Waterlands

NWS zone ANZ639 · Mid-Atlantic

James River from JRB to HRBT, Including the Elizabeth River fishing forecast

Virginia · Atlantic coast

Score now

78Great
Spot · 5:00 PM EDT
Named spots
32
Species scored
18
Tide stations
5
Open in the tide mapAll Virginia bay systems

Overview

James River from JRB to HRBT, Including the Elizabeth River is NWS marine zone ANZ639 on the Virginia Atlantic coast, in the Mid-Atlantic species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as inland water (bays, sounds, straits). It holds 32 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 5 NOAA tide stations nearby.

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

At 5:00 PM it scores 78 (great), led by Spot. The best window for the rest of today is 8-11 PM (ebb tide), peaking at 85 for Red drum. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Sat, Sep 26 at 1 AM, scoring 86.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 10:59 AM EDT.

Best window today

8-11 PM · Ebb tide

Top species: Red drum

85Epic

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Sun, Sep 20

    85

    9 PM

    Red drum

  2. Mon, Sep 21

    80

    10 PM

    Spot

  3. Tue, Sep 22

    82

    10 AM

    Spot

  4. Wed, Sep 23

    75

    12 AM

    Red drum

  5. Thu, Sep 24

    78

    12 PM

    Little tunny

  6. Fri, Sep 25

    82

    7 AM

    Red drum

  7. Sat, Sep 26

    86

    1 AM

    Red drum

    Best day

  8. Sun, Sep 27

    84

    2 AM

    Red drum

  9. Mon, Sep 28

    82

    8 AM

    Little tunny

  10. Tue, Sep 29

    81

    8 AM

    Little tunny

  11. Wed, Sep 30

    81

    5 PM

    Little tunny

  12. Thu, Oct 1

    82

    5 PM

    Little tunny

  13. Fri, Oct 2

    82

    6 PM

    Little tunny

  14. Sat, Oct 3

    82

    7 AM

    Little tunny

Species · 18

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

77Great
SpotLeiostomus xanthurus · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 10 AM (82)

75Great
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Peak season, about 4 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 1 AM (86)

69Great
ScupStenotomus chrysops · nearshore

Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 7 AM (80)

69Great
Atlantic croakerMicropogonias undulatus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 10 AM (72)

68Great
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 5 PM (79)

64Good
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 1 AM (80)

63Good
Summer flounderParalichthys dentatus · bottom

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 7 AM (77)

61Good
Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagic

Peak season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 AM (82)

58Good
Striped bassMorone saxatilis · sea-run

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 1 AM (74)

57Good
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Peak season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 7 AM (74)

54Good
WeakfishCynoscion regalis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Thu, Oct 1 at 6 PM (78)

53Good
King mackerelScomberomorus cavalla · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 10 AM (66)

52Good
Black sea bassCentropristis striata · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sat, Oct 3 at 7 PM (75)

52Good
BluefishPomatomus saltatrix · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 8 AM (76)

51Good
CobiaRachycentron canadum · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Tue, Sep 22 at 10 AM (62)

47Good
TautogTautoga onitis · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 1 more week · Best day Fri, Oct 2 at 6 PM (66)

35Fair
Black drumPogonias cromis · inshore

Off season, about 5 more weeks · Best day Sun, Sep 20 at 12 AM (35)

No score
Winter flounderPseudopleuronectes americanus · bottom

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

Named spots · 32

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

20 more spots, A to Z

Nearest tide stations

Sewells PointNOAA 86386104.2 miMoney PointNOAA 86393489.1 miCBBT, Chesapeake ChannelNOAA 863890118.7 miYorktown USCG Training CenterNOAA 863768923.5 miKiptopekeNOAA 863220028.3 mi

Regulations

VMRC saltwater regulations Buy a Virginia fishing license License types

Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Synced with VMRC Sep 20, 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