If you're looking to go bass fishing in Northern Virginia, you'll need to make sure you have the right permits. All inland water fishing requires a freshwater fishing license, unless you are exempt from needing one. You can use a manual fishing net to catch legally hooked fish. Lake Fairfax is open to fishing from kayaks, but you'll need to pay a daily launch fee or get a season pass for any privately launched kayaks.
The use of any type of engine (gas, electric or other type) is prohibited. To purchase a recreational saltwater fishing license and the associated fees, visit the Fishing License Fees section of this website. If you're interested in organizing a fishing tournament, contact the fish biologist in the county where you want to hold it. It's illegal to use lime, dynamite, or any other substance to destroy fish, or to dump or allow harmful materials into watercourses that could damage fish or fish hatchlings, or to deposit garbage in lake streams or along their banks. If you're looking to organize, supervise, or request registrations for fishing tournaments, rodeos, or other fishing events in lakes, ponds or streams owned by the department, for which prizes are offered, awarded or accepted depending on the size or quantity of fish caught (whether in money or other valuable considerations), then you'll need a permit for the special use of a boat ramp.
The only alternative way to use tagged fish in a tournament is to obtain a restocking permit, buy a fish from an authorized fish farm, label it, and then release it. No fishing license of any kind will be required for rod and reel fishing in freshwater, except in waters designated for storing trout. Any fish caught and entered for scoring or consideration during a permitted fishing tournament, rodeo, or other fishing event in lakes, ponds, or streams owned by the department must be released immediately at the capture site. If you're planning on bass fishing in Northern Virginia, it's important to know what permits are required. All inland water fishing requires a freshwater fishing license unless you are exempt from needing one.
Lake Fairfax is open to kayak fishing but you'll need to pay a daily launch fee or get a season pass for any privately launched kayaks. To purchase a recreational saltwater fishing license and associated fees, visit the Fishing License Fees section of this website. If you're interested in organizing a tournament, contact the local fish biologist. It's illegal to use lime, dynamite, or any other substance that could damage fish or their hatchlings.
Additionally, it's illegal to dump garbage into lake streams or along their banks. If you're looking to organize a tournament with prizes based on size and quantity of fish caught (in money or other valuable considerations), then you'll need a permit for the special use of a boat ramp. The only alternative way to use tagged fish in a tournament is to obtain a restocking permit and buy a labeled fish from an authorized farm before releasing it. No fishing license is required for rod and reel freshwater fishing except in waters designated for storing trout.
Any fish caught and entered into tournaments must be released immediately at the capture site.
