Virginia fishing seasons

33 species profiles in our database list Virginia waters among their fisheries — including Striped Bass, White Perch, Redear Sunfish, Warmouth. Below: what's in season month by month, where to fish, and the licence source you need. Seasons shift year to year; the official agency has the final word.

Best months to fish in Virginia

Months when the largest share of Virginia's profiled species are in season, from our database. Full calendar: What's Biting.

Virginia fishing calendar, month by month

Each month links to the species in season then, from our season windows. A month is charted when at least 3 species are in season.

Freshwater species in Virginia

Species	Season
American Eel	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Blue Catfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Bowfin	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Brook Trout	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Fallfish	Varies by watershed and local regulation
Fantail Darter	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Inland Silverside	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Mummichog	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Northern Snakehead	Varies by climate, water level, and local regulation
Rainwater Killifish	Often most active in warm months; check local rules
Redear Sunfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Striped Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Warmouth	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
White Perch	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov

Saltwater & brackish species in Virginia

Species	Season
Atlantic Croaker	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Atlantic Herring	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Atlantic Menhaden	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Black Sea Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
California Corbina	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Cobia	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Conger Eel	Varies by region and regulation
Corb	Varies by region and regulation
Fat Snook	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Gulf Menhaden	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Northern Stargazer	Varies by region and regulation
Pacific Herring	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Reef Croaker	Varies by region and regulation
Scup	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Spot	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Striped Bass	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Swordspine Snook	Varies by migration, temperature, region, and regulation
Weakfish	Mar–Apr–May–Jun–Jul–Aug–Sep–Oct–Nov
Whiting	Varies by region and regulation

Where to fish in Virginia

• Chesapeake (MD/VA)
• Chesapeake (VA/MD)

Fishing in the South

Florida · Texas · Louisiana · Alabama · Mississippi · Georgia · South Carolina · North Carolina · Arkansas · Oklahoma · Tennessee · Kentucky · West Virginia