4VAC20-960-45. Recreational fishing season and possession limits.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing with hook and line, rod and reel, spear, gig, or other recreational gear to possess more than four tautog. When fishing is 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 four. The captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall be responsible for any boat or vessel possession limit. Any tautog taken after the possession limit has been reached shall be returned to the water immediately.
B. The recreational fishing season shall be closed from May 16 through June 30.
C. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to take, catch, or possess any tautog during any closed recreational fishing season.
Statutory Authority
§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 16, eff. April 1, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 1999; Volume 24, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2008; Volume 28, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2012; Volume 28, Issue 21, eff. June 1, 2012; Volume 29, Issue 8, eff. January 1, 2013; Volume 34, Issue 15, eff. March 1, 2018; Volume 36, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2020.