Waterlands

NWS zone ANZ537 · Mid-Atlantic

Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island MD to Smith Point VA fishing forecast

Virginia · Atlantic coast

Score now

76Great
Striped bass · 10:00 AM EST
Named spots
4
Species scored
14
Tide stations
4
Open in the tide mapAll Virginia bay systems

Overview

Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island MD to Smith Point VA is NWS marine zone ANZ537 on the Virginia Atlantic coast, in the Mid-Atlantic species region. The Waterlands engine treats it as inland water (bays, sounds, straits). It holds 4 named features from the USGS Geographic Names Information System and has 4 NOAA tide stations nearby.

14 species are scored here in this forecast; Striped bass, Bluefish, Spotted seatrout, Tautog and Black sea bass are at peak season now.

At 10:00 AM it scores 76 (great), led by Striped bass. The best window for the rest of today is 2-5 PM (ebb tide), peaking at 86 for Striped bass. Over the next 14 days the best hour is Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM, scoring 87.

Best times to fish

Waterlands engine forecast computed 10:03 AM EST.

Best window today

2-5 PM · Ebb tide

Top species: Striped bass

86Epic

Best hour of each day, next 14 days

  1. Thu, Nov 5

    87

    8 AM

    Striped bass

    Best day

  2. Fri, Nov 6

    83

    4 PM

    Striped bass

  3. Sat, Nov 7

    79

    5 PM

    Striped bass

  4. Sun, Nov 8

    85

    5 PM

    Striped bass

  5. Mon, Nov 9

    84

    12 AM

    Striped bass

  6. Tue, Nov 10

    84

    7 PM

    Striped bass

  7. Wed, Nov 11

    83

    7 PM

    Striped bass

  8. Thu, Nov 12

    84

    8 AM

    Striped bass

  9. Fri, Nov 13

    84

    2 AM

    Striped bass

  10. Sat, Nov 14

    74

    10 PM

    Striped bass

  11. Sun, Nov 15

    87

    4 PM

    Striped bass

  12. Mon, Nov 16

    83

    4 AM

    Striped bass

  13. Tue, Nov 17

    76

    5 AM

    Striped bass

  14. Wed, Nov 18

    85

    5 PM

    Striped bass

Species · 14

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

76Great
Striped bassMorone saxatilis · sea-run

Peak season, about 6 more weeks · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (87)

70Great
BluefishPomatomus saltatrix · nearshore

Peak season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Fri, Nov 6 at 9 AM (80)

70Great
Spotted seatroutCynoscion nebulosus · inshore

Peak season, about 3 more weeks · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (81)

67Great
Little tunnyEuthynnus alletteratus · pelagic

Shoulder season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (76)

66Great
TautogTautoga onitis · nearshore

Peak season, about 8 more weeks · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (73)

65Great
Black sea bassCentropristis striata · nearshore

Peak season, about 3 more weeks · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (72)

61Good
ScupStenotomus chrysops · nearshore

Shoulder season, about 2 more weeks · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (67)

59Good
WeakfishCynoscion regalis · inshore

Shoulder season, about 3 more weeks · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (70)

55Good
Red drumSciaenops ocellatus · inshore

Shoulder season, changing this week · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (65)

54Good
SpotLeiostomus xanthurus · inshore

Shoulder season, changing this week · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 8 AM (61)

45Good
Winter flounderPseudopleuronectes americanus · bottom

Shoulder season, about 3 more weeks · Best day Sun, Nov 15 at 8 AM (59)

35Fair
SheepsheadArchosargus probatocephalus · inshore

Off season, changing this week · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35)

35Fair
Spanish mackerelScomberomorus maculatus · nearshore

Off season, changing this week · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 2 AM (35)

35Fair
Summer flounderParalichthys dentatus · bottom

Off season, about 3 more weeks · Best day Thu, Nov 5 at 12 AM (35)

Named spots · 4

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

Nearest tide stations

LewisettaNOAA 86357509.9 miSolomons IslandNOAA 857733014.5 miBishops HeadNOAA 857142128.6 miDahlgrenNOAA 863502729.7 mi

Regulations

VMRC saltwater regulations Buy a Virginia fishing license License types

Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Synced with VMRC Nov 4, 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