This page describes Chincoteague Island Virginia, one of the premier family vacation spots on the USA East coast. Chincoteague Island is home of the wild Chincoteague ponies, made famous in the novel Misty of Chincoteague. The island is packed with adventures such as flounder fishing, deep sea fishing, clamming, crabbing, nature cruises, kayaking, eco-tourism, Chincoteague National Wildlife refuge, beaches, sunbathing, bird watching, festivals and more.
Chincoteague Island
Chincoteague Island is a family-oriented vacation resort along the coast of Virginia, USA. Vacations to the island can include recreational activities such as swimming, sunbathing, fishing, clamming, bird watching, nature cruises, eco tours, biking, hiking, boating, kayaking, miniature golf, Chincoteague ponies, the pony swim, fireman's carnival, Chincoteague decoy and art show, Chincoteague Center's arts and crafts show, the oyster festival and more.The island is known for its quaint shops and art galleries. Chincoteague area wildlife artists display art such as decoys and other bird carvings, paintings, photographs and sculptured wildlife pieces.
Located within minutes of the resort is Assateague Island, which is occupied by Assateague National Sea Shore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge covers over 14,000 acres of beach, dunes, marsh, and forest habitat. The majority of the refuge is located in Virginia although 418 acres are on Maryland soil. The refuge also includes Morris Island, Marsh on the Northern part of Chincoteague Island. The refuge extends southward, Assawoman, Metompkin, and Cedar Islands.
The Famous Chincoteague Ponies
The most famous Chincoteague Island event is the pony swim and penning, a tradition since 1924. The swim, penning and auction is held on the last Wednesday and Thursday of July. Ponies are rounded up and swim the channel between Assateague and Chincoteague Islands. The animals are penned, inspected, fed and most of the foals auctioned off to qualified buyers. Most of the population of the ponies are returned to Assateague after the penning to roam free for another year.
2008 Chincoteague Pony Foals
Chincoteague Island Links
- Chincoteague Island Virginia
- Chincoteague-Island.Net is your source of information on tourist attractions and local businesses of Chincoteague Island Virginia, including vacation rentals, real estate, chincoteague ponies, the famous Chincoteague pony swim, fishing charters, nature cruises and more.
- Chincoteague Island charter boats and fishing charters.
- Chincoteague Island fishing charters, deep sea fishing, nature cruises, sunset cruises, etc.
- The Chincoteague Fireman's Carnival
- The famous Chincoteague Fireman's Carnival, pony swim and pony penning.
- Chincoteague Ponies
- Information on the wild ponies of Chincoteague Island Virginia, including Misty and how the ponies may have reached the island. Also the world famous pony swim and pony penning.
- Chincoteague and Assateague T Shirts and More
- Chincoteague Island online store, featuring Chincoteague Island and Assateague Island gifts including Chincoteague pony T shirts, tank tops and more.
- Chincoteague bed and breakfasts
- Inns and bed and breakfasts of Chincoteague Island Virginia.
- Chincoteague pictures
- Photo galleries of Chincoteague Island Virginia. Images of wild ponies, aerial photography and more.
- Aerial Photos of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands
- This gallery shows several aerial photographs of Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. The images are courtesy of HighCamera.com
- Chincoteague Oyster Festival
- The Chincoteague Island Oyster Festival. Oysters, oysters, and more oysters. Also lots more food, entertainment, a craft show, decoy show and fun of the entire family.
- Chincoteague and Assateague Bird Watching
- Chincoteague and Assateague Island are among the premier bird watching spots in the mid-Atlantic region of the USA. On practically any day of the year, visitors can easily count hundreds or thousands of birds simply by driving from the Chincoteague Island causeway to the beach at Assateague......
Chincoteague Items from our CafePress Outdoors USA store
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge is one of the most popular refuges in the United States, especially among bird watchers. The refuge is either home to or a stop over point for a array of birds and other wildlife. Ducks, geese, swans, egrets, herons, skimmers, plovers, sanderlings and dozens of other shorebirds visit or live on the islands.The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) reported that Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge reported the most recreational visits of roughly 80 national wildlife refuges during 2006. The refuge had about 7.5 million visitors for the year. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge held the number one spot for jobs at 3,766, economic return, at $315.4 million. Economic benefit was number one among the nations refuges with $155.42 returned for every $1 budgeted expenditures.
Chincoteague Island Virginia News
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byChincoteague Island Online Store
Our outdoor store, featuring Chincoteague and Assateague items including Chincoteague ponies, Assateague lighthouse and more.
Latest Chincoteague Island Articles
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byChincoteague - Related Squidoo Lenses
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Assateague Island
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The lens describes Assateague Island Virginia.
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Chincoteague Ponies
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All about the wild ponies of Chincoteague Island Virginia and Assateague Island Virginia and Maryland. The most well known Chincoteague ponies were Misty and Stormy, made famous by the series of novels from Marguerite Henry .
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Misty of Chincoteague
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Marguerite Henry's best selling book "Misty of Chincoteague" helped make Chincoteague Island world famous. Misty, Stormy, Sea Star and other ponies were all from the island's wild ponies.The ponies make their home on the Chincoteague Nation...
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Assateague Lighthouse
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Assateague Lighthouse is one of the most beautiful and famous working lighthouses on the USA East coast.
Chincoteague Books Plexo
Misty Boxed Set (Misty's Twilight; Sea Star; Stormy, Misty's Foal; Misty of Chincoteague)
Misty's Twilight: Captivated by the story of & more...2 points
Chincoteague Ponies on the Assateague Island Book (Chincoteague Ponies On The Assateague Island Book, Volumn One)
This book is about a small herd of ponies living o more...0 points
The Hidden Galleon: The true story of a lost Spanish ship and the wild horses of Assateague Island by John Amrhein Jr.
On the island of Assateague, along the seacoast of more...0 points
Chincoteague Island Annual Events
The Annual Chincoteague Island Pony Swim and Penning is the last Wednesday and Thursday of July. Started in the 1924 as a fund raising event, it now also serves to keep the population of the horses down to the 150 adult animals that the Fish and Wildlife Service deems appropriate to protect the island habitat from overgrazing. The ponies are driven across a narrow part of the Assateague Channel at slack tide on Wednesday, corraled and auctioned off on Thursday. This "pony swim" is the highlight of the summer season.The Chincoteague Island Blueberry Festival is an annual summer event. The 2-day festival is normally held the third full weekend in July, preceding the world famous pony swim and fireman's carnival. The festival has been a Chincoteague Island summer event since 1987. It has grown in size and now draws over 100 artists and crafts specialists.
The Chincoteague Island Virginia Oyster Festival is a popular annual event, held each year in October. The festival, created by the chamber of commerce, features Chincoteague Island's famous oysters. The event promotes the oyster season, which includes the cooler months of fall, winter and spring. The popularity of the event may require obtaining tickets well in advance as the festival often sells out.
National Waterfowl Week at Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge runs from the Saturday before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The wildlife loop is usually open to vehicles all day during the event. This is a once a year opportunity to have vehicle access to the service road which extends northward into the refuge. From the service road, visitors are be able to get a close up view of many of the hidden ponds where they find ducks, geese, brant, wild ponies, deer and other wildlife.
See all Chincoteague Island Events
Assateague Lighthouse
Assateague Island lighthouse is another attraction for visitors to Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. The lighthouse is located within Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and is a popular tourist stop. The icon is visible from the ocean, the beach and from almost all of Chincoteague Island.The lighthouse is owned by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and is still actively used by the United States Coast Guard as an aid to navigation. The Lighthouse is 142 feet high on a site 22 feet about sea level.
Chincoteague Island Saltwater Fishing
Chincoteague Virginia is known for its saltwater fishing. Anglers of all ages come to Chincoteague to fish for flounder, croakers, trout, bluefish, sea bass, tautog, spadefish, rockfish, tuna, mahi mahi, sharks and more.Flounder
Summer flounder (P. dentatis) are found around the channel edges, on the flats, near the inlet and in the ocean off Chincoteague. Flounder are not born with both eyes on one side. During growth, the "bottom" eye migrates to the upward-facing side of its body. This allows the flounder to lie on one side, burying in the sand where it can ambush its prey. Flounder feed on a variety of small fish and crustaceans.
On the coast of Virginia, including Chincoteague Island, flounder fishing is a spring ritual for local anglers. Locals and transient anglers fish the inshore waterways each spring for flounder.
The action sometimes begins in March but April sees the main thrust of fish. The spring run can continue into May.
Croaker
Atlantic Croaker or "hardhead" are popular in Chincoteague. The fish get their names because of the "croaking" noise they make when removed from the water. Croakers are hard fighters and prolific feeders. They are caught on a variety of baits and lures. They arrive in Chincoteague in early summer and remain intil fall when they migrate back into the ocean. Even in October, croaker can be caught in tremendous numbers when ocean schools are located.
Kingfish
Kingfish are small but delicious fish that are caught in the back bays, near the inlet and along the surf. They are sometimes caught in large numbers. Anglers drift using small hooks and baits such as bloodworms, small pieces of squid, clams or other cut baits.
Sea Bass
Sea Bass fishing is among the most popular fish caught in the ocean off the Virginia coast. Anglers fish year round for this exceptionally delicious fish, although the fish migrate to deeper water in winter.
Peak fishing is usually May and early June and again in the fall. In the spring, wrecks, reefs and rough bottom in depths of 50 - 80 feet usually hold the most fish.
Bigger fish can sometimes be enticed by using larger baits. Favorite rigs for bigger fish include single hook rigs with a whole squid for bait, large bucktail jigs with squid strips and large metal jigs.
Bluefish
Around Chincoteague Island, bluefish can sometimes be found along shorelines, beaches and areas where rips form such as sharp bends or channel edges.
Surf anglers on Assateague Island also encounter bluefish, sometimes in large numbers. Bluefish may appear in the surf at any time but spring and fall see the best catches.
Offshore, bluefish congregate in large numbers along the 20 fahom line. Monster bluefish are often caught while shark or tuna fishing.
Bluefish often work bait the surface and their location given away by birds or when their backs or tails appear above the surface.
Striped Bass
Chincoteague Island has excellent striped bass fishing. Surf anglers catch monster striped bass, known locally as "rockfish" using cut boats such as menhaden or "bunker", spot, bloodworms and squid.
Striped bass are also caught around the bridges and other structure by casting artificial lures such as plastic shad or by live baiting spot or other small fish.
In addition, anglers sometimes locate schools of striped bass in the ocean, usually in the cooler months of November thru March.
Chincoteague Island Fishing Links
- Capt. Bob's Marina
- Whether your interest is going to the beach, fishing, crabbing, kayaking or enjoying the breathtaking views of nature by boat - our crew will help make your vacation more enjoyable
- Captain Steve's Bait and Tackle
- Captain Steve's Bait and Tackle is your source for Chincoteague Island fishing tackle, bait and equipment. We specialize in surf and offshore fishing and carry a wide selection of rods, reels, lures and tackle for local fishing requirements.
- East Side Rentals and Marina
- Boat Rentals, Dock Slip Rentals, Marina, Bait and Tackle Shop, Tackle For Rent, Live Bait In-Season
Rental agents for Assateague Channel Lodge, East Side Apartments, Sea Tag Lodge Condo unit #10 - Maryland-Virginia Saltwater Fishing
- Fishing, Hunting, Boating, Kayaking, Computing, Electronics, Contact us, Charter Boats, Links, Maryland-Virginia Saltwater Fishing
Articles from the Chincoteague Charter Boats Website
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byChincoteague Island Virginia Decoys
Chincoteague Island Virginia is known for waterfowl hunting, decoys and other waterfowl and wildlife carvings. Chincoteague Island is one of the few places where hand carved working decoys are still used. Local artists carve all types of waterfowl and wildlife art.The Chincoteague Island Decoy Carver's Association has over 200 members. Several shows on Chincoteague Island offer visitors with an opportunity to see and purchase decoys and wildfowl art from a number of local artists.
During tourist season, people come from all over ther world to visit the island and enjoy its culture. Visitors often browse the many shops that carry local wildfowl carvings, decoys and other art, many of whom take home a collectable working or decorative decoy.
Chincoteague Island Calendars!
These are the latest Chincoteague Island and Chincoteague Pony calendars.
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Chincoteague Island Seafood
Chincoteague Virginia is well known for its excellent quality oysters. The saltwater provides and ideal environment for the growth of oysters and other shellfish.The oysters that grow around Chincoteague Island are known as Eastern, Atlantic or Virginia oysters (Crassostrea Virginica).
Chincoteague Island is home to a successful aquaculture industry which also includes production of both oysters and clams.
Much more information about Chincoteague Island's history and oysters is available at the local Oyster and Maritime Museum on Maddox Blvd.
Other local seafood includes flounder, tuna, mahi mahi, striped bass, scallops, lobsters and other ocean seafood.
Chincoteague Island Books
The Hidden Galleon
The Hidden Galleon by John Amrhein, Jr. is "the true story of a lost Spanish ship and the legendary wild ponies of Assateague Island." On September 5, 1750, a Spanish warship named La Galga drove ashore on Assateague and came to rest close to shore and partially submerged. The only people who died were lost swimming ashore. Her captain later described her location as "within two ship lengths of the Maryland and Virginia boundary."
The Forgotten Pony - the story of Rainy's Boy
Author Jessie-Ann Friend met Marguerite Henry as a young girl and promised to keep the stories of Misty's descendents alive. The Forgotten Pony is the second in what will be a trilogy of books for young readers.
The Hidden Galleon by John Amrhein, Jr. is "the true story of a lost Spanish ship and the legendary wild ponies of Assateague Island." On September 5, 1750, a Spanish warship named La Galga drove ashore on Assateague and came to rest close to shore and partially submerged. The only people who died were lost swimming ashore. Her captain later described her location as "within two ship lengths of the Maryland and Virginia boundary."
The Forgotten Pony - the story of Rainy's Boy
Author Jessie-Ann Friend met Marguerite Henry as a young girl and promised to keep the stories of Misty's descendents alive. The Forgotten Pony is the second in what will be a trilogy of books for young readers.
More Chincoteague Island Lenses
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Chincoteague Ponies
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All about the wild ponies of Chincoteague Island Virginia and Assateague Island Virginia and Maryland. The most well known Chincoteague ponies were Misty and Stormy, made famous by the series of novels from Marguerite Henry .
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Chincoteague Island Virginia Charter Boats, Guides, Fishing Trips and Nature Cruises
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This lens has Chincoteague Island Virginia charter boat and guide information.
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Misty of Chincoteague
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Marguerite Henry's best selling book "Misty of Chincoteague" helped make Chincoteague Island world famous. Misty, Stormy, Sea Star and other ponies were all from the island's wild ponies.The ponies make their home on the Chincoteague Nation...
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Chincoteague Pony Penning
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This lens has information on the world famous Chincoteague Island Pony Penning. The event is an annual occurance put on by the Chincoteague Island Virginia Volunteer Fire Company. The pony swim, penning, auction and carnival all occur each year in Ju...
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Chincoteague Island Visitor Comments
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ElizabethJeanAllen
Chincoteague Island sounds like a great vacation spot. I love to fish. Posted July 02, 2008 |
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ecovicki
I love this island. I visited when I was young. Thanks for the lens. Posted June 28, 2008 |
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beeobrien
Wonderful lens and beautiful area. 5***** Posted June 24, 2008 |
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bbug
I loved reading your lens, it brings back fond memories of reading Misty when I was a child. Thanks Posted June 22, 2008 |
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beachbum_gabby
wonderful vacation spot and a great place for fishing. Posted June 02, 2008 |
