VA · REGULATIONS · SEPTEMBER 2026

Bluefish VA legal size & bag limits.

Bluefish (also known as Chopper, Blue, Tailor) in Virginia. Minimum legal size, daily bag limit, possession limit — verified against the VMRC guide, 2026.

In Virginia, Bluefish has no minimum legal size and the daily bag limit is 5 per person. There is no closed season in VA.

What is the legal size & bag limit for Bluefish in VA?

Minimum size
No min
Daily bag
5 per person
Possession
5 per person
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Is there a closed season for Bluefish in VA?

No closed season

Why these rules exist

Same statewide; the limit does NOT drop on for-hire vessels in the current Virginia regulation. STATE WATERS. No minimum size. Per the live VMRC report the limit is 5 per person whether fishing from shore, a private/rental vessel, or a for-hire/charter vessel (there is currently NO reduced for-hire limit in Virginia).

Source & verification

These limits are pulled from the VMRC recreational saltwater fishing regulations. Last verified September 2026.

Always check the official guide before keeping any fish. Regulations change. Virginia Marine Resources Commission updates its guide annually and occasionally mid-year. Fines for over-bag or undersized fish are significant.

Virginia requires a saltwater fishing licence for anglers aged 16–64 in tidal waters; unlicensed anglers aged 16+ must instead register free with the Fisherman Identification Program (FIP). Virginia saltwater licences.

See related

Common questions

What is the minimum legal size for Bluefish in VA?
In Virginia, there is no minimum legal size for Bluefish (also known as Chopper, Blue, Tailor) — you can keep fish of any size, up to the daily bag limit of 5 per person. Verified against the VMRC recreational saltwater fishing regulations (September 2026).
What is the bag limit for Bluefish in VA?
In Virginia, the daily bag limit for Bluefish is 5 per person. Verified against the VMRC recreational saltwater fishing regulations (September 2026).
Is there a closed season for Bluefish in VA?
No — there is no closed season for Bluefish in Virginia. You can fish for it year-round, subject to the size and bag limits. Verified against the VMRC guide (September 2026).
Do you need a fishing licence to fish in Virginia?
Virginia requires a saltwater fishing licence for anglers aged 16–64 in tidal waters; unlicensed anglers aged 16+ must instead register free with the Fisherman Identification Program (FIP).
Written by
Olli-Mikael Vaittinen, founder of Fishare, holding a yellowfin tuna boatside
Olli-Mikael Vaittinen

Olli-Mikael Vaittinen has fished his whole life. Fifteen years of fly fishing, guiding seasons on Norway's Lakselva — his favourite Atlantic salmon river — and a blue marlin landed in Vava'u, Tonga. Founder of Fishare — the app that puts the data behind the decisions every angler makes on the water.

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