Fishing guides › Virginia & Chesapeake Bay
FISHING GUIDE · VIRGINIA
Upper Virginia Chesapeake: Rappahannock, Reedville and Smith Point Fishing Guide
The middle Virginia Bay and lower Rappahannock are classic rockfish, croaker, spot and speckled trout water. In summer, cobia and red drum push up to Smith Point and Windmill Point, and Spanish mackerel and bluefish chase bait in the river mouth.
📍 Rappahannock River mouth, Windmill Point, Whitestone Bridge, Gwynn's Island, Reedville, Smith Point, the Northern Neck, Mobjack Bay
📅 Virginia Fishing Calendar — best months, closed seasons, bait & rigs →
Map: spots, ramps and marinas
★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)
Open the full Virginia & Chesapeake Bay map →
Quick facts
- The Virginia record Spanish mackerel (10 lb 7 oz) was caught off Smith Point in 2022.
- Reedville is home to a menhaden reduction plant; VMRC notes menhaden are key forage for the Bay's game fish.
- VMRC says as much as 80% of the East Coast migratory striped bass population is thought to be spawned in Chesapeake Bay tributaries.
- The Rappahannock is one of the Bay rivers VMRC names for gray trout and spring shad.
What you can catch
- Striped bass (rockfish)
Bay seasons only: May 16-June 15 and Oct 4-Dec 31. - Croaker
Bottom fishing March-November. - Spot
Peak July-September in the Bay and rivers. - Speckled trout
Fall at Windmill Point and Gwynn's Island; spring in Mobjack Bay rivers. - Red drum
Puppy drum in the river shallows; bull reds in the Bay in summer. - Cobia
Smith Point and Windmill Point chum slicks in July and August. - Spanish mackerel
Reach the Rappahannock mouth by mid-July; troll small spoons. - Bluefish
Mixed in with Spanish mackerel in summer.
Month by month
| January | Striped bass closed in the Bay; quiet. |
|---|---|
| February | Quiet. |
| March | First croaker can show late in the month. |
| April | Croaker arriving; shad run upriver on the Rappahannock; speckled trout closed in 2026 (Apr 1-June 30). |
| May | Croaker bite builds; spring striped bass season opens May 16. |
| June | Striped bass season ends June 15; cobia season opens June 15; spot start. |
| July | Cobia at Smith Point and Windmill Point; Spanish mackerel reach the river mouth; puppy drum in the shallows. |
| August | Cobia, Spanish mackerel, spot and croaker. |
| September | Spot run peaks; cobia season ends Sept 20; speckled trout pick up. |
| October | Fall rockfish season opens Oct 4; speckled trout and puppy drum in creeks. |
| November | Rockfish and speckled trout; croaker leave the Bay. |
| December | Rockfish until Dec 31. |
Tips
- Potomac River tributaries follow Potomac River Fisheries Commission rules for striped bass and flounder, not the main Virginia Bay rules.
- Rockfish slot in the Bay is 19-24 inches, 1 per person, only during the open seasons.
- For cobia, chum with menhaden and fish live eels or bunker chunks; no gaffs allowed for recreational anglers.
- Speckled trout rules changed in 2026; check VMRC before keeping any.
Rules and license
Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) · Official rules page ↗
- License: anglers 16-64 need a Virginia saltwater license ($17.50 resident, $25 non-resident, $10 for 10 days). Anglers 65 and older and unlicensed anglers 16+ must register free with the Fisherman Identification Program (FIP). No license or FIP is needed on a licensed charter or head boat.
- Striped bass (rockfish), Chesapeake Bay and rivers: spring season May 16-June 15 and fall season Oct 4-Dec 31; slot 19-24 inches; 1 fish per person per day. Closed at other times.
- Cobia: season June 15-Sept 20; 43 inches minimum; 1 per person, no more than 2 per boat per day; gaffing cobia is illegal for recreational anglers.
- Red drum: slot 18-26 inches; 3 per person.
- Speckled trout: 14 inches minimum, 5 per person, only 1 may be 24 inches or longer. In 2026 the season was closed April 1-June 30 after cold-stun kills.
- Summer flounder: open all year; 16 inches Jan 1-May 31 and 17.5 inches June 1-Dec 31; 4 per person.
- Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament (state citation program): striped bass citations are temporarily suspended in 2026.
Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.
Boat ramps and marinas
The map above shows 31 boat ramps and 17 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.
- Boat ramp near Cornfield Harbor
- Boat ramp near Donlins Cove
- Boat ramp near Dungan Cove
- Boat ramp near Fleeton Bay
- Boat ramp near Headly Cove
- Boat ramp near Hills Bay
- Boat ramp near Meachim Creek
- Boat ramp near Myer Creek
- Boat ramp near Oyster Creek Gut
- Boat ramp near Tanner Creek
- Buzzard Point Marina
- Chesapeake Cove Marina
- Deltaville Yachting Center
- Ingrams Bay Marina
- Lewisetta Marina & Marine Services
- Mill Creek Landing Public Boat Ramp
- Nomad Norview Marina
- Olverson's Lodge Creek Marina
- Rappahannock Yachts
- Rappahannock Yachts Inc
- Regatta Point Yachting Center
- Regent Point Marina
- Roane Point Landing Boat Ramp
- Stingray Point Marina
- The Narrows Marina
- True North Boatworks
- Tylerton County Dock
- Waldens Marina
- Windmill Point Marina
Sources
- https://mrc.virginia.gov/vswft/2026/MRC_2026_VSWFT_Brochure.pdf
- https://mrc.virginia.gov/vswft/Angler_Guide/angler_web_catch.pdf
- https://mrc.virginia.gov/vswft/Angler_Guide/angler_web_waters.pdf
- https://fishtalkmag.com/fishing-report/lower-chesapeake-bay-fishing-report-july-2024
- https://www.gazettejournal.net/vmrc-closes-speckled-trout-season/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title4/agency20/chapter252/section80/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title4/agency20/chapter252/section90/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title4/agency20/chapter252/section110/
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincodefull/title4/agency20/chapter510
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincodefull/title4/agency20/chapter1400
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincodefull/title4/agency20/chapter620
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincodefull/title4/agency20/chapter280
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincodefull/title4/agency20/chapter960
- https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincodefull/title4/agency20/chapter950
- https://mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/recfish-licensing.shtm
- https://mrc.virginia.gov/whatsnew.shtm
Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.