The winter Virginia striper fishery has been nothing less then spectacular over the last several years. Catch and release anglers need not worry too much about the regulations other then to understand that you may not target striped bass beyond the 3 mile limit in the ocean. If on the other hand you are going to keep some stripers for the table you need to know the regulations for the two striped bass fisheries in Virginia: The one stripedbass fishery is in the Chesapeake Bay and then a seperate one with seperate regulations along the coast in the Atlantic Ocean. Each striper fishery has different regulations and it’s important to understand and know the rules when fishing in Virginia waters.

The Virginia Striped Bass regulations for 2008 are summarized below:

Chesapeake Bay fall striped bass recreational fishery:

• The open season for the bay fall striped bass recreational fishery shall be October 4 through December31.
• The area open for shall be the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
• The minimum size limit for this fishery shall be 18 inches in length.
• The maximum size limit for this fishery shall be 28 inches in length, except as provided in subsection F ..
• The possession limit for this fishery shall be two fish per person from October 4 through December 9. (A TWO FISH SEASON)The possession limit for this fishery shall be one fish per person from December 10 through December 31. (A ONE FISH SEASON)
• DURING THE ENTIRE SEASON, ONLY ONE striped bass 34 inches or greater. CAN BE IN POSSESSION.

Coastal striped bass recreational fishery. (Demarcation line to 3 miles out in Atlantic)

• The open seasons for the coastal striped bass recreational fishery shall be January 1 through March 31
• and May 16 through December 31, (FROM NOW TO END OF YEAR)
• The area open is Demarcation line to 3 miles out in Atlantic)
• The minimum size limit for this fishery shall be 28 inches total length.
• The possession limit for this fishery shall be two fish per person( two large fish can be kept in the
• Coastal fishery as opposed to only one large fish in the Chesapeake Bay fishery.)

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