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FISHING CALENDAR · VIRGINIA
Virginia Fishing Calendar
Virginia runs from mountain trout streams and big tidal rivers to the Chesapeake Bay, the Bay Bridge-Tunnel, and Virginia Beach offshore grounds like the Chesapeake Light Tower, the Fingers and Norfolk Canyon. Good and peak months come from the VMRC saltwater fishing calendar (How, When & Where to Catch) and Virginia DWR's 2026 forecasts. Closed months come from VMRC's 2026 regulations and DWR's 2026 freshwater limits.
Government fish & wildlife updates
- VMRC – Agency News — Rule changes and notices
- VMRC – Saltwater regulations — Current sizes, limits and seasons
- Virginia DWR — Freshwater forecasts, stocking and news
Month by month
| Fish | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater | |||||||||||||
| Largemouth bass | DWR: spawns March–May. Potomac tributary flats near Belmont Bay hold big numbers of bass in April and May. 5/day combined with smallmouth, no statewide length limit (many lakes and rivers have their own rules).[7][6][4] | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth bass | 5/day combined with largemouth, no statewide length limit. James and New rivers: no bass 14–22 in., only 1 over 22 in. Shenandoah: no bass 11–14 in. No official best months found.[4][9] | ||||||||||||
| Blue catfish | Found in all the Bay's tidal rivers (James, Rappahannock and others). Spawns late spring and early summer. 20/day statewide, but no daily limit in most rivers below the fall line; only 1 over 32 in. per day in the tidal James, Kerr and Gaston. No official best months found.[8][6][4] | ||||||||||||
| Yellow perch | DWR: Rappahannock action peaks late February through the first weeks of March; some fish caught December–January. 9 in. minimum in tidal rivers below the fall line.[6][4] | ||||||||||||
| Trout, stocked (rainbow, brown, brook) | DWR stocks catchable trout in designated waters October through May. 6/day, 7 in. minimum (special waters differ).[5][4] | ||||||||||||
| Inshore saltwater (Chesapeake Bay & coast) | |||||||||||||
| Striped bass (rockfish) – Chesapeake Bay | 2026 Bay seasons: May 16–Jun 15 and Oct 4–Dec 31, 1 fish 19–24 in. Closed the rest of the year. VMRC calendar: big fish peak November–December; school fish spring and fall. Circle hooks with bait; no gaffing.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Striped bass – coastal (ocean & Eastern Shore seaside) | Coastal seasons Jan 1–Mar 31 and May 16–Dec 31, 1 fish 28–31 in. Federal waters past 3 miles closed all year. Big fish off the Virginia Capes and CBBT in late fall.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Red drum (puppy drum) | VMRC calendar shows red drum March–November. 18–26 in. slot, 3/person. Over 46 in. earns a release citation.[1][2][10] | ||||||||||||
| Speckled trout (spotted seatrout) | 2026: closed April 1–June 30. Otherwise 14 in., 5/person, only 1 over 24 in. VMRC calendar: April to mid-December, peaks May–mid-June and September–November (Mobjack Bay, Lynnhaven, Rudee, Poquoson Flats).[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Summer flounder (fluke) | Open all year, 4/person: 16 in. Jan–May, 17.5 in. Jun–Dec. VMRC calendar: March–November; peak May–July on the Eastern Shore seaside, July–October in the Bay and along the CBBT.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Cobia | Keep Jun 15–Sep 20 only: 43 in., 1/person, 2/vessel, no gaffing. VMRC calendar: May–September, peak mid-June to mid-September (York Spit, Cabbage Patch, CBBT, Light Tower).[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Black drum | 16 in., 1/person. VMRC calendar: May–September; peak May–early June on the Eastern Shore, late June–early August at the CBBT 2nd and 3rd islands.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Sheepshead | No size limit, 4/person. VMRC calendar: May–October around the CBBT and nearshore wrecks.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Atlantic spadefish | No size limit, 4/person. VMRC calendar: May–September at the Cell, Plantation Light, York Spit Light, Tiger wreck, 4A buoy, Chesapeake Light Tower and CBBT.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Tautog (tog) | 16 in., 4/person. Closed May 16–Jun 30. VMRC calendar: all year on wrecks, reefs and the CBBT; peak March–June and October–December.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Grey trout (weakfish) | 12 in., 1/person. VMRC calendar: May–November. Big fish at the CBBT in May, June and October; Bay and rivers June–September; ocean off the Eastern Shore mid-September–November.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Atlantic croaker (hardhead) | No size limit, 50/person. VMRC calendar: March–November in the Bay, rivers, inlets and surf.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Spot | No size limit, 50/person. VMRC calendar: June–October; peak July–September in the Bay and rivers, mid-August to mid-October in the lower Bay and Virginia Beach surf and piers.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Bluefish | No size limit, 5/person. VMRC calendar: big blues mid-April–July and October–December; small blues May–October.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Spanish mackerel | 14 in., 15/person. VMRC calendar: June–October, peak June–September off inlets, tidelines and the lower Bay.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Offshore (Virginia Beach, Light Tower, Fingers, Norfolk Canyon) | |||||||||||||
| King mackerel | 27 in., 3/person. VMRC calendar: June–October, peak September–mid-October around wrecks, towers, lumps and off the inlets.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Yellowfin tuna | VMRC calendar: May–October, peak June–September. The 1981 state record came from Norfolk Canyon. Federal HMS permit and rules.[2][1] | ||||||||||||
| Bluefin tuna | VMRC calendar: June–September, peak June–August at the Southeast Lumps, the Fingers, 26 Mile Hill and the 20 Fathom Finger. Big fish sometimes around the Chesapeake Light Tower in late November and December. Federal HMS rules.[2][1] | ||||||||||||
| Marlin (white & blue) | VMRC calendar: white marlin June–October, peak August–September; blue marlin June–October, peak mid-June–September. Federal HMS permit; report landings.[2][1] | ||||||||||||
| Wahoo | VMRC calendar: June–October. Federal rules (2/person).[2][1] | ||||||||||||
| Mahi-mahi (dolphin) | VMRC calendar: May–October along weedlines and floating debris. Federal rules.[2][1] | ||||||||||||
| Greater amberjack | 32 in., 2/person. VMRC calendar: June–October, peak July–mid-September on wrecks and the Chesapeake Light Tower (118-lb state record caught there in 1986).[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Black sea bass | Open May 11–Dec 31, 13 in., 15/person. VMRC calendar: April–December on wrecks and reefs; moves to 20 fathoms and deeper in winter.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Blueline tilefish | Open May 15–Nov 15. 3/person on a private boat (5 or 7 on for-hire). Bottom in 300+ feet; the state record came from Norfolk Canyon.[1][2] | ||||||||||||
| Crabs | |||||||||||||
| Blue crab | No crab pots in Virginia tidal waters Dec 20, 2026–Mar 16, 2027. Recreational limit: 1 bushel of hard crabs or 2 dozen peelers per day (dip net, hand line or up to 2 pots). No official best months found.[3] | ||||||||||||
Never keep: Never keep: river herring (alewife and blueback herring), American shad, Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon, prohibited sharks (Atlantic angel, dusky, sand tiger, sandbar, white, bigeye thresher), and any striped bass from federal waters past 3 miles.[1][4]
Bait & rig for each fish
Largemouth bass
Bait: Live wild shiners.
Lures: Plastic worms, swimbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater frogs and crankbaits.
Rig: Float rig, Carolina/bottom rig, jig head or simple lure setup depending on depth and species.
Leader: Often 6–15 lb mono/fluoro; heavier leader is useful around abrasive cover or toothy fish.
Smallmouth bass
Bait: Live crayfish, leeches and minnows.
Lures: Tubes, drop-shot plastics, ned rigs, jerkbaits, crankbaits and small topwaters.
Leader: 6–10 lb fluorocarbon.
Blue catfish
Bait: Fresh cut shad, skipjack herring or other oily fish.
Lures: —
Leader: 25–50 lb mono, 18–24 in.
Yellow perch
Bait: Live emerald shiners or fathead minnows, worms, and perch eyes or minnow heads in winter.
Lures: Small jigs and tubes, tiny spoons, and two-hook 'perch spreaders.'
Leader: 6–10 lb fluorocarbon.
Trout, stocked (rainbow, brown, brook)
Bait: Salmon roe and nightcrawlers where bait is legal.
Lures: Beads that look like salmon eggs, flesh flies, sculpin and leech streamers, small spinners and spoons.
Leader: 3X–5X tippet (4–8 lb), 7½–9 ft.
Striped bass (rockfish) – Chesapeake Bay
Bait: Live shad and shiners.
Lures: Bucktail jigs, swimbaits and topwater plugs.
Leader: Usually none; add a short fluorocarbon leader with braid.
Red drum (puppy drum)
Bait: Live or cut mullet, pinfish, blue crab pieces, and live or fresh dead shrimp.
Lures: Gold spoons, paddle-tail soft plastics on a 1/8–1/4 oz jig head, topwater walking baits, and shrimp imitations.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Speckled trout (spotted seatrout)
Bait: Live shrimp under a popping cork, live pilchards or pinfish.
Lures: Soft-plastic jerkbaits and paddle tails, suspending twitchbaits, and topwater walking baits at dawn.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Summer flounder (fluke)
Bait: Live minnows (killies), squid strips, fresh fluke-belly or sea-robin strips, and live spot or snapper blues for big fish.
Lures: White or pink bucktails tipped with a soft-plastic grub or squid strip, and a teaser hook above the bucktail.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Cobia
Bait: Live eels, pinfish, croakers, crabs and menhaden.
Lures: Big bucktail jigs (1–3 oz) with a long soft-plastic tail, and large soft eels.
Leader: 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (add light wire for mackerel and bluefish).
Black drum
Bait: Texas Parks & Wildlife documents cut fish, squid and shrimp, with peeled shrimp tails especially common.
Lures: Rarely; a slow jig tipped with shrimp.
Rig: A conventional bottom rig with a sinker and one or more single-hook drops is documented; a single drop with little or no weight is also described.
Leader: 10–30 lb fluorocarbon/mono is a common flats/inshore start; move to 40–80 lb around abrasive mouths, structure or large tarpon/snook.
Sheepshead
Bait: Fiddler crabs, live shrimp, sand fleas, oysters and barnacles.
Lures: Rarely; a small jig tipped with shrimp or fiddler.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Atlantic spadefish
Bait: Small pieces of shrimp, squid, clam or cut bait are common starting baits for many reef species.
Lures: Small jigs, soft plastics, spoons or micro-jigs are common choices; use the smallest lure that reaches the zone.
Rig: Simple dropper, knocker or light jig rig; keep hardware small and use only enough weight to maintain contact.
Leader: 12–30 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common start.
Tautog (tog)
Bait: Green crabs, Asian crabs, fiddler crabs and clams; cut crabs in half for big fish.
Lures: Tautog jigs (1–2 oz) tipped with a piece of crab.
Leader: 30–50 lb fluorocarbon, short.
Grey trout (weakfish)
Bait: Live shrimp, peeler crab and strip baits.
Lures: Bucktail jigs, soft plastics and small metal spoons.
Leader: 20–30 lb fluorocarbon, 2–3 ft.
Atlantic croaker (hardhead)
Bait: Shrimp, squid, bloodworms, clam and sand fleas.
Lures: Fishbites strips or a small jig tipped with shrimp.
Leader: 15–20 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Spot
Bait: Bloodworms, shrimp and squid bits.
Lures: Bloodworm-flavored Fishbites.
Leader: 15–20 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Bluefish
Bait: Cut mullet and live finger mullet.
Lures: Metal spoons, Gotcha plugs and topwater poppers.
Leader: 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (add light wire for mackerel and bluefish).
Spanish mackerel
Bait: Live shiners, pilchards and glass minnows.
Lures: Gotcha plugs, small silver spoons, Clarkspoons trolled and small jigs.
Leader: 30–40 lb fluorocarbon (add light wire for mackerel and bluefish).
King mackerel
Bait: Live blue runners, goggle-eyes, menhaden and threadfin herring; frozen cigar minnows.
Lures: Spoons, diving plugs and duster-rigged baits.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: Wire or monofilament leader is documented; material choice, strength and length are not universally established.
Yellowfin tuna
Bait: Live baits (blue runners, bonito) and chunks.
Lures: Spreader bars, skirted lures, poppers and stick baits.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; toothy species may need heavier abrasion-resistant or wire bite protection.
Bluefin tuna
Bait: Live or dead mackerel, herring and squid.
Lures: Large spreader bars and big topwater plugs.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Marlin (white & blue)
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo and small squid.
Lures: Small skirted trolling lures.
Leader: 40–100 lb mono or fluorocarbon.
Wahoo
Bait: Rigged ballyhoo and live baits on wire.
Lures: High-speed trolling lures and lipped diving plugs on wire.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: Use heavy abrasion/bite leader; many wahoo anglers add short wire or cable because of the teeth.
Mahi-mahi (dolphin)
Bait: Ballyhoo, flying fish, squid and cut bait to keep a school near the boat.
Lures: Skirted trolling lures, small feathers and bucktail jigs.
Rig: Use a clean trolling or live-bait rig with minimal hardware, a strong swivel where needed and a leader long enough to protect against abrasion.
Leader: 30–60 lb mono/fluorocarbon is a common mahi start; increase for abrasion or mixed wahoo water.
Greater amberjack
Bait: Live blue runners, pinfish and large baitfish.
Lures: Heavy vertical jigs and big poppers.
Rig: A knocker, fish-finder, dropper or simple jig setup are common choices; use only enough weight to hold the strike zone.
Leader: 30–80 lb abrasion-resistant mono/fluorocarbon is a common starting range; increase around sharp reef or very large fish.
Black sea bass
Bait: Squid, cut fish and shrimp.
Lures: Small vertical jigs and bucktails.
Leader: 50–80 lb fluorocarbon.
Blue crab
Bait: Freshly dead fish is documented as blue-crab trap bait by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Lures: Not applicable.
Rig: Crab traps are a documented blue-crab capture method. Use only locally legal gear.
Leader: Not applicable.
Local fishing reports — what’s biting now
- FishTalk – Way South Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report — Monthly report for the Virginia end of the Bay and Virginia Beach (magazine)
- Great Days Outdoors – Lower Chesapeake Bay Fishing Report — Weekly lower Bay report
- Virginia DWR – Fishing Reports (blog) — Official DWR seasonal fishing reports and how-tos
- Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament — VMRC citation program: leading entries and state records
Sources
- VMRC – Recreational Fishing Regulations for Marine Waters (updated April 2026)
- VMRC / Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament – How, When & Where to Catch: Virginia's Saltwater Fishing Calendar
- VMRC – Blue crab regulation 4 VAC 20-270 (2026 seasons)
- Virginia DWR – 2026 Freshwater Creel and Length Limits
- Virginia DWR – Trout Fishing
- Virginia DWR – 2026 Tidal Rivers Fishing Forecast
- Virginia DWR – Largemouth Bass
- Virginia DWR – Blue Catfish
- Virginia DWR - Fall Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Virginia
- Sport Fishing Magazine - Mid-Atlantic Red Drum Hotspots
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every month on this calendar comes from the sources above. Empty boxes mean no official source gives those months. Rules change — check the agency page before you keep a fish.
On the bay, in the mangroves or on the ocean, the everyday struggles get left at the dock — for those few hours it’s just you, the water and peace.