News

Little Wicomico River remains closed to shellfish harvesting.

UPDATE: Please see attached notice for a change to Virginia’s Directed Offshore Summer Flounder Fishery trip limits.

Virginia's Outdoor Recreation Survey (external site) is live, now through November 18.

For information regarding the Salmonella Outbreak in Little Wicomico River, see VDH's News Update (external site).

Results of the October VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here

An emergency shellfish closure of the Little Wicomico River is established effective October 9, 2026. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to take shellfish from this area for any purpose except by permit granted by the Marine Resources Commission. Oysters harvested in the Little Wicomico River starting on September 18, 2026, through October 8, 2026, by Little Wicomico Oyster Company have been recalled.

ATTENTION COMMERCIAL SPECKLED TROUT BUYERS The 2026/27 directed commercial speckled trout season opened on Tuesday September 1, 2026. Please call the Commission’s Interactive Voice Recording System (800-937-9247, Option 1 then Option 5) and report any purchases of speckled trout, in pounds, on a daily basis, beginning September 1, 2026.

There will be a public hearing held at the VMRC Main Office on Monday, September 28, 2026 from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM to gather public input on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden (external site). The Draft Addendum considers options to reduce the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap (Bay Cap) by up to 50% and distribute the cap more evenly throughout the fishing season.

VMRC and Town of Tangier Partner to Address Marine Obstructions Around Tangier Island

Results of the September VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here

There will be a public hearing held on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Northumberland High School, 201 Academic Lane, Heathsville, VA, from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM to gather public input on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden (external site). The Draft Addendum considers options to reduce the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap (Bay Cap) by up to 50% and distribute the cap more evenly throughout the fishing season.

On Thursday , October 1, 2026, Virginia will open the offshore directed summer flounder fishery. Please see the attached notice for dates and landing limits.

On August 20, 2026, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced a commercial federal waters closure for the Atlantic Migratory Group Spanish Mackerel Northern Zone, to take effect at 12:01 am on Tuesday August 25, 2026. Beginning 12:01 August 25, 2026, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess or land in Virginia any amount of Spanish mackerel in excess of 500 pounds from any vessel in any one day.

Results of the August VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here

Effective 12 noon, Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the Virginia horseshoe crab dredge harvest commercial fishery will close. Based upon landing reports from Virginia seafood buyers and horseshoe crab harvesters, it is projected that Virginia will have harvested 100% of the horseshoe crab dredge category quota allocated to be harvested by Virginia Horseshoe Crab Class A and Class B Dredge Category Permittees by the above date and time.

Results of the July VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here

Results of the June VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here

ASMFC and MAFMC are seeking participants for a stakeholder workshop on recreational sector separation options for the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish fisheries.

June 5-7, 2026 have been declared Free Fishing Days (Saltwater).

Results of the May VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here

Winter Dredge Survey Media Release (PDF)

Joseph D Grist has been appointed by Governor Abigail Spanberger as Commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, effective today, May 14, 2026.

There will be an CMAC meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 4:00 PM at the VMRC Main Office (5/14 Update: Please note location change). The meeting will be livestreamed.

Memo: Federal Waters Regulations for Black Sea Bass and Summer Flounder (PDF)

Per the April 21, 2026, Commission meeting, the recreational measures for black sea bass in state waters are May 11 – December 31, 13” minimum size limit, and 15 fish bag limit.

Results of the April VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here

VMRC is always looking for interested candidates for membership on our advisory boards. Advisory committees play a key role in shaping future policy. You may apply online now to be considered for future openings.

Effective 12:01 A.M., April 15, 2026, the Virginia commercial spot fishery will open. The season will remain open until December 8, 2026.

Public Notice: Federal Waters Regulations for Black Sea Bass (PDF)

Public Notice: Federal Waters Regulations for Summer Flounder (Fluke) (PDF)

Results of the March VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here

Per the March 31, 2026 Commission Meeting, there is an update to the recreational possession limit on Bluefish of 5 per person from shore or a rented vessel; and 5 per person on for-hire or charter vessels.

Per the March 31, 2026 Commission Meeting, a closed season for recreational speckled trout harvest will be in effect from April 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026. This action was taken in response to multiple years of cold-stun related mortality and is intended to protect the remaining spawning stock through the bulk of the 2026 spawning season.

Shadcam is now live for the 2026 spring migration season. (external site) Shadcam streams live from the Boshers vertical slot fishway viewing window on the James River in river mile 114. DWR is tapped into the City of Richmond’s camera network system (Richmond owns the dam and works cooperatively with DWR to operate and maintain the fishway). HDOnTap is DWR’s livestream service.

Effective March 16, 2026, vessels may not fish for, possess, or land scup in or from the EEZ, federally permitted vessels may not land scup for sale, and dealers may not purchase or otherwise receive scup harvested from the EEZ through Thursday, April 30, 2026. The scup summer quota period begins at on Friday, May 1, 2026.

Mid-Atlantic Council Seeks Public Input on Private Recreational Tilefish Permit and Reporting Framework.

The Commission adopted a two week extension for oyster harvest areas impacted by ice and depressed market conditions.

Results of the February VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here

Effective 6:00 PM, Thursday, February 12, 2026, the 2025/2026 Virginia directed commercial speckled trout fishery will close. Based upon landing reports from Virginia seafood buyers and speckled trout harvesters, it is projected that Virginia will have harvested and landed 100% of the 51,104-pound quota.

Due to inclement weather, the VMRC Main Office will be closed Tuesday, January 27, and the January Commission items will be moved to the February 24 meeting.

Effective January 14, 2026, 11:30 PM, local time – March 31, 2026, the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Category Commercial Fishery will close. Please see attached notice for more information.

Effective 12:01 AM, Thursday, January 15, 2026, the 2026 Virginia commercial croaker fishery will open. The season will remain open until December 31, 2026.

New Virginia State record for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Effective January 13, 2026, 11:30 PM – December 31, 2026 , the recreational Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Angling Category Southern Area Trophy Fishery will close. Please use this link (external site) for more information.

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission will be opening a special recreational black sea bass season from February 1-28, 2026. Interested in participating? You can read more about permitting and reporting requirements here (PDF) and acquire your free permit here.

A Petition for Rulemaking pertaining to Atlantic Menhaden (PDF) has been posted on the Town Hall (external site) website. Public comment period will begin on January 26, 2026, and end on February 17, 2026. A link will be posted here at that time.