Freshwater Fishing & Boating

FRESHWATER FISHING & BOATING IN VIRGINIA January 1-December 31, 2020 www.dgif.virginia.gov www.gooutdoorsvirginia.com FISHING REGULATIONS GUIDE - VA TRIM: . 8˝ X 10-1/2˝ (AND VARIOUS OTHER STATES) BLEED: . 8-1/4˝ X 10-3/4˝ SAFETY: . 7˝ X 10˝ TRIM TRIM SAFETY TRIM BLEED BLEED SAFETY BLEED BLEED TRIM TRIM SAFETY SAFETY There’s a reason they say, Curse like a sailor. That’s why we offer basic plans starting at $100 a year with options that won’t depreciate your watercraft and accessories*. Progressive Casualty Ins. Co. & afﬁ liates. Annual premium for a basic liability policy not available all states. Prices vary based on how you buy. *Available with comprehensive and collision coverage. and collision with comprehensive *Available buy. you on how based vary Prices all states. available not policy liability a basic for Annual premium liates. & afﬁ Co. Ins. Casualty Progressive 1.800.PROGRESSIVE | PROGRESSIVE.COM SAFETY SAFETY TRIM TRIM BLEED BLEED TRIM TRIM TRIM BLEED BLEED SAFETY SAFETY Client: Progressive Job No: 18D30258.KL Created by: Dalon Wolford Applications: InDesign CC, Adobe Photoshop CC, Adobe Illustrator CC Job Description: Full Page, 4 Color Ad Document Name: Keep Left ad / Fishing Regulations Guide - VA and various other states Final Trim Size: 7-7/8˝ X 10-1/2˝ Final Bleed: 8-1/8˝ X 10-13/16˝ Safety: 7˝ X 10˝ Date Created: 10/26/18 FRESHWATER FISHING FRESHWATER WHAT’S NEW FOR 2020 ................................................................................................. 6 FISHING LICENSE INFORMATION AND FEES ................................................................. 9 FISHING Freshwater/Saltwater License Lines on Tidal Waters �� 12 Reciprocal Licenses ................................................................................................... 13 GENERAL INFORMATION .............................................................................................. 14 & BOATING Department-owned Lakes, Ponds, Streams or Boat Access Sites .................................................................................................. 14 IN VIRGINIA Fish Consumption Advisories ...................................................................................... 16 FRESHWATER FISH REGULATIONS .............................................................................. 18 January–December 2020 Fish Bait Information ................................................................................................... 18 Creel and Length Limit Tables.....................................................................................20 NONGAME FISH, REPTILE, AMPHIBIAN, AND AQUATIC INVERTEBRATE REGULATIONS ��25 TROUT FISHING GUIDE ................................................................................................27 Special Regulation Trout Waters ................................................................................29 2020 Catchable Trout Stocking Plan...........................................................................34 FISH IDENTIFICATION AND FISHING INFORMATION ................................................36 PUBLIC LAKES GUIDE ...................................................................................................43 MAJOR FISHING RIVERS ..............................................................................................50 Commonwealth of Virginia VIRGINIA STATE RECORD FRESHWATER FISH .............................................................53 Ralph S. Northam, Governor THE VIRGINIA ANGLER RECOGNITION PROGRAM .......................................................54 Secretary of Natural Resources FRESHWATER TROPHY FISH AWARD APPLICATION FORM .........................................55 Matthew J. Strickler Department of Game and Inland Fisheries VIRGINIA WATERCRAFT OWNER’S GUIDE Ryan J. Brown, Executive Director WATERCRAFT REGISTRATION, TITLING, AND SALES TAX REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................56 Members of the Board Mamie A. Parker, PhD., Chair, Dulles REQUIRED EQUIPMENT ................................................................................................59 John W. Daniel II, Vice-chair, Richmond Summary of Boating Safety Equipment Requirements .................................................59 Frank Adams, King William SAFE BOATING Leon Boyd, Vansant Catherine H. Claiborne, Richmond Alcohol, Drugs and Boating ........................................................................................63 Douglas Dear, Syria Virginia Boating Safety Education Requirement ...........................................................63 Tom Sadler, Verona Enforcement...............................................................................................................63 Karen Terwilliger, Locustville Brian Vincent, Farmville Personal Watercraft (PWC) Operation .........................................................................64 G. K. Washington, Dillwyn Navigation Rules .........................................................................................................64 Aids to Navigation.......................................................................................................66 Mission Statement Conserve and manage wildlife populations and habitat OTHER SAFETY CONCERNS for the benefit of present and future generations. Boating Accident Reporting ��67 Connect people to Virginia’s outdoors through boating, Naval Protection Zone ................................................................................................67 education, fishing, hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing and other wildlife-related activities. Protect people and America’s Waterway Watch ........................................................................................67 property by promoting safe outdoor experiences and Boat Theft Prevention .................................................................................................67 managing human-wildlife conflicts. Carbon Monoxide ��67 The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries shall Capsizing and Falls Overboard ....................................................................................68 afford to all persons an equal access to Department Virginia Boating Accident Report Form ........................................................................69 programs and facilities without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, ENJOYING THE WATER gender identity, age, political affiliation, or persons Towed Sports Safety ..................................................................................................68 with disabilities. If you believe that you have been Environmental Laws ...................................................................................................68 discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, please write to: Virginia Department of Game and Inland LAKE HORSEPOWER LIMITS ........................................................................................ 71 Fisheries, Attn: Executive Director’s Office, 7870 Villa DGIF BOAT RAMPS AND ACCESS POINTS ...................................................................72 Park Dr, Suite 400, P.O. Box 90778, Henrico, VA 23228. On the Cover: This publication is for general use and contains information regarding programs, policies, regulations, rules, or fees of the Virginia Depart- Fishing on the lake at Occoneechee State Park. ment of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) current at the time of printing. Information may change after printing and any changes will photo by Meghan Marchetti / DGIF supersede the information in this publication. DGIF’s programs, policies, regulations, rules, or fees can be found at www.dgif.virginia.gov. Specific laws are found in the Code of Virginia (http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode) or the Game Department Regulation Manual (http://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title4/agency15). For answers to specific questions about hunting and fishing, contact the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries office nearest you or visit www.dgif.virginia.gov. The sale of advertising paid a large portion of the cost of this publication. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries neither endorses the products or services offered in the advertising, nor accepts any liability from the use of such products or services. DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Greetings Virginia Freshwater Anglers! We have many exciting things planned for 2020. First, we are offering our annual Free Fishing Days from Friday, June 5th through Sunday, June 7th. No fishing license will be required on these dates in waters throughout the state, with the exception of a permit at our fee fishing areas. On these dates, staff will be putting on fishing workshops where gear, tackle, and instruction will be provided. This is a great way to try out the great sport of fishing. See page 6 for more information. Second, we are expanding our Angler Recognition Program Williamstown, MA | Birmingham, AL to include black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, saugeye, and fallfish. We are also adding a Master Angler Level VI and an online option for anglers to submit their catch for recognition. We have made these changes to better

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