VA · REGULATIONS · JUNE 2026

Spotted Seatrout VA legal size & bag limits.

Spotted Seatrout (also known as Speckled Trout, Speck, Spotted Weakfish) in Virginia. Minimum legal size, daily bag limit, possession limit, slot rule — verified against the VMRC guide, 2026.

In Virginia, the minimum legal size for Spotted Seatrout is 14 in and the daily bag limit is 5 per person (only 1 may exceed 24 inches). A slot limit applies: 14 in minimum; of the 5-fish daily limit, only 1 fish may exceed 24 inches (an oversize/trophy cap, not a true slot). Season note: Open seasons and these size and bag limits are reviewed at least annually and can change in-season — always confirm the current Virginia rules before keeping fish.

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

Minimum size
14in
Daily bag
5 per person (only 1 may exceed 24 inches)
Possession
5 per person (only 1 may exceed 24 inches)
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Is there a slot limit for Spotted Seatrout in VA?

14 in minimum; of the 5-fish daily limit, only 1 fish may exceed 24 inches (an oversize/trophy cap, not a true slot).

Is there a closed season for Spotted Seatrout in VA?

Open seasons and these size and bag limits are reviewed at least annually and can change in-season — always confirm the current Virginia rules before keeping fish.

Why these rules exist

Same statewide. STATE WATERS (Chesapeake Bay, tidal tributaries, Atlantic to 3 mi).

Source & verification

These limits are pulled from the VMRC recreational saltwater fishing regulations. Last verified June 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 Spotted Seatrout in VA?
In Virginia, the minimum legal size for Spotted Seatrout (also known as Speckled Trout, Speck, Spotted Weakfish) is 14 in. Verified against the VMRC recreational saltwater fishing regulations (June 2026).
What is the bag limit for Spotted Seatrout in VA?
In Virginia, the daily bag limit for Spotted Seatrout is 5 per person (only 1 may exceed 24 inches). Slot rule: 14 in minimum; of the 5-fish daily limit, only 1 fish may exceed 24 inches (an oversize/trophy cap, not a true slot). Verified against the VMRC recreational saltwater fishing regulations (June 2026).
Is there a closed season for Spotted Seatrout in VA?
Open seasons and these size and bag limits are reviewed at least annually and can change in-season — always confirm the current Virginia rules before keeping fish. Verified against the VMRC guide (June 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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