Bowfishing Laws in Virginia: What You Can Shoot, Where You Can Go, and What to Know First

Bowfishing in Virginia is a legitimate and growing pursuit, but the rules governing it are more specific than many anglers expect. You are not just picking up a bow and shooting at whatever swims by — Virginia law dictates which species you can target, what gear you can use, and exactly where you can and cannot draw a shot.

Understanding Virginia’s bowfishing regulations before you hit the water protects you from fines, protects native fish populations, and keeps the sport sustainable for everyone who enjoys it. This guide breaks down every major rule you need to know, drawn directly from Virginia’s administrative code and the agencies that enforce it.

Is Bowfishing Legal in Virginia

Yes, bowfishing is legal in Virginia — but it is a regulated activity with clearly defined boundaries. Under Virginia Administrative Code 4VAC15-350-70, the taking of fish with bow and arrow or crossbow is specifically addressed and permitted under defined conditions. This means the activity has an official legal framework rather than being a gray area.

The key distinction Virginia law draws is between game fish and nongame fish. Bowfishing for bass is explicitly prohibited. Blue catfish, common carp, and snakeheads are common bowfishing targets. You should not bowfish for game species like bass, walleye, or muskie — that is illegal.

Bowfishing also falls under the same general fishing framework as rod-and-reel angling in Virginia. Specific laws and regulations are found in the Code of Virginia or the DWR Fisheries, Wildlife, and Boating Regulations. When in doubt about a specific water body or species, contacting the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) directly is the safest course of action.

Important Note: Virginia’s bowfishing rules apply to both bow and arrow and crossbow setups. The same species restrictions, license requirements, and retention rules apply to both methods under 4VAC15-350-70.

If you also hunt in Virginia and want to understand how the state’s broader wildlife framework operates, the hunting laws in Virginia guide covers the regulatory structure that overlaps with bowfishing in important ways.

What Fish Can You Bowfish for in Virginia

Virginia restricts bowfishing to nongame species only. The state’s administrative code spells out which fish are legal targets and sets specific creel limits for each.

The creel limits for common carp, grass carp, northern snakehead, goldfish, and catfish are unlimited, provided that any angler taking northern snakehead immediately kills such fish and notifies the department as soon as practicable, and provided that any angler taking grass carp ensures that harvested fish are dead.

The creel limit for bowfin and longnose gar is five fish per day from July 1 to April 14, and one fish per day from April 15 to June 30. This seasonal creel reduction for bowfin and gar reflects their spawning period and is one of the more important date-specific rules to keep in mind.

There is also a special rule for grass carp. Anglers may possess grass carp taken from inland public waters, except for public lakes and reservoirs. Anglers must ensure that harvested grass carp are dead. This means you cannot bowfish for grass carp in public lakes and reservoirs — only in other inland public waters where the rule applies.

Species	Legal to Bowfish	Daily Creel Limit	Special Notes
Common Carp	Yes	Unlimited	Must retain; cannot release back to water
Grass Carp	Yes (restrictions apply)	Unlimited	Not permitted in public lakes/reservoirs; must be dead
Northern Snakehead	Yes	Unlimited	Must be killed immediately; report to DWR
Goldfish	Yes	Unlimited	Must retain; cannot release back to water
Catfish (various)	Yes	Unlimited	Must retain; cannot release back to water
Bowfin	Yes	5/day (Jul 1–Apr 14); 1/day (Apr 15–Jun 30)	Seasonal creel limit change applies
Longnose Gar	Yes	5/day (Jul 1–Apr 14); 1/day (Apr 15–Jun 30)	Seasonal creel limit change applies
Bass, Walleye, Muskie, Pike	No	N/A	Game fish — bowfishing prohibited

The northern snakehead rule deserves extra attention. This invasive species is a priority for Virginia wildlife managers, and the requirement to kill it immediately and report the catch to DWR is a firm legal obligation — not optional. It is unlawful to take, kill, capture, or possess any threatened or endangered species. Make sure any species you target is confirmed as a legal bowfishing target before you shoot.

Pro Tip: When targeting catfish by bow, be aware that blue catfish in particular are subject to specific creel limits in certain Virginia river systems. Check the DWR’s creel and length limits guide for the specific water body you plan to fish before you go.

Bowfishing License Requirements in Virginia

Bowfishing does not get a pass on licensing. A fishing license is required. All persons taking fish in the manner described in this section shall be required to have a regular fishing license. There is no separate bowfishing permit — your standard Virginia fishing license is what authorizes the activity.

As of the 2026 season, resident freshwater annual license fees are $23, saltwater is $17.50, or combined is $48.50. Non-resident freshwater is $47, saltwater is $25, or combined is $102.50. Short-term one-day licenses are $8.

Whether you need a freshwater or saltwater license depends on where you plan to bowfish. For most inland river and lake bowfishing — which is where most Virginia bowfishers operate — a standard freshwater fishing license covers you. If you plan to bowfish in tidal or saltwater areas, a saltwater license or the combined license is required.

Everyone who is 16 and older needs a license, regardless of whether you are a resident or non-resident. However, there are some exceptions: you do not need a license if you are fishing on private lands that you own or have the owner’s permission to fish on, are a resident active-duty member of the armed forces on official leave, are legally blind, are older than the age of 65 fishing in freshwater, or are under 16 fishing in either freshwater or saltwater.

You must also carry your license while bowfishing. Every person who is required to have a license to fish, hunt, and/or trap must carry such license with them (electronic copy, printed paper, or annual hard card) and show the license immediately upon request of any officer whose duty it is to enforce the game and inland fish laws.

Licenses can be purchased online at Go Outdoors Virginia or purchased in person at some of the Circuit Courts, license agents, and DWR headquarters. You can also purchase through the Go Outdoors Virginia mobile app, which makes it easy to have your license on your phone during a bowfishing trip.

Key Insight: Virginia offers free fishing days annually. Virginia DWR Free Fishing Days take place June 5–7, 2026, offering license-free freshwater fishing statewide. Standard regulations — including species restrictions and creel limits — still apply even on these days.

Some locations require additional permits beyond a standard fishing license. When fishing on National Forest lands, you will need to get a National Forest Permit in addition to your fishing license. If you plan on fishing in a state forest, you will need a State Forest Use Permit. These requirements apply to bowfishing just as they do to conventional fishing.

Legal Bowfishing Equipment in Virginia

Virginia’s bowfishing regulation under 4VAC15-350-70 authorizes the use of both bow and arrow and crossbow for taking fish. Beyond the type of bow, Virginia does not extensively itemize bowfishing-specific gear requirements in the administrative code — but several general fishing and boating rules affect your setup.

• Bow type: Both traditional/compound bows and crossbows are explicitly authorized under 4VAC15-350-70 for taking fish.
• Fishing arrows: Standard bowfishing arrows with barbed tips attached to a line are the accepted setup. There is no state prohibition on reel types (hand-wrap, spincast, or drum).
• Lights: Bowfishing lights used at night are generally permitted on boats, but you must comply with standard boating navigation light requirements when operating on the water after dark.
• Boat requirements: Any vessel used must comply with Virginia’s boating registration and safety equipment laws, including required life jackets and navigation lights.

One important restriction relates to SCUBA gear. Except as otherwise provided by local legislation and with the specific exceptions provided in the sections appearing in this chapter, it shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take fish at any time by snagging, grabbing, snaring, and gigging; with a striking iron; and with the use of SCUBA gear. This means you cannot combine underwater SCUBA diving with bowfishing or fish-taking methods.

Spearing and snagging are also prohibited methods for most circumstances in Virginia waters. Bowfishing with a bow and arrow or crossbow is the specific authorized exception to the general prohibition on impaling fish.

Common Mistake: Some bowfishers assume that any arrow-based setup is automatically legal. Always make sure your bow is set up specifically for bowfishing (with a line attached to the arrow) and that you are not modifying the gear in ways that could constitute snagging or gigging, which remain prohibited.

Where You Can and Cannot Bowfish in Virginia

Virginia’s bowfishing regulations apply to inland public waters, but there are location-specific exceptions and restrictions you need to know before choosing your spot.

Where bowfishing is generally permitted:

• Most public rivers and streams statewide (for authorized nongame species)
• Public inland lakes and reservoirs (with grass carp exception noted above)
• Tidal freshwater areas below the fall line, subject to applicable rules
• Private waters where you have the landowner’s permission

Key location restrictions to know:

• Grass carp cannot be bowfished from public lakes and reservoirs — only from other inland public waters
• Stocked trout waters carry special gear restrictions, and bowfishing in designated trout streams is not an authorized method for trout (a game species)
• Areas within 600 feet of dams have specific restrictions on certain fishing methods under Virginia’s trotline and alternative gear rules
• National Forest and state forest lands require additional use permits on top of your fishing license

Any person who fishes on another’s property must have the landowner’s permission to do so except on designated stocked trout waters along which signs have been placed indicating that the waters are open to public fishing. This rule applies directly to bowfishing — if you are on private property or private water, you need explicit permission from the landowner.

Some of Virginia’s major river systems have water-body-specific rules layered on top of the statewide regulations. The James River, Rappahannock River, and Potomac River all have special provisions for certain species. Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries, the Dan River and its tributaries, the James River and its tributaries below the fall line, the Rappahannock River and its tributaries below the fall line, and the York River and its tributaries below the fall line all carry specific creel rules for catfish that apply to bowfishing as well as conventional fishing.

If you spend time outdoors in Virginia and want to understand how animal-related laws interact with access and property issues, the dog leash laws in Virginia and roadkill laws in Virginia pages offer useful context on how the state regulates wildlife and domestic animal interactions on public and private land.

Night Bowfishing Rules in Virginia

Night bowfishing is one of the most popular ways to pursue carp and catfish in Virginia, and the good news is that Virginia does not impose a statewide ban on bowfishing after dark. There is no specific nighttime prohibition in 4VAC15-350-70 for the authorized nongame species.

However, night bowfishing comes with its own set of practical legal considerations:

• Boating lights: If you are bowfishing from a boat at night, you must have proper navigation lights displayed as required under Virginia’s boating laws. Failure to display navigation lights is a separate violation from fishing regulations.
• Spotlighting lights: Bowfishing lights (submersible or above-water) are commonly used and are not prohibited under fishing regulations, but check local ordinances if you are bowfishing near residential areas or boat ramps.
• Same species rules apply: All creel limits, species restrictions, and retention requirements that apply during the day apply equally at night. The time of day does not change which fish you can legally take.
• Trespassing risk increases at night: Be especially careful about water access at night. Any person who fishes on another’s property must have the landowner’s permission to do so. Banks and shorelines that seem accessible in daylight may cross onto private property.

Pro Tip: Some of Virginia’s best night bowfishing opportunities for carp and catfish occur in the tidal sections of the James and Rappahannock Rivers. These areas are public water, but the adjacent shorelines may be privately owned. Access the water from a public boat ramp and stay on the water rather than wading onto private banks.

One method restriction worth noting at night: it is unlawful to take or attempt to take fish at any time by snagging, grabbing, snaring, and gigging outside of specific authorized exceptions. This prohibition applies around the clock, so nighttime does not create any additional permissions for non-bow methods.

Saltwater Bowfishing Rules in Virginia

Saltwater and tidal bowfishing in Virginia operates under a different regulatory framework than freshwater bowfishing. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) governs saltwater species, while the DWR governs inland freshwater species. This dual-agency structure means you need to check both sets of rules if you plan to bowfish in tidal or coastal waters.

The most important saltwater restriction is on sharks. Sharks may only be taken by handline or rod and reel; spearing and bowfishing are illegal. This is a hard prohibition — there is no exception for any shark species in Virginia saltwater under current VMRC regulations.

For saltwater licensing in tidal areas, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission has implemented a free state saltwater angler identification program. Purchasers of annual Virginia saltwater fishing licenses do not have to register. The Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) will require unlicensed saltwater anglers aged 16 and older to register and receive an identification number annually.

Adult anglers who fish for anadromous or marine species in freshwater must also register. There is no cost for registration. Online registration is available on VMRC’s website.

Additional saltwater species restrictions that affect bowfishers include:

• American shad: As of January 1, 2019, there is a statewide moratorium on the possession of American shad. However, catch and immediate release is permitted. This means you cannot retain shad taken by any method, including bowfishing.
• River herring: It is now illegal for any person to have river herring in their possession — this includes blueback herring and alewife. All river herring inadvertently caught by anglers must be immediately released back into the water. Since bowfishing results in a fish that cannot be released alive in most cases, targeting river herring is effectively prohibited.
• Striped bass: Striped bass is a game species and cannot be taken by bowfishing in Virginia waters.

Important Note: The VMRC and DWR operate as separate agencies with separate regulatory authority. A freshwater fishing license does not automatically cover you for saltwater bowfishing. If you plan to bowfish in tidal waters or the Chesapeake Bay area, verify your license covers saltwater fishing and check VMRC rules for the specific species you are targeting.

For tidal boat license holders, the tidal boat license is a special combined sportfishing license that gives the boat owner a license to fish in saltwater and freshwater within Virginia. The license also covers all passengers on board the owner’s boat when fishing in Virginia tidal waters to river fall lines and saltwater only when the registered boat owner is present. This can be a cost-effective option if your bowfishing trips regularly include multiple people on a single vessel.

Virginia’s saltwater regulations are updated regularly by VMRC. The following table contains links to the full text of the current regulations established by the VMRC. Always verify current VMRC rules at mrc.virginia.gov before a saltwater bowfishing trip, as species-specific rules can change between seasons.

For a broader look at how Virginia regulates wildlife and animal-related activities beyond fishing, the coyote hunting laws in Virginia page covers another area where Virginia’s DWR framework sets important boundaries on what methods and seasons apply. You may also find the roadkill laws in West Virginia useful if you bowfish near the Virginia-West Virginia border and want to understand how the neighboring state handles wildlife possession rules differently.

Bowfishing in Virginia rewards preparation. The legal framework is clear once you understand it — stick to authorized nongame species, carry your license, know your water body’s specific rules, and verify saltwater regulations through VMRC before heading into tidal areas. For the most current rules, always check directly with the Virginia DWR fishing regulations page and the Virginia Administrative Code 4VAC15-350-70 before each trip.