Rules & Regulations
Cast net laws in Virginia
Legal with restrictionsInformational only — this is not legal advice
Fishing regulations change, sometimes with little notice, and can vary further by county, water body, or season within a state. This page is a starting point for research, not a substitute for the law. Always verify current rules directly with your state's fish & wildlife agency or TakeMeFishing.org before you fish. BasicGear is not responsible for citations, fines, or gear seizures resulting from reliance on this page.
Last verified: 2026-07-08 — regulations are re-checked periodically; see the date above before assuming this is current.
Summary
No numeric size or mesh cap exists for cast nets in Virginia — a genuine regulatory gap, confirmed on two independent official sources. License requirements depend on purpose.
Size, mesh & licensing
- Max size
- Not specified
- Mesh
- Not specified
- Water type
- Both
- License
- No license needed in saltwater/tidal use solely for minnow, menhaden, or mullet bait; other saltwater use needs a $10 cast-net license or Saltwater Recreational Fishing License; freshwater always needs a VA freshwater license
Recommended BasicGear net
Cast Net — Basic Series — No size cap — any BasicGear cast net works; just confirm which license path applies to your specific use.
Official source
Last verified: 2026-07-08
See all 50 states, or shop the cast net lineup for Virginia.