i have had luck on them in a lake and river.....depending on what time of year will change the size for me but i usually like to go pretty big most of the time..... around 9-14".....  a lot of people will use them because they are really hardier than most of the baits out there and can withstand poor water conditions.........and they tend to thrash around a  bit more than a gill or shad when on the hook..... a gill seems like after a while they go into survival mode and stop moving much... but a gold fish will try and move off the hook all night...making kinda a dinner bell for the flats here......i like fishing with them more shallow than deep.....usally for me i dont go more than 12 ' of water on the river..most of the time i like around 3-8'  of water......thats the way i do it...... and if you can get into some israeli carp they are even better imho..... not cant withstand as poor as water conditions...but the are a great choice also.... good luck

i try and find a bait shop because if you try and buy a large goldfish @ a pet shop or koi..youll pay around 15-60$ for 1 fish...lol...now if you can find a bait shop that sell them you can find them for around 1-5 per fish depending on the size....... also.... i really wouldnt mess with the 1" fish buts that me..... put it this way if your hungry are you gonna eat a chip or a steak dinner..lol..... and for hooking them...depending on the current of the water conditions if there is a lot of current...i would hook them in the lips or under the dorsal fin......if current if that uch of an issue i would hook them in the tail........if you hook them in the tail as blue gills and the current is running backwards though there gills it will drown them......  they are more hardy than gills in that state but you still want to have lively bait moving  around ...good luck hope this helps

Yeah getting ready to head out now none of the bait shops around here sell goldies. Not much selection around here unless you are willing to drive a ways to get your bait a buddy of mine called around and was unable to find a good selection of bait at any of our local shops. But im goin out now so ill catch some gills and use them as bait and just start cuttin them up after they die. It worked for me last time so ill try it that way....worst come to worst i could always start raising my own goldfish lol  8)

we must be spoiled cause i sell 3inch goldfish  for 0.89 ea all day long latley i've been buying more goldfish than minnows alot of the outdoor pond people want em too my rule is if you order em and i pick em out there .89ea but if you gotta come back and pick a specific one that i gotta dig out there $1.20 its a pain digging one out cause its got a white spot on it or something so the price goes up
Trevor

4VAC15-360-10. Taking aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and nongame fish for private use.

A. Possession limits. Except as otherwise provided for in §29.1-418 of the Code of Virginia, 4VAC15-20-130, subdivision 8 of 4VAC15-320-40 and the sections of this chapter, it shall be lawful to capture and possess live for private use and not for sale no more than five individuals of any single native or naturalized (as defined in 4VAC15-20-50) species of amphibian and reptile and 20 individuals of any single native or naturalized (as defined in 4VAC15-20-50) species of aquatic invertebrate and nongame fish unless specifically listed below:

1. The following species may be taken in unlimited numbers from inland waters statewide: carp, bowfin, longnose gar, mullet, yellow bullhead, brown bullhead, black bullhead, flat bullhead, snail bullhead, white sucker, northern hogsucker, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, blueback herring (see 4VAC15-320-25 for anadromous blueback herring limits), white perch, yellow perch, alewife (see 4VAC15-320-25 for anadromous alewife limits), stoneroller (hornyhead), fathead minnow, golden shiner, and goldfish.

2. See 4VAC15-320-25 for American shad, hickory shad, channel catfish, white catfish, flathead catfish, and blue catfish limits.

3. For the purpose of this chapter, "fish bait" shall be defined as native or naturalized species of minnows and chubs (Cyprinidae), salamanders (each under six inches in total length), crayfish, and hellgrammites. The possession limit for taking "fish bait" shall be 50 individuals in aggregate, unless said person has purchased "fish bait" and has a receipt specifying the number of individuals purchased by species, except salamanders and crayfish which cannot be sold pursuant to the provisions of 4VAC15-360-60 and 4VAC15-360-70. However, stonerollers (hornyheads), fathead minnows, golden shiners, and goldfish may be taken and possessed in unlimited numbers as provided for in subdivision 1 of this subsection.

4. The daily limit for bullfrogs and snapping turtles shall be 15 and bullfrogs and snapping turtles may not be taken from the banks or waters of designated stocked trout waters.

5. The following species may not be taken in any number for private use: candy darter, eastern hellbender, diamondback terrapin, and spotted turtle.

B. Methods of taking species in subsection A. Except as otherwise provided for in the Code of Virginia, 4VAC15-20-130, 4VAC15-320-40, and other regulations of the board, and except in any waters where the use of nets is prohibited, the species listed in subsection A may only be taken by hand, hook and line, with a seine not exceeding four feet in depth by 10 feet in length, an umbrella type net not exceeding five by five feet square, small minnow traps with throat openings no larger than one inch in diameter, cast nets, and hand-held bow nets with diameter not to exceed 20 inches and handle length not to exceed eight feet (such cast net and hand-held bow nets when so used shall not be deemed dip nets under the provisions of §29.1-416 of the Code of Virginia). Gizzard shad and white perch may also be taken from below the fall line in all tidal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay using a gill net in accordance with Virginia Marine Resources Commission recreational fishing regulations. Bullfrogs may also be taken by gigging or bow and arrow and, from private waters, by firearms no larger than.22 caliber rimfire.

C. Areas restricted from taking mollusks. Except as provided for in §§29.1-418 and 29.1-568 of the Code of Virginia, it shall be unlawful to take mussels and the spiny riversnail (Io fluvialis) in the Tennessee drainage in Virginia (Clinch, Powell and the North, South and Middle Forks of the Holston Rivers and tributaries). It shall be unlawful to take mussels in the James River and tributaries west of U.S. Route 29, in the entire North Fork of the Shenandoah River, and in the entire Nottoway River.

D. Areas restricted from taking salamanders. Except as provided for in §§29.1-418 and 29.1-568 of the Code of Virginia, it shall be unlawful to take salamanders in Grayson Highlands State Park and on National Forest lands in the Jefferson National Forest in those portions of Grayson, Smyth and Washington Counties bounded on the east by State Route 16, on the north by State Route 603 and on the south and west by U.S. Route 58.

Statutory Authority

§§29.1-103, 29.1-501 and 29.1-502 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR325-03-5 §1, eff. January 1, 1992; amended, Virginia Register Volume 9, Issue 4, eff. January 1, 1993; Volume 11, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 1995; Volume 13, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 1997; Volume 15, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 1999; Volume 17, Issue 6, eff. January 1, 2001; Volume 19, Issue 5, eff. January 1, 2003.

Amended, Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2006; Volume 23, Issue 9, eff. January 15, 2007.