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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>76058</law_id><section_number>29.1-531</section_number><catch_line>Unlawful to take or attempt to take, possess, sell or transport fish except as permitted</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="29.1">Wildlife, Inland Fisheries and Boating</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5">Wildlife and Fish Laws</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Fishing Laws</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Unless otherwise provided by a <span class="dictionary">regulation</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, it shall be unlawful for any person to take or attempt to take any fish in inland waters other than shad, herring or mullet, except by <span class="dictionary">fishing</span> with a hook and line or rod and reel, held in the hand. <a id="paragraph-272975" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-531/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> It shall be unlawful to catch, trap, take, capture, kill, or attempt to take, capture or kill, possess, deliver for <span class="dictionary">transportation</span>, transport, cause to be transported, receive for transport, export, or import at any time or in any manner any species of <span class="dictionary">game fish</span>, or the carcass or any part thereof, except as specifically permitted by <span class="dictionary">law</span> and only by the means and within the numbers stated. <a id="paragraph-272976" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-531/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In Mecklenburg, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Charlotte, Campbell, Halifax, Amelia (except between Vaughn&#x2019;s Pond and Meadsville Dam), Caroline and King George Counties, in the City of Danville, and in the Meherrin River in Lunenburg County, it shall be lawful to fish with fish traps, fish pots or haul seines in any streams and waters, provided that no person shall catch fish with fish traps or fish pots or haul seines for commercial purposes. However, it shall be unlawful in such localities to remove from the waters thereof any <span class="dictionary">game fish</span> caught with fish pots, fish traps or haul seines, and any person doing so shall immediately return them to the waters. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall have the authority to close any streams or rivers or parts of streams or rivers in such localities when the waters are stocked with fish by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. <a id="paragraph-272977" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-531/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> It shall be lawful to sell or offer to sell trout which have been lawfully acquired, provided such trout have been propagated and raised in a hatchery or by other artificial means. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall by appropriate <span class="dictionary">regulation</span> establish a practical system of identification of trout so offered for sale for table or other uses as directed by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>. <a id="paragraph-272978" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-531/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> It shall be unlawful to offer for sale, sell, offer to purchase, or purchase at any time or in any manner any species of <span class="dictionary">game fish</span>, or the carcass or any part thereof, except as specifically permitted by <span class="dictionary">law</span> and only by the means and within the numbers stated. A violation of the provisions of this subsection shall be punishable as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Selling or offering for sale; penalty" href="/29.1-553/">29.1-553</a>. <a id="paragraph-272979" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-531/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> A violation of the provisions of subsections A through D shall constitute a Class 2 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-272980" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/29.1-531/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 29-148; 1956, c. 490; 1958, c. 514; 1960, c. 126; 1962, c. 469; 1966, c. 413; 1987, c. 488; 1994, cc. 413, 848; 2000, cc. 403, 447.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
