Waterlands

NWS zone ANZ637 · Mid-Atlantic

James River from Jamestown to the James River Bridge fishing forecast

Virginia · Atlantic coast

Score now

70Great
Red drum · 3:00 AM EDT
Named spots
24
Species scored
18
Tide stations
5
Open in the tide mapAll Virginia bay systems

Overview

James River from Jamestown to the James River Bridge is NWS marine zone ANZ637 on the Virginia Atlantic coast, in the Mid-Atlantic species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as inland water (bays, sounds, straits). It holds 24 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 5 NOAA tide stations nearby.

18 species are scored here in this forecast; Red drum, Spot, Spanish mackerel, Summer flounder and Little tunny are at peak season now.

At 3:00 AM it scores 70 (great), led by Red drum. The best window for the rest of today is 6-10 AM (ebb tide), peaking at 79 for Spot. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Fri, Oct 2 at 7 AM, scoring 84.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 3:36 AM EDT.

Best window today

6-10 AM · Ebb tide

Top species: Spot

79Great

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Mon, Sep 21

    79

    9 AM

    Spot

  2. Tue, Sep 22

    79

    9 AM

    Spot

  3. Wed, Sep 23

    75

    11 PM

    Spot

  4. Thu, Sep 24

    74

    8 AM

    Spot

  5. Fri, Sep 25

    81

    8 AM

    Red drum

  6. Sat, Sep 26

    79

    9 AM

    Red drum

  7. Sun, Sep 27

    80

    9 AM

    Red drum

  8. Mon, Sep 28

    79

    9 AM

    Little tunny

  9. Tue, Sep 29

    81

    6 PM

    Red drum

  10. Wed, Sep 30

    83

    7 PM

    Red drum

  11. Thu, Oct 1

    83

    5 AM

    Red drum

  12. Fri, Oct 2

    84

    7 AM

    Red drum

    Best day

  13. Sat, Oct 3

    81

    7 PM

    Spot

  14. Sun, Oct 4

    80

    7 PM

    Spot

Species · 18

Listed for the Mid-Atlantic region. Scores are this hour; season is where the species is in its year.

69Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 7 AM (84)

69Great
SpotLeiostomus xanthurus · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 PM (81)

61Good
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM (74)

60Good
Summer flounderParalichthys dentatus · bottom

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM (74)

59Good
Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagic

Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM (79)

59Good
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 8 AM (71)

59Good
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 9 AM (70)

58Good
ScupStenotomus chrysops · nearshore

Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sun, Oct 4 at 7 PM (76)

58Good
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 5 AM (80)

55Good
WeakfishCynoscion regalis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 7 AM (76)

54Good
BluefishPomatomus saltatrix · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 7 AM (72)

52Good
Black sea bassCentropristis striata · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 PM (71)

52Good
Striped bassMorone saxatilis · sea-run

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 7 AM (71)

49Good
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 9 AM (60)

48Good
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 7 PM (60)

47Good
TautogTautoga onitis · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 PM (63)

35Fair
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Off season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Mon, Sep 21 at 12 AM (35)

No score
Winter flounderPseudopleuronectes americanus · bottom

Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 12 AM (35)

Named spots · 24

Ranked by score this hour. Each spot has its own hourly forecast, tide, current and regulations.

12 more spots, A to Z

Nearest tide stations

Yorktown USCG Training CenterNOAA 863768911.8 miSewells PointNOAA 863861022.2 miMoney PointNOAA 863934831.2 miCBBT, Chesapeake ChannelNOAA 863890132.3 miKiptopekeNOAA 863220036.9 mi

Regulations

VMRC saltwater regulations Buy a Virginia fishing license License types

Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Synced with VMRC Sep 21, 2026.

No reviewed rules for the species listed here are on file yet. Check with VMRC before you keep a fish.

Other Virginia bay systems