4VAC20-510-20. Recreational fishery possession limits, season, and vessel allowance.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to possess more than one cobia at any time. When fishing from any recreational vessel where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the possession limit for the recreational vessel shall be equal to the number of persons on board legally eligible to fish multiplied by one, except there is a maximum recreational vessel limit of two cobia per recreational vessel per day. The captain or operator of the recreational vessel shall be responsible for any recreational vessel possession limit. Any cobia caught after the possession limit has been reached shall be returned to the water immediately.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to harvest or possess any cobia before June 15 or after September 15 of the current calendar year.
C. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to possess more than two amberjack at any time. When fishing from any recreational vessel where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the possession limit for the recreational vessel shall be equal to the number of persons on board legally eligible to fish multiplied by two. The captain or operator of the recreational vessel shall be responsible for any recreational vessel possession limit. Any amberjack caught after the possession limit has been reached shall be returned to the water immediately.
D. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to gaff or attempt to gaff any cobia.
Statutory Authority
§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR450-01-0065 § 2, Virginia Register Volume 11, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 1995; amended, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 2002; Volume 23, Issue 12, eff. February 1, 2007; Volume 30, Issue 17, eff. April 1, 2014; Volume 32, Issue 21, eff. June 1, 2016; Volume 33, Issue 17, eff. April 1, 2017; Volume 34, Issue 17, eff. April 1, 2018; Volume 36, Issue 21, eff. June 1, 2020; Volume 37, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2021.