2013 Virginia Freshwater Fishing & Watercraft Owner's Guide

2013 Fishing Regs & WOG 11-15-12_Layout 1 11/16/12 1:01 PM Page 27Nongame Fish,Reptile, Amphibian,and AquaticInvertebrateRegulationsGeneralIt shall be unlawful to take, possess, import,cause to be imported, export, cause to beexported, buy, sell, offer for sale or liberatewithin the Commonwealth any wild animalunless otherwise specifically permitted bylaw or regulation. Albino reptiles and amphibiansand domestic animals may beimported, possessed, and sold. A list ofdomestic animals and the Department’sofficial listing of “Native and NaturalizedFauna of Virginia” is available from theRichmond and regional offices, and atwww.HuntFishVA.com.Native and NaturalizedSpeciesPossession Limits(Personal Use & Not for Sale):5–Amphibians and Reptiles20–Nongame Fish and AquaticInvertebratesExceptions:1. Threatened and endangered species,freshwater mussels, candy darter, easternhellbender, diamondback terrapin,and spotted turtle—no take2. Carp, bowfin, longnose gar, mullet,yellow bullhead, brown bullhead, blackbullhead, snail bullhead, white sucker,northern hogsucker, gizzard shad,threadfin shad, white perch, yellowperch (10 fish limit in Lake Moomaw),alewife and blueback herring[see limits under Anadromous (coastal)in table on pages 16– 17)], stoneroller(hornyhead), fathead minnow, goldenshiner, goldfish, and Asian clams—unlimited3. See page 16 for catfish and pages 16–17for anadromous (coastal) shad and herringlimits.4. Fish bait: minnows and chubs(Cyprinidae), salamanders (less than 6inches), crayfish, and hellgrammites—50in aggregate unless said person has purchasedfish bait and has a receipt specifyingthe number of individuals purchasedby species. Note: Madtoms, crayfish andsalamanders cannot be bought or sold.5. Bullfrogs–15 per day.Snapping turtles–5 per day.Cannot be taken from the banks or watersof designated stocked trout waters.6. Native amphibians and reptiles that arecaptured within the Commonwealth andpossessed live for private use and not forsale may be liberated under the followingconditions:a. Period of captivity does not exceed 30days;b. Animals must be liberated at the siteof capture;c. Animals must have been housed separatelyfrom other wild-caught anddomestic animals; andd. Animals that demonstrate symptomsof disease or illness or that have sustainedinjury during their captivitymay not be released.Methods to Capture or TakeGeneral Methods:• Except as provided for under “OtherMethods” and except in any waterswhere the use of nets is prohibited, thespecies listed in the previous section(Native and Naturalized Species–PossessionLimits) may only be taken by hand,hook and line, with a seine not exceeding4 feet in depth by 10 feet in length, anumbrella type net not exceeding 5 by 5feet square, small minnow traps withthroat openings no larger than 1 inch indiameter, cast nets, and handheld bownets with diameter not to exceed 20inches and handle length not to exceed8 feet.• Gizzard shad and white perch may alsobe taken from below the fall line in alltidal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay usinga gill net in accordance with VirginiaMarine Resources Commission recreationalfishing regulations.• Bullfrogs may also be taken by gigging orbow and arrow and from private watersby firearms no larger than .22 caliberrimfire. Taking bullfrogs with a gig orbow and arrow requires a huntinglicense.• Snapping turtles may be taken for personaluse with hoop nets not exceeding 6feet in length with a throat opening notexceeding 36 inches. Taking turtles byhook and line requires a fishing license.Other Methods:It is illegal to use SCUBA (Self-containedUnderwater Breathing Apparatus) gear totake or attempt to take fish.Trot Lines, juglines or set poles may be usedto take nongame fish and turtles providedthey are not baited with live bait (worms arepermissible), except on designated stockedtrout waters, Department-owned or controlledlakes, and within 600 feet of any dam.Live bait other than game fish may be usedon trot lines to take catfish in Carroll, Dickenson,Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaskiand Wythe counties, and in the Clinch Riverin Russell, Scott, and Wise counties. (Seepage 9 for South Holston Reservoir.)Any person setting or possessing theabove equipment shall have it clearlymarked by permanent means with his or hername, address, and telephone number, andis required to check all lines and remove allfish and animals caught each day.Additional requirements for juglines(also called “noodles”): Defined as a singlehook, including one treble hook, and lineattached to a float. Jugline/noodle sets onpublic waters shall be restricted to 20 perangler and must be attended (within sight)by anglers at all times. Also, in addition tobeing labeled with the angler’s name, addressand telephone number, jugs/noodlesshall also be labeled with a reflective markerthat encircles the jugs/noodles to allow forvisibility at night.Virginia Game Fish“Game fish” as defined by the Code ofVirginia means and includes trout, allof the sunfish family (including largemouthbass, smallmouth bass, spottedbass, rock bass, bream, bluegilland crappie), walleye, white bass,chain pickerel, muskellunge, northernpike and striped bass.www.HuntFishVA.com 27