Section 45. Recreational fishing season and possession limits

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 three tautog. 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 the boat or vessel and shall be equal to the number of persons on board legally eligible to fish multiplied by three. The captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall be responsible for any boat or vessel possession limit. Any tautog taken after the possession limit has been reached shall be returned to the water immediately.

B. Possession of any quantity of tautog which exceeds the possession limit described in subsection A of this section shall be presumed to be for commercial purposes.

C. The recreational fishing season shall be closed from May 1 through September 19.

D. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing recreationally to take, catch, or possess any tautog during any closed recreational fishing season.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 14, Issue 16, eff. April 1, 1998; amended, Virginia Register Volume 15, Issue 07, eff. January 1, 1999; Volume 24, Issue 08, eff. January 1, 2008; Volume 28, Issue 08, eff. January 1, 2012; Volume 28, Issue 21, eff. June 1, 2012; Volume 29, Issue 08, eff. January 1, 2013.

Statutory Authority

§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.