Contact Us |

Home > CHARTER FISHING LICENSE

Charter Fishing Licenses Information

Note:  effective December 1, 2005, most saltwater fishing license fees for 2006 and beyond will be increasing.  Click here to see the new license fee schedule.

State laws pertaining to charter boat, rental boat and commercial fishing pier licensing
(note these are laws established in the Code of Virginia related only to licensing, additional regulations related to fishing restrictions can apply; click here to read about regulatory processes related to marine resources)

From § 28.2-302.8. Headboat or charterboat; rental boats.

§ 28.2-302.8. Headboat or charterboat; rental boats.

A. The Commission may establish the sale of a fishing guide license. If established, such fishing guide license shall be required for each charterboat and headboat captain. The Commission may limit the sale of such licenses when deemed necessary by the Commission for effective fisheries management. The application for the license shall include a copy of the applicant's current U.S. Coast Guard license permitting him to carry passengers for hire. The fee for the license shall not exceed $100. The Commission may reduce the fee charged for the saltwater recreational fishing license under subsection B by an amount equal to the fee for the fishing guide license.   (Note there currently is no guides license in Virginia.  This statute was created to allow for potential  reciprocal licensing for Virginia charter captains in Maryland.   As of January 2003 reciprocity with the MD guides license has not been resolved and a VA guides license is not anticipated this year.  Check back in 2004 to see if the situation has changed.  The normal VA charter license described in Paragraph § 28.2-302.8(B) below is required along with an appropriate USCG license and any additional fisheries permits that may be required.)

B. The owner of a headboat or charterboat annually shall purchase a recreational fishing license which covers his passengers and the captain and mate of the vessel to meet the requirements set forth in § 28.2-302.1. The annual cost of the license shall be $150 for uninspected vessels licensed by the United States Coast Guard to carry six fishing passengers or fewer and, for boats United States Coast Guard certified to carry a number of fishing passengers greater than six, $150 plus $4 for each passenger over six for which the boat is designed. A headboat or charterboat owner who has purchased the license required under this subsection shall be issued, at no additional cost, the saltwater recreational fishing license issued pursuant to § 28.2-302.1.

C. The owner of a boat rental service shall purchase a recreational fishing license which covers his customers to meet the requirements set forth in § 28.2-302.1. The annual cost of the license shall be $7.50 per boat with a maximum fee of $500, whichever is less.

D. Charterboat and headboat operators shall report such data as are deemed necessary by the Commission for the effective fisheries management as a condition of issuance of the license.

E. All funds collected pursuant to this section shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund, as established by § 28.2-302.3.

From § 28.2-302. Commercial fishing pier; license fee; penalty.

A. The owner of a commercial fishing pier shall pay an annual license fee of fifty dollars for each pier that is over or upon the subaqueous beds of the Commonwealth.

B. Net fishing shall not be permitted within 300 yards of the sides or end of a commercial fishing pier. The Commission may decrease this distance if it considers 300 yards to be an excessive distance because of the size of the body of water where the pier is located. A violation of this subsection is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

C. The construction or erection of a commercial fishing pier on a subaqueous bed of the Commonwealth is subject to the permit requirements of § 28.2-1203.

D. For purposes of this section, a commercial fishing pier means any pier whose primary purpose is to allow fishing by the public for a fee. A public fishing pier operated by a political subdivision shall be considered to be a commercial fishing pier, although no fee is charged.

From § 28.2-302.9. Commercial fishing pier.

A. The owner of a commercial fishing pier, as defined in § 28.2-302, shall have the option of purchasing a saltwater recreational fishing license, covering his customers, in order to meet the licensing requirements set forth in § 28.2-302.1. The cost of the license shall be $450. If the owner of the pier does not purchase such a license, individuals shall still purchase a license as required by § 28.2-302.1. (Note that the $450 fee is in addition to the $50 fee described in Paragraph § 28.2-302(A) above.)

B. Owners of commercial piers shall report catch and other data as are deemed necessary by the Commission for effective fisheries management.

C. All funds collected pursuant to this section shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund, as established by § 28.2-302.3.