Species guide · Virginia
Atlantic croaker fishing in Virginia
Micropogonias undulatus, an inshore species also called croaker, hardhead and pinhead. Listed for the Mid-Atlantic region. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in Chesapeake Bay from Little Creek VA to Cape Henry VA including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel at 68, one of 10 Virginia bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Shoulder seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Mid-Atlantic
Shoulder season, about 1 more week- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Off season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Peak season
- Jul: Peak season
- Aug: Peak season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Off season
- Nov: Not present
- Dec: Not present
Peak: Jun to Aug. In season (shoulder or peak): May to Sep.
Research notes, Mid-Atlantic region
In Chesapeake Bay from March through October, moving up the bay in spring and back to the ocean in autumn; best bottom fishing June through August on channel edges, oyster bars and piers. Catches swing a lot from year to year.
Seasons and limits in these notes are background. The regulations below and the regulator’s own page govern.
Where it's scoring now · 10
Virginia bay systems ranked by the Waterlands engine's atlantic croaker score this hour.
Best window today 5-8 PM (74) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 6 PM (74) · 135 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (73) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 6 PM (73) · 45 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (74) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 6 PM (74) · 89 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (74) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (74) · 32 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (74) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (74) · 99 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (72) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 6 PM (72) · 33 named spots
Best window today 5-9 PM (72) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (72) · 24 named spots
Best window today 5-8 PM (71) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (71) · 25 named spots
Best window today 5-10 PM (64) · Best day Fri, Sep 18 at 7 PM (64) · 4 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 55°F to 90°F, best between 65°F and 82°F.
- Water depth
- 2 to 40 ft of water.
- Structure
- Channel, oyster, pier, bridge, bay, estuary, surf and inlet, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers high tide and moving water, with light current.NCDMF says croaker fishing is best just before or just after high tide in channels or deep holes.
- Light
- Some lift around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- Pressure
- Little response to pressure changes.
- Wind and sea limits
- 18 kt of wind and 3 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Croaker feed on mud and sand bottom along channel edges, oyster bars, piers and deeper holes in bays and sounds, mostly in 5 to 30 feet of water. A two-hook bottom rig with small hooks and shrimp, bloodworm or squid catches them from piers, the surf and small boats. Fish the hours around high tide and into the evening.
- Methods
- bottom fishing
- Lures
- small jig heads tipped with bait, scented synthetic bait strips
- Bait
- shrimp, bloodworms, squid, clams, peeler crab
Regulations
Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Synced with VMRC Sep 18, 2026.
No reviewed atlantic croaker rule for Virginia is on file yet. Check with VMRC before you keep one.