FishLimit

VA · Bluegill and sunfish

Virginia bluegill and sunfish limits

Virginia lets you keep 50 bluegill (bream) and other sunfish a day, all species combined, with no statewide length limit. Crappie, rock bass (redeye) and Roanoke bass are not part of that 50. Lake Gaston, Buggs Island (Kerr) and parts of the Staunton (Roanoke), Dan and New rivers have no daily sunfish limit at all.

Verified 2026-10-31

Updated

Limits at a glance

Regulation period: January 2026 through Dec. 31, 2026.

Statewide (waters with no listed exception)

Daily limit
50 per day, bluegill and other sunfish combined

DatesOpen all year

Size ruleNo statewide length limitCrappie, rock bass (redeye) and Roanoke bass have separate limits and do not count toward the 50.

Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir, including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries up to Difficult Creek (Charlotte County) and the Dan River and its tributaries up to the Banister River (Halifax County)

Daily limit
No daily limit

DatesYear-round (as printed)

Size ruleNo length limit

New River from the Virginia–North Carolina line down to the confluence of the New and Little rivers (Grayson County)

Daily limit
No daily limit

DatesYear-round (as printed)

Size ruleNo length limit

South Holston Reservoir (Virginia–Tennessee reciprocal rules)

Daily limit
50 bluegill per day

DatesYear-round (as printed)

Size ruleNo minimum length

Watch for

  • Bluegill and other bream are exempt from the rule against removing the head or tail of a game fish while fishing, and bluegill, sunfish and bream are the only game fish you may use as cut bait. Any game fish used as bait still counts toward your creel limit.
  • It is unlawful to have more than the daily creel limit in possession while afield or on the water, and the limit includes fish you keep alive.
  • Virginia residents under 16 do not need a fishing license.
  • These figures come from the 2026 digest, which runs to Dec. 31, 2026. New South Holston and Flannagan reservoir rules take effect Jan. 1, 2027, so we will re-check this page when the 2027 digest is published.

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Virginia · Bluegill and sunfish

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Quick answers

What is the daily limit for bluegill and sunfish in Virginia?

Statewide (waters with no listed exception): 50 per day, bluegill and other sunfish combined. Size rule: No statewide length limit. Other waters and date windows have different rules; see the table. Verify with Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Which regulations do these Virginia figures come from?

January 2026 through Dec. 31, 2026, as published by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Last verified 2026-10-31.