Fish stocking is a management tool used to:
- Establish sportfish in new, reclaimed, or renovated waters open to public fishing;
- Supplement natural stocks where reproduction is inadequate;
- Introduce new species as predators and/or to provide a trophy fishery;
- Provide immediate fishing by introducing catchable size fish.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) operates four warmwater hatcheries (King & Queen, Front Royal, Buller, and Vic Thomas), rearing and stocking a wide variety of species including Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Walleye, Muskellunge, Northern Pike, Channel Catfish, Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass.
Many of the major sport fisheries in Virginia would not exist without annual stockings from hatcheries. Many others were started by hatchery fish and sustained by natural reproduction.
2024 Production and Stocking Information
Bass, Crappie, and Sunfish
Buller, King & Queen and Vic Thomas Hatcheries produced and stocked a total of 142,392 Redear Sunfish. The hatcheries also produced and stocked 188,724 Black Crappie, and 350,808 Bluegill Sunfish. In addition, 103,000 F1 hybrid largemouth bass were purchased from the private sector and stocked into 17 waters. The Front Royal hatchery produced and stocked 31,589 Smallmouth Bass.
Walleye and Saugeye
Walleye and Saugeye fingerlings were produced at Buller, Front Royal, King & Queen, and Vic Thomas hatcheries in 2024. Overall 669,170 Walleye and Saugeye fingerlings were stocked into several waters throughout the Commonwealth. Management of this resource and stocking priorities for Walleye/Saugeye fingerling is overseen by a committee of regional and district biologists.
Muskellunge and Northern Pike
Approximately 10,074 fingerlings were obtained from North Carolina and stocked in ponds at Buller Hatchery for grow out to advanced-sized fingerlings. Nearly 436 Northern Pike were acquired from New Jersey and stocked into Virginia waters.
Channel Catfish
In 2024, over 90,000 Channel Catfish were purchased from the private sector and stocked into nearly 150 waters.
Striped Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, and White Bass
Both Chesapeake Bay (marine) and Roanoke River Strain fingerlings were stocked into public waters in 2014. King & Queen Hatchery produced and stocked nearly 408,000 Chesapeake Striped Bass in 10 lakes. Roanoke River strain stripers were produced at King and Queen and Vic Thomas hatcheries. In excess of 710,000 fingerlings were stocked in Kerr, Leesville, and Smith Mt. Lake.
157,000 Hybrid striped bass were purchased from the private sector for stocking at 6 lakes.
Triploid Grass Carp
Approximately 1,230 Triploid Grass Carp were purchased from the private sector and stocked into 9 lakes for vegetation management.