Species guide · Virginia
Red drum fishing in Virginia
Sciaenops ocellatus, an inshore species also called redfish, reds and puppy drum. Listed for the Mid-Atlantic region. Peak season, about 5 more weeks.
Right now it scores best in James River from Jamestown to the James River Bridge at 81, one of 10 Virginia bay systems where the Waterlands engine is scoring it.
Season now
Peak seasonSeason by month
From the Waterlands saltwater species research: when the fish are present and biting, not whether retention is open.
Mid-Atlantic
Peak season, about 5 more weeks- Jan: Not present
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Off season
- May: Peak season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Peak season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Off season
- Dec: Not present
Peak: May, Sep to Oct. In season (shoulder or peak): May to Oct.
Research notes, Mid-Atlantic region
Chesapeake Bay Program lists red drum in the bay May to November, with adults most common near the bay mouth in spring and autumn migrations. Virginia Eastern Shore barrier islands and shoals are the main spots. Rare north of Delaware.
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 red drum score this hour.
Best window today 8-10 PM (81) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 3 AM (84) · 24 named spots
Best window today 8-11 PM (81) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 5 PM (86) · 25 named spots
Best window today 8-11 PM (80) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 5 PM (83) · 99 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (81) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (89) · 135 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (77) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (85) · 33 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (77) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (85) · 89 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (78) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (87) · 32 named spots
Best window today 9 PM-12 AM (79) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (86) · 45 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (71) · Best day Sat, Sep 26 at 1 AM (79) · 15 named spots
Best window today 8 PM-12 AM (72) · Best day Thu, Sep 17 at 6 PM (79) · 4 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 52°F to 92°F, best between 65°F and 84°F.
- Water depth
- 1 to 40 ft of water.
- Structure
- Flat, oyster, marsh, grass, channel, pass and surf, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide and outgoing tide, with moderate current.A flooding tide lets reds push onto grass flats and into flooded marsh to feed, where they often tail. A falling tide pulls bait out of creeks, so fish creek mouths, drains and oyster bar points. Very low winter tides concentrate fish in potholes and creek channels.
- Light
- Bites best around dawn and dusk; feeds at night too.
- Pressure
- Tends to feed as pressure falls ahead of weather.
- 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
Redfish feed on shallow grass flats, oyster bars and marsh edges, often in 1 to 4 feet of water, and drop into channels, deep holes and tidal creeks when the water turns very hot or cold. Work a live shrimp under a popping cork or a soft plastic along the grass line on a rising tide, then fish creek mouths and drains as the tide falls. Bull reds over 30 inches school in the surf, passes and jetties in late summer and fall, where cut mullet or a live crab on the bottom is the standard approach.
- Methods
- sight casting, popping cork, bottom fishing, surf fishing, fly fishing, wade fishing
- Lures
- gold spoon, soft plastic paddle tail, soft plastic shrimp, jighead and grub, topwater plug, shallow-running plug, crab or shrimp fly
- Bait
- live shrimp, finger mullet, mud minnow, blue crab, cut mullet, pinfish, Atlantic croaker
Regulations
Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Synced with VMRC Sep 16, 2026.
No reviewed red drum rule for Virginia is on file yet. Check with VMRC before you keep one.