Species guide · Virginia
Spotted seatrout fishing in Virginia
Cynoscion nebulosus, an inshore species also called speckled trout, specks and specs. Listed for the Mid-Atlantic region. Shoulder season, about 1 more week.
Right now it scores best in James River from Jamestown to the James River Bridge at 63, 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: Off season
- Feb: Not present
- Mar: Not present
- Apr: Off season
- May: Shoulder season
- Jun: Shoulder season
- Jul: Shoulder season
- Aug: Shoulder season
- Sep: Shoulder season
- Oct: Peak season
- Nov: Peak season
- Dec: Shoulder season
Peak: Oct to Nov. In season (shoulder or peak): May to Dec.
Research notes, Mid-Atlantic region
Chesapeake Bay Program lists specks in the bay April through November. Maryland fishing centers on Tangier Sound and lower Eastern Shore flats; Virginia peaks in fall. Some fish overwinter in warm-water discharges in Hampton Roads.
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 spotted seatrout score this hour.
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (63) · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 6 PM (77) · 24 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (61) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 6 PM (81) · 99 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (61) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 5 PM (80) · 25 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (61) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 5 PM (77) · 135 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (58) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 5 PM (78) · 33 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (58) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 AM (77) · 32 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (61) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 6 PM (81) · 45 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (55) · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 7 PM (73) · 89 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (54) · Best day Sun, Sep 27 at 7 PM (73) · 4 named spots
Best window today 10 PM-12 AM (51) · Best day Tue, Sep 29 at 5 PM (72) · 15 named spots
How and where it feeds
- Water temperature
- Feeds from 50°F to 86°F, best between 62°F and 78°F.
- Water depth
- 1 to 20 ft of water.
- Structure
- Grass, flat, channel, oyster, marsh, jetty and pier, in that order of preference.
- Tide and current
- Prefers incoming tide and outgoing tide, with moderate current.Georgia DNR biologists find trout along the grass line over oyster beds on higher tides and waiting at creek runoffs on the falling tide. Virginia fishermen report the best fishing at dusk drifting grass beds on a flood tide. Slack water is usually slow.
- 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 2 ft of sea. The Waterlands engine scores hours down as conditions pass them.
Tackle and technique
Trout hold over grass beds and sandy potholes in 2 to 8 feet of water most of the year and slide into channels, deep creek bends and canals during cold snaps. A live shrimp under a slip or popping cork, a paddle tail on a light jighead, or a topwater walked at first light covers most situations. Keep the drag light because their mouths tear easily.
- Methods
- popping cork, drifting, wade fishing, topwater, jigging, fly fishing
- Lures
- soft plastic paddle tail, soft plastic shrimp, curly tail grub on jighead, walk-the-dog topwater, suspending twitchbait, spoon, baitfish fly
- Bait
- live shrimp, mud minnow, finger mullet, pinfish, pigfish, croaker
Regulations
Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Synced with VMRC Sep 19, 2026.
No reviewed spotted seatrout rule for Virginia is on file yet. Check with VMRC before you keep one.