Please help me decipher the striper regs

[dwilliamsceg]

I live on and fish the York. As such, I am trying to decipher the verbose striper regulations. Here are select statements from the VMRC site.

"A. The open season for the Bay Spring Trophy-size Striped Bass Recreational Fishery shall be May 1 through June 15, inclusive; however, the season may be adjusted as set forth in subsection G of this section."

"C. The open season for the Coastal Spring Trophy-size Striped Bass Recreational Fishery shall be May 1 through May 15, inclusive; however, the season may be adjusted as set forth in subsection G of this section."

"E. The minimum size limit for the fisheries described in this section shall be 32 inches total length."

"A. The open season for the Bay Spring/Summer Striped Bass Recreational Fishery shall be May 16 through June 15 inclusive. B. The area open for this fishery shall be the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
C. The minimum size limit for this fishery shall be 18 inches total length, and the maximum size limit for this fishery shall be 28 inches total length, except as provided in subsection E of this section."


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So, distilling this, I believe can take one (1) big fish 01May through 15Jun and/or I can take two (2) slot fish 16May through 15Jun. Is this correct? Also, is there really any chance that rocks will still be in the York this late in the Spring season?





Link: CHAPTER: PERTAINING TO THE TAKING OF STRIPED BASS (http://www.mrc.state.va.us/regulations/fr252.shtm)

[racn35]

call Lewis @ 757 491 5160

[Fishboy OV8]

you might(probably) be able to find some 20" males around the structure of the bridge. You have to jig vertically using 2-3oz bucktails w/ a 4-6" white jerkshad. Get right up beside the 2nd piling from the beach on the Yorktown side.... the piling there is square and it has a ledge about 20' down.... bounce it of the ledge, up and down. Works best with slow current , either the beginning or the end of the tide cycle. good luck

[thecameraguy]

This might be a little easier to understand.

Virginia Coastal Seasons .................................................. ................January 1 through March 31 &
.................................................. .................................................. ...................…May 16 through December 31
........................................Minimum Size Limit............................................. .. 28 inches
........................................Possession Limit............................................. ....... 2 per person

Note that there is a coastal trophy season from May 1 to May 15; the regulations summarized below for Virginia Trophy Seasons apply to the coastal trophy season.

Coastal regulations apply in Virginia's Territorial Sea, plus all of the creeks, bays, inlets, and tributaries on the seaside of Accomack County, Northhampton County (including areas east of the causeway from Fisherman Island to the mainland) and the City of Virginia Beach (including federal areas and state parks fronting on the Atlantic Ocean and east and south of the point where the shoreward boundary of the Territorial Sea joins the mainland at Cape Henry). Click here for map of coastal boundary near the CBBT.

Virginia Trophy Seasons: Coastal Area (May 1-15); Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries (May 1 through June 15)

........................................Minimum Size Limit............................................. ...32 inches
........................................Possession Limit............................................. ........1 per person

Additional Trophy Season Regulations: Catch Report Required; no possession of 32" or greater striped bass in the Spawning Reaches May 1 through June 15. Trophy Season regulations apply in Virginia's Territorial Sea and the Chesapeake Bay and its Virginia tributary rivers, except for the tributary rivers emptying into the Potomac River (see note below for more information on Potomac River striper regulations).

Chesapeake Bay Spring Season .................................................M ay 16 through June 15
........................................Minimum Size Limit............................................. . 18 inches
........................................Maximum Size Limit * .......................................... 28 inches
........................................Possession Limit .................................................. .2 per person

* 1 fish of the 2 fish possession limit may be larger than 32 inches ( catch report required if striped bass 32" or greater is kept ); No possession of 32" or greater striped bass in the Spawning Reaches May 1 through June 15.

Chesapeake Bay Fall Season .................................................. .......October 4 through December 31
........................................Minimum Size Limit............................................. .................18 inches
........................................Maximum Size Limit * .................................................. ....... 28 inches
........................................Possession Limit - October 4 through December 20...................2 per person
........................................Possession Limit - December 21 through December 31..............1 per person

* 1 fish of the 2 fish possession limit may be 34 inches or larger; no fish may be kept between 28 and 34 inches.

Chesapeake Bay regulations for both the Spring and Fall seasons described above apply in the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia's Chesapeake Bay tributary rivers, except for the tributary rivers emptying into the Potomac River (see note below for more information on Potomac River striper regulations).


Other Virginia restrictions: You may not combine possession limits when seasons overlap or you fish in multiple jurisdictions. Gaffing striped bass or attempting to gaff striped bass is illegal in Virginia marine waters.

Federal water striped bass regulations: Atlantic Ocean waters beyond the 3 mile limit are closed to the taking and possession of striped bass all year.

Potomac River striped bass regulations: Different regulations apply in the Potomac River and its tributaries, including its Virginia tributaries. These areas are subject to the rules and regulations of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, P.O. Box 9, Colonial Beach, VA 22443, (804) 224-7148; (800) 266-3904; http://www.prfc.state.va.us. For further information on PRFC rules contact PRFC directly.

[dwilliamsceg]

Thanks.