A. It is unlawful for any person to use the following nets:
1. A pound net or a mullet gill net that is less than 200 yards long having a smaller mesh than two inches, stretched measure, after having been tarred;
2. A haul seine longer than 1,000 yards and if over 200 yards long having mesh less than three inches, stretched measure; however, the mesh of up to 400 feet of the net shall be no less than two and one-half inches, stretched measure, when the haul seine is set from the beach whereby one end of the net is anchored to the shore and the other end is mechanically drawn, without the aid of a boat or vessel, to the shore; or
3. A mullet gill net deeper than 40 meshes.
B. It is unlawful to set a pound net or other fixed fishing device on an established and presently used haul seine area, except that this provision shall not affect a pound net stand presently licensed.
C. A violation of this section is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Code 1950, § 28-46; 1962, c. 406, § 28.1-51; 1992, c. 836; 2012, c. 228.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 28.2 - Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters
§ 28.2-300. License application to fish with certain nets
§ 28.2-301. License fee for fishing in tidal waters
§ 28.2-302. Commercial fishing pier; license fee; penalty
§ 28.2-302.1. Recreational license required
§ 28.2-302.1:1. Fisherman Identification Program
§ 28.2-302.2. Recreational license fee; cooperative program
§ 28.2-302.2:1. Special combined individual sportfishing licenses
§ 28.2-302.3. Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund established
§ 28.2-302.4. Virginia Recreational Fishing Advisory Board established
§ 28.2-302.5. Exemptions to saltwater recreational fishing license
§ 28.2-302.6. Temporary license
§ 28.2-302.7. Recreational boat; reporting of catch
§ 28.2-302.7:1. Reissuance of licenses for recreational boats
§ 28.2-302.8. Headboat or charterboat; rental boats
§ 28.2-302.9. Commercial fishing pier
§ 28.2-302.10:1. Lifetime saltwater recreational fishing licenses for residents and nonresidents
§ 28.2-303. Taking and sale of sturgeon prohibited; penalty
§ 28.2-305. Size of mesh and length and depth of certain nets; penalty
§ 28.2-306. Use of certain fishing devices in certain waters; penalty
§ 28.2-307. Length of fixed fishing device; gill nets; penalty
§ 28.2-308. Setting of gill nets in oceanfront; penalty
§ 28.2-310. Trotline prohibited on ocean side of Eastern Shore; penalty
§ 28.2-311. Chickahominy River in Charles City; penalty
§ 28.2-312. Rappahannock River and certain of its tributaries; penalty
§ 28.2-313. Killing fish by means of explosives, drugs, or poisons; possession; penalty
§ 28.2-314. Trawl nets and drag nets prohibited; sale of fish; penalty
§ 28.2-315. Fishing with trawl net within three-mile limit; license fee
§ 28.2-316. Trawling boat not granted license for other fishing device; penalty
§ 28.2-317. Prima facie evidence of violation; penalty