This lens is about inshore and offshore saltwater fishing along the coast of Virginia, and fishing in the waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
New Table of Contents
- Virginia Saltwater Fishing Links
- Virginia Striped Bass - Rockfish
- Virginia Flounder Fishing
- Virginia Gray Trout Fishing
- Virginia Black Drum Fishing
- More Virginia Inshore Fish
- Virginia Offshore Fishing
- Virginia Swordfish - A Comeback Story
- Virginia Institute of Marine Science White Marlin Study
- Outdoor USA Apparel and More
- MD-VA Saltwater Fishing
- Chincoteague Island Virginia Fishing Articles
- Fishing on Amazon
- Virginia Council of Fishing Clubs News
- Virginia Lenses
- Virginia Saltwater Fish Lenses
- Virginia Offshore Stand Up Fishing
- New Text / Write module
- Virginia Saltwater Fishing Comments
Virginia Saltwater Fishing Links
Resources for fishing the waters of Virginia, including fishing websites, news, fishing reports, fishing charters, flounder fishing, deep sea fishing, guides, charter boats, accomodations, and more.
- Maryland - Virginia Saltwater Fishing
- Maryland-Virginia Saltwater Fishing, Fishing Reports, Hunting, Boating, Kayaking, Charter Boats, Links, more
- Chincoteague Island
- 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, nature cruises, scenic cruises.
- Chincoteague Island fishing charters, deep sea fishing, nature cruises, sunset cruises, etc.
- Maryland -Virginia Fishing Reports
- Fishing reports from Maryland and Virginia, including the Chesapeake Bay, Chincoteague, Wachapreague, Cape Charles, Virginia Beach and other fishing spots.
- Viirginia Beach Fishing Pier
- Fishing on the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, catching spot 2 at a time!
- www.chesapeake-bay.org
- Chesapeake Bay and regional news, events, articles and other information. We actively seek submissions of news, events, press releases or other information.
Virginia Striped Bass - Rockfish
Striped bass are the most popular inshore saltwater fish in Virginia. Also known as striped bass or stripers, these are very hardy fish, and even take to life in freshwater and are stocked in some Virginia lakes. Rigs and baits for Virginia striped bass vary with location and season. Anglers troll, jig, cast artificial lures and fly fish for striped bass around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel nearly year round.
These beautiful fish vary from around 18 inches to over 50 lbs. During the winter months anglers come to Virginia Beach from all over to enjoy some of the best striped bass fishing in the world.
These beautiful fish vary from around 18 inches to over 50 lbs. During the winter months anglers come to Virginia Beach from all over to enjoy some of the best striped bass fishing in the world.
Virginia Flounder Fishing
Virginia is well known for excellent flounder fishing opportunities. Many anglers target flounder and some fish exclusively for these delicious fish. Some anglers target flounder only in certain seasons while others choose to fish the entire season. Fishing varies with season, weather, tides, location and water quality.Flounder fishing is a spring ritual for many anglers. Locals and visitors alike begin the fishing season each year by drifting the bays and creeks for flounder. The first flounder arrive in late March or April, but the main spring run usually peaks closer to the end of April and continue into May.
Several key factors affect spring flounder fishing. Water temperature seems to play a critical role in the spring. A rule of thumb is to find water temperature above 55 degrees although fish are sometimes caught in cooler water. Tides and currents are also big factors and every serious angler has their preferred state of tide for a given location.
Flounder fishing changes as the water warms. The movements of flounder decrease and anglers settle into a summer pattern, enjoying the warm days on the bay. Visiting local tackle shops are an excellent way to get up to date information on local fishing. Tackle shops have flounder fishing rigs, tackle, bait and up to date reports. In addition, some shops rent boats, book fishing charters, guided trips, nature cruises or other adventures.
In mid-summer, flounder are sometimes caught on the many wrecks, shoals and artificial reefs along the coast. Fishing is sporadic but catches can be good when flounder are located. The Artificial reefs off the coast of Virginia yield some excellent catches of flounder. In summer, flounder are also caught by anglers fishing the surf. This fishery requires only a rod, rod holder and basic tackle, no boat is needed!
As Autumn approaches, Virginia anglers sometimes see another run of flounder. Surf and ocean anglers enjoy better catches in the fall. Fishing for flounder goes on thru Halloween if weather allows. Surf, shoal and channel fishermen can also encounter trout, rockfish and drum in the fall. By November, flounder fishing has ended, just in time for striped bass fishing and waterfowl hunting!
Virginia Gray Trout Fishing
Gray Trout have a dark olive back, iridescent blue and copper sides and a silvery white belly. Other identifying features are yellow fins, large canine teeth in the upper jaw and dark spots on the upper part of the body, sometimes forming diagonal lines.Most adult gray trout range from 12 to 18 inches but can grow up to to 3 feet long and weigh 4-18 pounds.
Gray trout are also called "weakfish" which comes from the fish's fragile mouth, which tears easily when hooked.
Gray trout are members of the drum family, which includes spot, red drum, back drum and Atlantic croaker. This family of fish make a drumming or croaking sound by vibrating its swim bladder using special muscles.
Virginia Black Drum Fishing
Black drum are heavy bodied fish with barbels or whiskers under the chin. Younger fish have four or five dark vertical bars on their sides but the stripes tend to fade with age. The coloration of backs and sides varies although drum usually have a white belly. Black drum can exceed 100 pounds!Black drum are members of the croaker family and is related to the Atlantic croaker, red drum, and spotted seatrout. A characteristic of this family of fish is the ability to produce croaking or drumming sounds with the air bladder, which is the reason for the common names croaker and drum. This ability is most developed in the black drum and anglers can sometime hear sounds from schools passing near their boats.
Black drum are most plentiful in May when they migrate into the lower Chesapeake Bay. They are caught near the Chesapeake Bay bridge tunnel and other areas where mussel beds exist. Anglers fish with clam or crab baits during the day and into the night. Black drum are sometimes caught together with red drum using the same baits and tackle.
More Virginia Inshore Fish
Atlantic CroakerAtlantic croaker are popular saltwater fish caught around Virginia Beach. Croaker or "hardhead" are named because of the "croaking" noise they make. Croakers fight hard and prolific feeders. They are caught on baits such as squid, crabs, clams or bloodworms. Croakers are often found in large schools and may be caught in large numbers. Tidewater area anglers catch them around the Hampton Tunnel, Chesapeake Bay Bridge, along the ocean front and other spots.
Bluefish
Bluefish are commonly caught in Virginia waters. They are sometimes found in large numbers off the Virginia coast. Bluefish are aggressive feeders and are known for their sharp teeth and ability to destroy even the strongest tackle. Anglers troll, jig, cast artificial lures and fly fish for bluefish. The fish have dark, oily meat but are excellent smoked.
Sea Bass
Sea Bass are among the most popular fish caught off Virginia Beach and the Tidewater area. 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. The larger baits often catch fish with a higher average weight. Black sea bass are excellent cooked. The meat is firm, white and delicious and can be fried, grilled, baked or broiled.
Spot
Spot occur in the Chesapeake Bay and along Virginia estuaries and coastal waters. Spot are fun to catch and a great fish for anglers of all ages. Spot are caught using standard 2 hook rigs, using small hooks and small pieces of bait. Popular baits include bloodworms, shrimp, clam and synthetic bloodworm type baits. Spot may also be caught with small jigs or Sabiki rigs. Anglers seek spot both as a baitfish and because of their excellent value as a seafood delicacy.
Tautog
Tautog live in structure such as rocky bottoms, wreckages and reefs. Their preference for structure makes them an ideal inshore species when fishing in the lower Chesapeake Bay and along the Virginia coast. Tackle and techniques are simple and no prior experience is needed to catch these tasty fish. They vary in size from about 12 inches to perhaps 12 lbs or more. They are very tough fighters and excellent table fare.
Red Drum
Red drum can be caught in a number of ways out of Virginia Beach. A popular technique for catching red drum along the coast is to anchor along a channel edge or shoal and bottom fish with cut spot, menhaden, peeler crab or other baits. Anglers use a fish finder or other rig and sometimes fish into the evening for large bull red drum. A second fishery around Virginia Beach and the lower bay exists for "puppy drum" which are smaller red drum. These fish are exciting to catch, usually by casting artificial lures around structure or by fishing baits in shallow water areas.
Virginia Offshore Fishing
The waters off Virginia offer a variety of opportunities for offshore fishermen. Spring weather is usually very windy and boats don't often get to fish outside the inlet in the early season. When a calm day presents itself, anglers can catch tautog or sea bass over local shipwrecks and artificial reefs.
By June, monster bluefish arrive and are often present in enormous numbers along the 20 fathom line. This fishing usually amounts to a 25-30 nautical mile trip from local inlets.
Days behind the bluefish are several species of sharks, the most sought after being the mako. Sandbar, tiger, thresher, blue, blacktip, bull, hammerhead and other sharks also begin to appear about this time. Local anglers attract sharks by chumming with ground fish, then using wire leaders baited with whatever bait can be attained. Fresh baits like bluefish, trout, mackerel, bonita, or false albacore are preferred.
By mid-June, tuna often appear off the coast. Bluefin tuna prefer cooler water and usually arrive first. In the early season, bluefin are caught among the vicious bluefish by trolling. By July, many anglers switch tactics and fish for tuna with cut butterfish. About the same time, yellowfin and dolphinfish begin to appear and many anglers troll for them as far out as Washington, Poorman's and Norfolk Canyons. Some of these trips can exceed 70 nautical miles although good fishing is often just 25-30 nautical miles from home.
Late summer usually brings changes to offshore fishing. Better fishing is likely as tuna school up and develop a bigger appetite. Marlin, wahoo and large dolphinfish are also more likely. Another big factor is hurricane season. Some years we enjoy good late season weather and others we wait as systems work off the coast. Patient anglers usually get a few nice days and enjoy good offshore fishing into the fall.
By October, most ocean going anglers turn their attention back to sea bass, flounder and tautog. As the waters cool further, red drum and striped bass or "rockfish" migrate down the coast. By this time offshore fishing has ended and most anglers either retire, or begin fishing inshore for striped bass which goes on throughout the winter months.
For more on local fishing and outdoor recreation, visit Maryland - Virginia Saltwater Fishing.
By June, monster bluefish arrive and are often present in enormous numbers along the 20 fathom line. This fishing usually amounts to a 25-30 nautical mile trip from local inlets.
Days behind the bluefish are several species of sharks, the most sought after being the mako. Sandbar, tiger, thresher, blue, blacktip, bull, hammerhead and other sharks also begin to appear about this time. Local anglers attract sharks by chumming with ground fish, then using wire leaders baited with whatever bait can be attained. Fresh baits like bluefish, trout, mackerel, bonita, or false albacore are preferred.
By mid-June, tuna often appear off the coast. Bluefin tuna prefer cooler water and usually arrive first. In the early season, bluefin are caught among the vicious bluefish by trolling. By July, many anglers switch tactics and fish for tuna with cut butterfish. About the same time, yellowfin and dolphinfish begin to appear and many anglers troll for them as far out as Washington, Poorman's and Norfolk Canyons. Some of these trips can exceed 70 nautical miles although good fishing is often just 25-30 nautical miles from home.
Late summer usually brings changes to offshore fishing. Better fishing is likely as tuna school up and develop a bigger appetite. Marlin, wahoo and large dolphinfish are also more likely. Another big factor is hurricane season. Some years we enjoy good late season weather and others we wait as systems work off the coast. Patient anglers usually get a few nice days and enjoy good offshore fishing into the fall.
By October, most ocean going anglers turn their attention back to sea bass, flounder and tautog. As the waters cool further, red drum and striped bass or "rockfish" migrate down the coast. By this time offshore fishing has ended and most anglers either retire, or begin fishing inshore for striped bass which goes on throughout the winter months.
For more on local fishing and outdoor recreation, visit Maryland - Virginia Saltwater Fishing.
Virginia Swordfish - A Comeback Story
Swordfish have made a return to the waters off the coast of Virginia. These fish have tremendous strength and stamina, testing the limits of the most experienced anglers. Swordfish may vary from perhaps 4-10 feet in length, reaching weights of several hundred pounds and rarely exceeding 1000 pounds. Swordfish are found in the deeper offshore waters, feeding in extreme depths during the day and coming near the surface at night. Like marlin, swordfish move with temperature changes, becoming most common in late summer and fall.
Swordfish are caught mostly at night, in the deeper areas of the Virginia offshore canyons. On overnight trips, anglers typically set one or more lines at various depths. Nighttime swordfish rigs usually consist of a large circle or Southern tuna hook on a cable leader. Swordfish baits include whole squid, mackerel or other small fish. A glow stick is added to the leader a few feet above the bait. Inline weights may also be added on the line to control the depth of the bait.
As for swordfish, the decision to kill or release a legal sized swordfish is usually a matter of personal preference. The American swordfish fishery is one of the few fishery management success stories, with a recent comeback of the fish after their stocks plummeted due to overfishing. Hopefully future harvests will remain within reason and Virginia will enjoy good fishing for all 3 species of billfish.
Swordfish are caught mostly at night, in the deeper areas of the Virginia offshore canyons. On overnight trips, anglers typically set one or more lines at various depths. Nighttime swordfish rigs usually consist of a large circle or Southern tuna hook on a cable leader. Swordfish baits include whole squid, mackerel or other small fish. A glow stick is added to the leader a few feet above the bait. Inline weights may also be added on the line to control the depth of the bait.
As for swordfish, the decision to kill or release a legal sized swordfish is usually a matter of personal preference. The American swordfish fishery is one of the few fishery management success stories, with a recent comeback of the fish after their stocks plummeted due to overfishing. Hopefully future harvests will remain within reason and Virginia will enjoy good fishing for all 3 species of billfish.
Virginia Institute of Marine Science White Marlin Study
A Virginia Institute of Marine Science study on white marlin uncovered information on where they spend the majority of their day and how deep they actually go.
The white marlin study also found a big difference in survival between fish caught on circle hooks (58 of 59 survived; <2% post-release mortality) as compared to J-hooks (13 of 20 survived; 35% post-release mortality).
The white marlin study also found a big difference in survival between fish caught on circle hooks (58 of 59 survived; <2% post-release mortality) as compared to J-hooks (13 of 20 survived; 35% post-release mortality).
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MD-VA Saltwater Fishing
Latest pages from Maryland - Virginia Saltwater Fishing
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Saltwater Fishing. Tackle, Rigging, How & When to Fish
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Saltwater Fishing Made Easy
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Fishing Soft Baits in Saltwater
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Complete Guide to Saltwater Fishing (Outdoorsman's Edge)
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Salt Water Fishing Tactics: Learn from the Expert at Salt Water Magazine
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Virginia Council of Fishing Clubs News
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Tangier Island Virginia
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This lens explores Tangier Island Virginia, located in the Chesapeake Bay.
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Tidewater Virginia
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This lens is about the tidewater area in Virginia. This region includes Norfolk,Waterside, Hampton, Newport News, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach.
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Chincoteague Island
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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 a...
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Virginia USA
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This lens has information on Virginia USA. Please send us your favorite Virginia articles, links and other information.
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Virginia Beach Virginia
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This lens provides travel, recreation and vacation information in Virginia Beach Virginia. Please send us your suggestions, articles and links.
Virginia Saltwater Fish Lenses
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Black Sea Bass
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This lens has information on Black Sea Bass, found along the mid - Atlantic coast of the USA.
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Weakfish
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This lens has information about weakfish, also known as gray trout or squeateague.
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Flounder
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This lens has information on summer flounder, an important fish to recreational and commercial fishing along much of the USA east coast.
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Croaker Fishing
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This lens introduces Atlantic Croaker also known as "hard head".
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Norfolk Spot
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This lens introduces the reader to a popular saltwater pan fish, called Norfolk spot or simply "spot".
Virginia Offshore Stand Up Fishing
Stand up fishing involves specialized tackle which gives the angler not only freedom to maneuver but also puts the angler in a position where they can use their body to its utmost advantage against large and powerful fish.
The foundation of the system includes special rods which are shorter than traditional IGFA trolling rods that were once common in offshore fishing. Stand up rods bend in a parabolic curve, meaning they flex more at the tip and stiffen sharply along their length. The reel seat is also closer to the butt on stand up style rods. This design allows more pressure to be transferred to the fish during a hookup and fight.
A key component of stand up tackle is the gimbal belt, which places the pivot point low on the angler, creating an optimal leverage against the fish. For larger fish, a kidney or shoulder harness is added. The harness greatly increases the size of fish that an angler can comfortably catch.
How does stand-up fishing help the angler?
First, the simplicity of the system makes it an ideal choice for small to mid-sized boats, and for anglers of all ages and skill levels. The learning curve is fast and the technique is extremely popular among beginners and seasoned anglers alike. Another reason that stand up fishing has become so popular in offshore fishing is that it is more fun. Anglers can follow the fish around as it maneuvers and keep pressure on the fish, even while resting their arm momentarily.
Captain Glenn of Shammy Sportfishing explained the how they use the technique to fish for large tuna off the coast of Virginia, stating "Stand up tackle allows us to introduce anglers from teens to seniors to large bluefin and yellowfin tuna as well as several other species. In matter of minutes, we can effectively coach anglers of any skill level to battle tuna that sometimes outweigh the angler. The tackle allows us to have a clean, organized cockpit with lots of room for fishing and relaxing. When a tuna is hooked, we quickly outfit the angler and the fight is on. People are amazed at how easy and effective this system can be.
Anglers that fished aboard Shammy described the experience, saying "On the day we fished, we found the motherlode of fish. We fought fish 2,3, and 4 at a time, sometimes non-stop. Our catch included dolphin of all sizes, a couple types of jacks, enormous false albacore and skipjack tuna. Captain Glen and his mate showed us how to use the standup tackle, quickly getting us equipped with belts and helping us into postion at the stern. The covering boards are well padded which provided a comfortable surface to brace ourselves against. We were able to catch a lot of big fish with very little physical strain."
To learn more about standup fishing in Virginia for tuna, sharks, billfish and other species visit Shammy Sportfishing. For accommodations in Chincoteague Island Virginia, visit Chincoteague Vacation Rentals.
The foundation of the system includes special rods which are shorter than traditional IGFA trolling rods that were once common in offshore fishing. Stand up rods bend in a parabolic curve, meaning they flex more at the tip and stiffen sharply along their length. The reel seat is also closer to the butt on stand up style rods. This design allows more pressure to be transferred to the fish during a hookup and fight.
A key component of stand up tackle is the gimbal belt, which places the pivot point low on the angler, creating an optimal leverage against the fish. For larger fish, a kidney or shoulder harness is added. The harness greatly increases the size of fish that an angler can comfortably catch.
How does stand-up fishing help the angler?
First, the simplicity of the system makes it an ideal choice for small to mid-sized boats, and for anglers of all ages and skill levels. The learning curve is fast and the technique is extremely popular among beginners and seasoned anglers alike. Another reason that stand up fishing has become so popular in offshore fishing is that it is more fun. Anglers can follow the fish around as it maneuvers and keep pressure on the fish, even while resting their arm momentarily.
Captain Glenn of Shammy Sportfishing explained the how they use the technique to fish for large tuna off the coast of Virginia, stating "Stand up tackle allows us to introduce anglers from teens to seniors to large bluefin and yellowfin tuna as well as several other species. In matter of minutes, we can effectively coach anglers of any skill level to battle tuna that sometimes outweigh the angler. The tackle allows us to have a clean, organized cockpit with lots of room for fishing and relaxing. When a tuna is hooked, we quickly outfit the angler and the fight is on. People are amazed at how easy and effective this system can be.
Anglers that fished aboard Shammy described the experience, saying "On the day we fished, we found the motherlode of fish. We fought fish 2,3, and 4 at a time, sometimes non-stop. Our catch included dolphin of all sizes, a couple types of jacks, enormous false albacore and skipjack tuna. Captain Glen and his mate showed us how to use the standup tackle, quickly getting us equipped with belts and helping us into postion at the stern. The covering boards are well padded which provided a comfortable surface to brace ourselves against. We were able to catch a lot of big fish with very little physical strain."
To learn more about standup fishing in Virginia for tuna, sharks, billfish and other species visit Shammy Sportfishing. For accommodations in Chincoteague Island Virginia, visit Chincoteague Vacation Rentals.
Virginia Saltwater Fishing Comments
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