For saltwater anglers, a knowledge of bait fish and forage species is essential. From backwater estuaries to the offshore canyons, bait fish and other marine life influence the abundance, range, and behavior of Virginia’s most iconic sport fish. Bait fish … Continued
June 1, 2, and 3, 2018 have been designated as Free Fishing Days in Virginia. No fishing license of any kind will be required for rod and reel fishing in freshwater or saltwater, on these days. A trout license is … Continued
At its March, 2018 meeting, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) established a 16 1/2-inch minimum size limit for the 2018 recreational summer flounder fishery in Virginia waters. Previously in 2017, the minimum size for summer flounder (recreational fishing) in … Continued
In early January, 2018, unseasonably cold temperatures resulted in cold stun events and mortality of speckled trout stocks in Virginia, North Carolina, and other states along the Atlantic Coast. Virginia In February, The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) Board considered … Continued
9th Annual Great Bridge Fisherman Association (GBFA) Fishing Flea Market Saturday, March 10, 2018 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM Chesapeake Conference Center 700 Conference Center Drive Chesapeake, VA 23320 Phone: (757) 287-0330 The Great Bridge Fisherman Association’s 9th Annual Fishing … Continued
NOAA Fisheries has announced a February recreational season in 2018 for the black sea bass fishery. The current black sea bass recreational management measures of a 12.5-inch minimum size and 15-fish possession limit apply during the February 1-28 federal season. … Continued
NOAA Fisheries has released its 2017 Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Report for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species. The 2017 SAFE report reviews the status of highly migratory Atlantic tunas, swordfish, billfishes, and sharks. The report also updates constituents on … Continued
A 6-pound 12-ounce gray triggerfish has been certified as the initial Virginia State Record for the species by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. The record-setting triggerfish was caught on November 1, 2017 by Dave Walden of Yorktown, VA. The fish … Continued
A recently released summary of recreational fishing statistics from NOAA Fisheries provides an insight into the popularity of recreational fishing in the Mid Atlantic region. Mid-Atlantic Recreational Fishing Statistics Highlights: In 2015 2 million anglers took 12.4 million fishing trips … Continued
In January, the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) announced a closure of recreational harvests of cobia in Federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Recreational harvest of Atlantic migratory group cobia (from Georgia to New York) closed at 12:01 a.m. … Continued