Virginia · Mid-Atlantic
Virginia saltwater fishing forecast
10 bay systems and 501 named spots on the Virginia Atlantic coast, with 8 NOAA tide stations. Right now the top-scoring bay system is Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA at 79 for Striped bass.
In peak season this week: Black sea bass, Bluefish, Spotted seatrout, Striped bass and Tautog.
- Bay systems
- 10
- Named spots
- 501
- Tide stations
- 8
- Species guides
- 21
Bay systems right now · 10
Scores from the Waterlands engine, computed 10:03 PM EDT. Best window is the rest of today.
ANZ630 · 99 named spots
Top now: Striped bass · Best window 10 PM-12 AM (peak 79)
ANZ632 · 45 named spots
Top now: Spotted seatrout · Best window 10 PM-12 AM (peak 78)
ANZ637 · 24 named spots
Top now: Striped bass · Best window 10 PM-12 AM (peak 77)
ANZ635 · 25 named spots
Top now: Spotted seatrout · Best window 10-11 PM (peak 77)
ANZ634 · 135 named spots
Top now: Striped bass · Best window 10 PM-12 AM (peak 77)
ANZ631 · 33 named spots
Top now: Striped bass · Best window 10 PM-12 AM (peak 75)
ANZ652 · 89 named spots
Top now: Striped bass · Best window 10 PM-12 AM (peak 74)
ANZ639 · 32 named spots
Top now: Spotted seatrout · Best window 10 PM-12 AM (peak 74)
ANZ537 · 4 named spots
Top now: Striped bass · Best window 10 PM-12 AM (peak 75)
Scoring best right now
Each species' best score in a Virginia bay system this hour.
- Striped bass78Great
Best in Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA · scored in 10 bay systems
Peak season - Spotted seatrout77Great
Best in Chesapeake Bay from New Point Comfort to Little Creek VA · scored in 10 bay systems
Peak season - Weakfish76Great
Best in Chesapeake Bay from New Point Comfort to Little Creek VA · scored in 10 bay systems
Shoulder season - Bluefish75Great
Best in Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA · scored in 10 bay systems
Peak season - Black sea bass73Great
Best in Chesapeake Bay from Little Creek VA to Cape Henry VA including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel · scored in 10 bay systems
Peak season - Tautog71Great
Best in Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA · scored in 10 bay systems
Peak season - Little tunny70Great
Best in Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA · scored in 10 bay systems
Shoulder season - Scup69Great
Best in Chesapeake Bay from Little Creek VA to Cape Henry VA including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel · scored in 10 bay systems
Shoulder season - Spot67Great
Best in Chesapeake Bay from Little Creek VA to Cape Henry VA including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel · scored in 10 bay systems
Shoulder season - Red drum65Great
Best in Rappahannock River from Urbanna to Windmill Point · scored in 10 bay systems
Shoulder season
Species guides · 21
Season, water temperature, depth, structure, tackle and regulations for each species in Virginia waters.
- Black sea bassCentropristis striata · nearshorePeak season, about 4 more weekspeak
- BluefishPomatomus saltatrix · nearshorePeak season, about 3 more weekspeak
- Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshorePeak season, about 4 more weekspeak
- Striped bassMorone saxatilis · sea-runPeak season, about 7 more weekspeak
- TautogTautoga onitis · nearshorePeak season, about 8 more weekspeak
- Atlantic bluefin tunaThunnus thynnus · pelagicShoulder season, about 4 more weeksshoulder
- Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagicShoulder season, about 3 more weeksshoulder
- Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshoreShoulder season, about 1 more weekshoulder
- ScupStenotomus chrysops · nearshoreShoulder season, about 3 more weeksshoulder
- SpotLeiostomus xanthurus · inshoreShoulder season, about 1 more weekshoulder
- WeakfishCynoscion regalis · inshoreShoulder season, about 4 more weeksshoulder
- Winter flounderPseudopleuronectes americanus · bottomShoulder season, about 4 more weeksshoulder
- SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshoreOff season, about 1 more weekoff
- Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshoreOff season, about 1 more weekoff
- Summer flounderParalichthys dentatus · bottomOff season, about 4 more weeksoff
- Yellowfin tunaThunnus albacares · pelagicOff season, about 4 more weeksoff
- Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore
- Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore
- CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore
- King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic
- Mahi-mahiCoryphaena hippurus · pelagic
Regulations and licenses
Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Synced with VMRC Oct 31, 2026.
VMRC sets the saltwater rules, but saltwater fishing licenses are issued by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. VMRC links to the DWR license page, which links to Go Outdoors Virginia for online sales. Anglers exempt from a paid license may still need a no-cost Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) registration.
No reviewed rules are on file for Virginia yet. Check the regulator's page before you keep a fish.