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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 4. Conservation And Natural Resources
Agency 20. Marine Resources Commission
Chapter 252. Pertaining to Atlantic Striped Bass
11/21/2024

4VAC20-252-50. Concerning recreational fishing: general.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to take, catch, or attempt to take or catch any striped bass by any gear or method other than hook-and-line, rod and reel, hand line, or spearing.

B. Any person fishing recreationally shall use non-offset, corrodible, non-stainless steel circle hooks when fishing with bait.

C. When fishing from a boat or vessel where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the possession limit shall be for the boat or vessel and shall be equal to the number of persons on board legally eligible to fish multiplied by the applicable personal possession limit. The captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall be responsible for any boat or vessel possession limit.

D. When fishing from a boat or vessel where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall be responsible for any minimum or maximum size limits.

E. It shall be unlawful to combine possession limits when there is more than one area or season open at the same time.

F. It shall be unlawful for any person while actively fishing pursuant to a recreational fishery to possess any striped bass that are smaller than the minimum size limit or larger than the maximum size limit for the area and season then open and being fished.

G. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to transfer any striped bass to another person, while on the water or while fishing from a pier or shore.

Statutory Authority

§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 13, Issue 8, eff. December 6, 1996; amended, Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 1998; Volume 20, Issue 10, eff. January 5, 2004; Volume 21, Issue 13, eff. February 2, 2005; Volume 22, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2006; Volume 29, Issue 2, eff. September 1, 2012; Volume 31, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2015; Volume 33, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2017; Volume 34, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2018; Volume 36, Issue 26, eff. August 1, 2020; Volume 37, Issue 19, eff. May 1, 2021.

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