TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
BOARD OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES
Proposed Regulation
REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The Board of Wildlife Resources is claiming an exemption from the Administrative Process Act pursuant to § 2.2-4002 A 3 of the Code of Virginia when promulgating regulations regarding the management of wildlife.
Title of Regulation: 4VAC15-320. Fish: Fishing Generally (amending 4VAC15-320-25).
Statutory Authority: §§ 29.1-103, 29.1-501, and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.
Public Comment Deadline: October 21, 2025.
Agency Contact: Aaron Proctor, Policy Manager, Department of Wildlife Resources, 7870 Villa Park Drive, Suite 400, Henrico, VA 23228, telephone (804) 801-8199, or email aaron.proctor@dwr.virginia.gov.
Summary:
The proposed amendments remove creel limits for blue catfish on the tidal Rappahannock and York Rivers and in the portions of the James River below the freshwater-saltwater demarcation line.
4VAC15-320-25. Creel and length limits.
The creel limits, including live possession, and the length limits for the various species of fish shall be as follows, unless otherwise excepted by posted rules at department-owned or department-controlled waters (see 4VAC15-320-100 D).
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Type of fish
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Subtype or location
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Creel and length limits
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Geographic exceptions
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Creel or length limits for exceptions
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EDITOR'S NOTE: The table in 4VAC15-320-25 contains creel and length limit information for many types of fish in Virginia waters; only catfish creel and length limits are being amended. Since the other information available in the table is not being amended, the rows containing that information are not set out.
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catfish
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channel, white, and flathead catfish
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20 per day;
No length limits
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All rivers below the fall line
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No daily limit
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blue catfish
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20 per day;
No statewide length limits
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Lake Gaston
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No daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches
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Kerr Reservoir, including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Difficult Creek, Charlotte County and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Banister River, Halifax County
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20 per day, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches
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James River and its tributaries below the fall line, Rappahannock River and its tributaries below the fall line, and York River and its tributaries (including the Pamunkey River and Mattaponi River) below the fall line downstream to a line connecting Hog Point on Hog Island (Surry County) and the downstream point of the mouth of College Creek (James City County)
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No daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inches
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All rivers below the fall line other than the James River and its tributaries, Rappahannock River and its tributaries, and the York River and its tributaries
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No daily limit
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VA.R. Doc. No. R26-8443; Filed September 03, 2025