Fishing in Virginia Guide: Fees & Resources
- Adam Garrett
- May 30, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Jun 6
Above: Me in high school casting in high winds with my dad in the background and hitting the photographer with the hook accidentally! Photo by Allen Stanley.
Virginia offers excellent opportunities for freshwater, brackish, and saltwater fishing. I grew up primarily saltwater fishing with my family. I also did some freshwater fishing with others including my Boy Scout troop. Per DWR regarding the freshwater fishing opportunities in VA, "Virginia offers excellent, extremely diverse angling opportunities. With over 176,000 acres of public lakes and 27,300 miles of fishable streams, Virginia is sure to provide something for every freshwater angler." This resource will not teach you how to fish much. Instead, I'm assuming you already know how to do that. l'll be showing you some of the fishing that VA has to offer, and a wide variety of information, some helpful globally & some specific to the state and individual locations within the state.
Global Resources:
This website is fantastic, showing you what is able to be caught based on user-reported data and when it's able to be caught in map form around the world, but especially in the US where there are likely the most users:
Additional Global Maps
Here is a solid resource for a variety of maps, such as this one showing how far out you need to go for deep-sea fishing:
US Resources:
Free Fishing License for Disabled Anglers by State
Free Fishing for Seniors by State
This map is somewhat misleading since in reality, persons 65 years of age or older in VA do not need a saltwater license but must comply with the Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) requirements.
Map of Fishing License Fees by State
VA Resources:
VA Saltwater Fishing Calendar
Virginia Tips by Fish Type & Season
Species, suggested bait or lure, method, location, seasons, average weights, and state record.
All images courtesy MRC.Virginia.gov
Virginia Accessible Fishing & Boating
Virginia's Recreational Fishing Regulations For Marine Waters
Recreational Fishing Rules
Fishing Safety in VA
VA Freshwater Fishing Information per DWR
VA Fishing License & Fee Information:
Locations to Fish Freely in VA with a License
I. Map I Created:
II. Trout Fishing Throughout VA
III. Fishing Throughout VA
IV. VA Created Map
The below map I created, with a layer for fishing and another layer for boat ramps, is primarily but not exclusively in SE VA. It is important to verify the accuracy of whether or not fees are necessary for parking, access to the site that has the water, for fishing itself, etc. prior to relying exclusively on the below map prior to a fishing excursion at any of the below. Also keep in mind that I include wildlife management areas, which can be accessible freely for anyone with a freshwater fishing license or hunting license:
Also, keep in mind that the map above is by no means exhaustive. For instance, it doesn't include most of the options in the western part of the state. Here are some examples (likely over 100) of trout fishing options, where most are free outside of Shenandoah National Park (except those with free access to the park) & excluding the items in orange as long as you have the proper permit for trout:
This resource is also an excellent one for finding options based on zip code, even though no map is presented:
Here's a VA created map view:
Here is a map of saltwater smaller tributaries in E VA as well as access points from DGIF, though unlike my map above, they're not all free in the 1 layer, though it will typically state if it has a fee or not, using layers "AccessPoints" & "boatrampsclassified2_10:
More VA Free Fishing:
Days to Fish Freely in VA with no License
While there are many locations where those with a license can fish for no additional fee, here are at least a few locations in SE VA where people are allowed to access a dock and fish. The 2 I'm aware of are on Gloucester Point Fishing Pier (registration required though) and at Yorktown Beach Pier.
Typical Fishing License Information for Residents
License | Fee |
Sportsman’s License (16 years or older) Includes hunting license, bear license, deer/turkey license (valid July 1–June 30), archery license, muzzleloader license, freshwater fishing license and trout license. | $100.00 |
County/City Resident Freshwater Fishing* (For county or city of residence only) | $16.00 |
Resident State Freshwater Fishing License* (age 16 and older) |
|
Resident State Fresh/Saltwater Fishing* | $39.50 |
Resident Saltwater Fishing License | $17.50 |
South Holston Reservoir Fishing License Allows fishing in both Tennessee and Virginia waters of South Holston Reservoirupstream of the dam. A valid resident fishing license is also required. | $21.00 |
Resident 5-Day Freshwater Fishing | $14.00 |
Resident 5-Day Fresh/Saltwater Fishing (5 consecutive days) Not valid in designated stocked trout waters | $24.00 |
Resident 10-Day Saltwater Fishing (10 consecutive days) | $10.00 |
Resident Tidal Boat Sport Fishing | $126.00 |
Resident 65 and Over Annual Freshwater Fishing* | $9.00 |
Resident Trout Fishing (October 1–June 15) Required in addition to other resident licenses if fishing in stocked waters. | $23.00 |
* A valid trout license (annual or lifetime) is required in addition to other resident licenses only if you are fishing in designated stocked trout waters (October 1–June 15).
Typical Fishing License Information for Non-Residents
License | Fee |
Nonresident State Freshwater Fishing (age 16 or older)** | $47.00 |
Nonresident Saltwater Fishing License | $25.00 |
Nonresident State Fresh/Saltwater Fishing** | $71.00 |
Nonresident 1-Day Freshwater Fishing Not valid in designated stocked trout waters | $8.00 |
Nonresident 5-Day Freshwater Fishing** (5 consecutive days) | $21.00 |
Nonresident 10-Day Saltwater Fishing License (10 consecutive days) | $10.00 |
Nonresident 5-Day Fresh/Saltwater Fishing** (5 consecutive days) |
$31.00 |
Nonresident Tidal Boat Sport Fishing | $201.00 |
Nonresident Annual Fishing License for 70% or Greater Service-Connected Partially Disabled Veterans and Service-Connected Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans Nonresident Veterans rated 70% or greater service-connected or as Total and Permanent Service-Connected by the U.S. Dept of Veterans Affairs Administrative Office may apply for a discounted annual fishing license. All applicable licenses, stamps, or permits are required in addition to this license. Please visit the Forms section of this website for application, instructions, and prices. Applications may be mailed or brought into our Henrico office location only. | |
Nonresident Trout Fishing (October 1–June 15) Required in addition to other nonresident licenses if fishing in stocked waters. | $23.00 |
Miscellaneous Fees
License | Fee |
Daily Permit Required at Clinch Mountain, Crooked Creek, and Douthat State Park Fee Fishing Areas Required in addition to regular resident, resident 5-day license, nonresident, or nonresident 1-day or 5-day license. | $8.00 |
National Forest Permit For fishing in the National Forest, this permit is required along with the required fishing licenses (exceptions: residents under 16 and over 65, nonresidents under 16). See National Forest Permit below. | $4.00 |
Virginia State Forest Use Permit Allows hunting, trapping, fishing, mountain biking, and horse riding. No motorized vehicles on gated roads/trails (open or closed). Sold in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Forestry. See State Forest Use Permit below. | $16.00 |
| |
County Dip Net Permit To take shad, herring, and mullet. River herring and American shad may not be harvested from tidal waters. | $4.50 |
$18.00 |
Lifetime Fishing License Information (i.e. for residents 65+, $5 for saltwater & $25 for freshwater fishing )
Per DWR:
Persons 65 years of age or older do not need a saltwater license but must comply with the Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) requirements, so to avoid the hassle it's better to spend $5.
Disabled [Permanently & Totally] Residents:
Disabled [Permanently & Totally] Non-Residents:
Exemptions from License Requirements for Owners & Their Families
"Resident or nonresident landowners, their spouses, their children and grandchildren and the spouses of such children and grandchildren, or the landowner's parents, resident or nonresident, do not need a license to hunt, trap, or fish within the boundaries of their own lands and inland waters."
Full VA law:
§ 29.1-301. Exemptions from license requirements
Trout License Requirement
When fishing in freshwater with trout present, it's important to also have an additional license for trout. Per DWR, "The trout license is only required from October 1 through June 15. From June 16 through September 30 anglers can fish in stocked trout waters without a trout license."
Related:
About the Author: Adam Garrett - 3rd Generation REALTOR®
Adam is the 3rd generation in a line of award-winning real estate agents serving SE VA. He has served full time at Garrett Realty Partners since May 2014 when he joined the marketing department before transitioning to full-time sales to assist buyers and sellers in February 2015. He believes that an educated buyer or seller makes the best decisions, & is dedicated to helping with that both digitally & on-site physically for buyers & sellers. He's also available for referrals to real estate agents around the globe. In several capacities, his resources & direct offerings for assisting sellers & assisting buyers are either unmatched or are top 1% for the SE VA area, and in some cases, nationwide. Not stopping after closing, he also provides information for tenants, landlords, & homeowners.
Related for Buyers:
Related for Sellers:
While Adam can refer buyers and sellers elsewhere, Adam’s direct coverage includes most of SE VA including Hampton Roads (VA Peninsula, Southside, & Middle Peninsula), the Northern Neck, & Greater Richmond.
Adam's Coverage Map with Adam's 5 Multiple Listing Services highlighted in orange & areas without good MLS coverage excluded:
Additional Related
Comments