Chapter 350. Fish: Gigs, Grab Hooks, Trotlines, Snares, Etc
4VAC15-350-10. Gigs, grab hooks, etc.; generally.
Except as otherwise provided by local legislation and with the specific exceptions provided in the sections appearing in this chapter, it shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take fish at any time by snagging, grabbing, snaring, and gigging; with a striking iron; and with the use of SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) gear.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR325-03-4 § 1, eff. July 1, 1970; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2011.
4VAC15-350-20. Gigs, grab hooks, etc.; certain counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
A. It shall be lawful to take nongame fish at any time by snagging, grabbing, snaring, gigging, and with a striking iron in all waters , except (i) public impoundments, (ii) the Roanoke (Staunton) River, (iii) the Dan River, (iv) the James River in Goochland County, and (v) those waters stocked by the department, of the following counties: Amelia, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Greensville, Halifax, Louisa, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Pittsylvania, and Prince Edward.
B. 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. For the purpose of this section, a fishing spear is defined as an implement with a shaft and sharp point or tines designed to be thrusted or thrown by hand.
C. Daily creel (possession) and length limits for nongame fish are found in 4VAC15-320-25.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR325-03-4 § 2, eff. July 1, 1979; amended Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2008; Volume 37, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 2021.
4VAC15-350-30. Gigs, grab hooks, etc.; certain counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Except as otherwise provided by local legislation, it shall be lawful to take nongame fish (daily creel (possession) and length limits for nongame fish are found in 4VAC15-320-25) in the daytime by snagging, grabbing, snaring, gigging, and with a striking iron from April 1 through May 15, both dates inclusive, and October 1 through November 30, both dates inclusive, in the following waters: Buchanan County, all waters except Dismal River; Grayson County, New River; Lee County, Powell River; Russell County, Clinch River; Scott County, Clinch River and its tributaries; Tazewell County, Dry Run Creek; Washington County, Middle and South Forks of the Holston River; Wise County, Clinch River. The bag limit for taking suckers or red horse provided for in this section shall be 20 per day.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501 and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR325-03-4 § 3, eff. July 1, 1988; amended, Virginia Register Volume 19, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 2003; Volume 24, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2008.
4VAC15-350-40. Fish: Gigs, grab hooks, etc.; Wolf and Big Walker's creeks in Giles County.
It shall be lawful to fish in the waters of Wolf and Big Walker's creeks from the New River in Giles County to the Bland County line for carp and suckers during the month of April each year by the use of line and grab hook containing not more than three barbs.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-501 and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR325-03-4 § 4.
4VAC15-350-50. Gigs, grab hooks, etc.; Walker's Creek, Wolf Creek and north fork of Holston River in Bland County.
In Bland County it shall be lawful to take carp and suckers at any time from the waters of Walker's Creek, Wolf Creek (except that section stocked with trout) and the north fork of the Holston River by use of grab hook with not more than three barbs.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-501 and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR325-03-4 § 5.
4VAC15-350-60. Trotlines, juglines, limblines, or set poles.
A. Generally. Except as otherwise provided by local legislation and by subsections B and C of this section, and except on waters stocked with trout and within 600 feet of any dam, it shall be lawful to use trotlines, juglines (single hook, including one treble hook, and line attached to a float), limblines, or set poles for the purpose of taking nongame fish (daily creel (possession) and length limits for nongame fish are found in 4VAC15-320-25) and snapping turtles (limits for snapping turtles are found in 4VAC15-360-10), provided that no live bait is used. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, live bait other than game fish may be used on trotlines to take catfish in the Clinch River in the Counties of Russell, Scott, and Wise. Any person setting or in possession of a trotline, jugline, limbline, or set pole shall have it clearly marked by permanent means with his name, address, and telephone number, and is required to check all lines at least once each day, remove all fish and animals caught, and completely remove all lines from the water, shoreline, and tree limbs when not in use. This requirement shall not apply to landowners on private ponds, nor to a bona fide tenant or lessee on private ponds within the bounds of land rented or leased, nor to anyone transporting any such device from its place of purchase.
B. Quantico Marine Reservation. It shall be unlawful to fish with trotlines in any waters within the confines of Quantico Marine Reservation.
C. Additional jugline requirements. Jugline sets (except as exempt under subsection A of this section) shall be restricted to 20 per angler and must be attended (within sight) by anglers at all times. Also, in addition to being labeled with the angler's name, address, and telephone number, jugs shall also be labeled with a reflective marker that encircles the jugs to allow for visibility at night.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR325-03-4 § 6, eff. January 1, 1992; amended, Virginia Register Volume 13, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 1997; Volume 24, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2008; Volume 27, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2011; Volume 31, Issue 9, eff. January 1, 2015; Volume 39, Issue 9, eff. January 1, 2023.
4VAC15-350-70. Taking of fish with bow and arrow or crossbow.
A. Season. Except as otherwise provided by local legislation or as posted, it shall be lawful to take common carp, northern snakehead, goldfish, and longnose gar from the public inland waters of the Commonwealth, grass carp from public rivers and streams of the Commonwealth except public inland lakes and reservoirs, and bowfin and catfish from below the fall line in tidal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay, except waters stocked with trout, by means of bow and arrow or crossbow.
B. Poison arrows or explosive-head arrows prohibited. It shall be unlawful to use poison arrows or arrows with explosive heads at any time in the public inland waters of the Commonwealth.
C. Fishing license required. All persons taking fish in the manner described in this section shall be required to have a regular fishing license.
D. Creel limits. The creel limits for common carp, grass carp, northern snakehead, goldfish, and catfish shall be unlimited, provided that any angler taking northern snakehead immediately kill such fish and notify the department, as soon as practicable, of such actions and provided that any angler taking grass carp ensure that harvested fish are dead. The creel limit for bowfin and longnose gar shall be five fish per day from July 1 to April 14 and one fish per day from April 15 to June 30.
E. Retention requirement. Any common carp, grass carp, northern snakehead, goldfish, catfish, longnose gar, or bowfin taken with bow and arrow or crossbow must be retained and may not be released back into or disposed of in the water. Any common carp, grass carp, northern snakehead, goldfish, longnose gar, or bowfin taken with bow and arrow or crossbow may not be disposed of on property abutting the body of water of capture. These requirements shall not apply to private bodies of water or private property abutting the body of water of capture.
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR325-03-4 § 7, eff. July 1, 1981; amended, Virginia Register Volume 13, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 1997; Volume 24, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2008; Volume 29, Issue 9, eff. January 1, 2013; Volume 33, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2017; Volume 35, Issue 2, eff. January 1, 2019; Volume 37, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 2021; Volume 39, Issue 9, eff. January 1, 2023.
4VAC15-350-80. (Repealed.)
Statutory Authority
§§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR325-03-4 § 8, eff. July 1, 1976; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2011.