permitted
SherandoOpen
Status
Permitted
SilverOpen
Status
Permitted
SkidmoreOpen
Status
Permitted
Slate LickOpen
Status
Permitted
South HolstonOpen
Status
Permitted
South Holston Reservoir
Daily bag
20 fish/day
Max size
34"
Slot max
34"
Only 1 catfish over 34 inches
Tams City ParkOpen
Status
Permitted
Tidal Waters (Below Fall Line, See Page 12)Open
Status
Permitted
Tidal Waters (Below Fall Line)Open
Status
Permitted
Bowfin and catfish may be taken in tidal waters (below Fall Line, see page 12)
TomahawkOpen
Status
Permitted
Urban Fishing WatersOpen
Status
Open
Daily bag
4 fish/day
NO CLOSED SEASON
Virginia Department Of Wildlife Resources LakesOpen
Status
Permitted
Virginia Power Rec. PondsOpen
Status
Permitted
WilkinsOpen
Status
Permitted
Willis RobertsonOpen
Status
Permitted
WittenOpen
Status
Permitted
Woodrow Wilson PondOpen
Status
Permitted
Wythe County
Gear
No Live Bait
Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish

Blue Catfish

Rappahannock RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
Archery State Record: 68 lbs. 14 oz. on 10-20-2022
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
All Species
Daily bag
1 fish/day
over 32 inches
AppomattoxOpen
Status
Permitted
Buggs IslandOpen
Status
Permitted
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
Chickahominy RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
Dan RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
heart of the lower river fishing
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
JamesOpen
Status
Permitted
James River (Lower)Open
Status
Permitted
best fishing in the state
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
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
MattaponiOpen
Status
Permitted
PamunkeyOpen
Status
Permitted
Potomac Tributaries In VirginiaOpen
Status
Permitted
Privately Owned Ponds And LakesClosed
Status
Prohibited
cannot be stocked
RappahannockOpen
Status
Permitted
StauntonOpen
Status
Permitted
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
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
All Rivers Below The Fall LineOpen
Status
Permitted
No daily limit
AnnaOpen
Status
Permitted
AppomattoxOpen
Status
Permitted
Buggs IslandOpen
Status
Permitted
ChesdinOpen
Status
Permitted
ChickahominyOpen
Status
Permitted
Chickahominy RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
ClaytorOpen
Status
Permitted
Clinch RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
DanOpen
Status
Permitted
FlannaganOpen
Status
Permitted
GastonOpen
Status
Permitted
James River (Upper)Open
Status
Permitted
Lake ChesdinOpen
Status
Permitted
State Record: 32 lbs. on 4-28-1980
MattaponiOpen
Status
Permitted
NewOpen
Status
Permitted
New RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
North Fork Holston RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
North Fork Shenandoah RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
North LandingOpen
Status
Permitted
Nottoway RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
below Rt. 630 Bridge, more common
PamunkeyOpen
Status
Permitted
RappahannockOpen
Status
Permitted
ShenandoahOpen
Status
Permitted
Shenandoah River (Main Stem)Open
Status
Permitted
South HolstonOpen
Status
Permitted
StauntonOpen
Status
Permitted
Western Branch ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted

Flathead Catfish

All Rivers Below The Fall LineOpen
Status
Permitted
No daily limit
Buggs IslandOpen
Status
Permitted
ClaytorOpen
Status
Permitted
Clinch RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
Dan RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
heart of the lower river fishing
FlannaganOpen
Status
Permitted
JamesOpen
Status
Permitted
James River (Upper)Open
Status
Permitted
Lake SmithOpen
Status
Permitted
State Record: 68 lbs. 12 oz. on 5-25-2018
NewOpen
Status
Permitted
New RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
North Fork Holston RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
OccoquanOpen
Status
Permitted
Occoquan CreekOpen
Status
Permitted
Occoquan RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
Archery State Record: 49 lbs. 3 oz. on 6-11-2025
Smith MountainOpen
Status
Permitted
Staunton/Roanoke RiversOpen
Status
Permitted
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

Rappahannock RiverOpen
Status
Permitted
Fall Line: Rt. 1 Bridge

Nongame Fish

Rappahannock River And Its Tributaries (Below The Fall Line)Open
Status
Permitted
It shall be lawful to take nongame fish by gig or fishing spear from a position above the surface of the water on those portions below the fall line of the Rappahannock River and its tributaries and the Potomac River and its tributaries.

FAQ

Who regulates fishing on Rappahannock River?

DWR regulates fishing on Rappahannock River.

What species can I target on Rappahannock River?

Rappahannock River is best known for striped bass, catfish, largemouth bass. Other species are present and tracked in the rule tables below.

When was this last updated?

These rules were last verified against DWR on 2026-05-08. 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. Last verified .

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