All persons, except those listed below, must purchase the proper licenses before fishing.
Resident or non-resident landowners, their spouses, their children and grandchildren and the spouses of such children and grandchildren, or the landowner's parents, resident or non-resident, do not need a license to hunt, trap or fish within the boundaries of their own lands and inland waters.
Residents under 16 years of age (also do not need a trout license).
Tenants, on the land they rent and occupy, are not required to have a license, but must have the written permission of the landowner.
Guests fishing in individually owned private ponds.
Non-resident children under 12 (except in designated stocked trout waters) when accompanied by a properly licensed adult.
Legally blind persons.
Any Indian who "habitually" resides on an Indian reservation or a member of the Virginia recognized tribes who resides in the Commonwealth is not required to have a license; however, such Indian must have on his person an identification card or paper signed by the chief of his tribe, a valid tribal identification card, written confirmation through a central tribal registry, or certification from a tribal office.
Stockholders owning 50 percent or more of the stock of any domestic corporation owning land in Virginia, his or her spouse and children and minor grandchildren, resident or nonresident, to hunt, trap and fish within the boundaries of lands and inlands waters owned by the domestic corporation.
Persons 65 years of age or older do not need a saltwater license.