Section 45. Recreational possession limits and seasons

A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing with hook and line, rod and reel, spear, gig, or other recreational gear to possess more than 15 black sea bass. When fishing is from a boat or vessel where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the possession limit shall be for that boat or vessel and shall be equal to the number of persons on board legally licensed to fish, multiplied by 15. The captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall be responsible for that boat or vessel possession limit. Any black sea bass taken after the possession limit has been reached shall be returned to the water immediately.

B. Possession of any quantity of black sea bass that exceeds the possession limit described in subsection A of this section shall be presumed to be for commercial purposes.

C. The open recreational fishing season shall be from May 15 through September 21 and October 22 through December 31.

D. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to take, catch, or possess any black sea bass, except during an open recreational season.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 14, Issue 12, eff. January 30, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 16, eff. April 1, 1998; Volume 16, Issue 14, eff. March 1, 2000; Volume 17, Issue 03, eff. October 1, 2000; Volume 17, Issue 14, eff. March 1, 2001; Volume 17, Issue 16, eff. April 1, 2001; Volume 17, Issue 20, eff. May 25, 2001; Volume 18, Issue 03, eff. October 1, 2001; Volume 18, Issue 12, eff. January 31, 2002; Volume 18, Issue 14, eff. March 4, 2002; Volume 18, Issue 16, eff. April 1, 2002; Volume 19, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2003; Volume 19, Issue 14, eff. March 1, 2003; Volume 20, Issue 16, eff. April 1, 2004; Volume 21, Issue 16, eff. April 1, 2005; Volume 26, Issue 14, eff. March 1, 2010; Volume 26, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 2010; Volume 28, Issue 16, eff. March 28, 2012; Volume 29, Issue 09, eff. December 11, 2012; Volume 29, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2013; Volume 29, Issue 15, eff. February 28, 2013; Volume 29, Issue 19, eff. May 1, 2013; Volume 30, Issue 19, eff. May 1, 2014; Volume 31, Issue 02, eff. September 1, 2014; Volume 31, Issue 19, eff. May 1, 2015.

Statutory Authority

§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.