How, When & Where to Catch
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How, When & Where to Catch
Virginia’s Saltwater Fishing Calendar
x – Available
xx – Peak Season
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Species
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Amberjack x xx xx xx x
Atlantic Mackerel x xx x
Black Drum x xx xx x x x
Blue Marlin x xx xx xx x
Bluefin Tuna xx xx xx x x xx x
Bluefish x xx xx xx xx xx xx xx x
Blueline Tilefish x x x x x x x x x x x x
Cobia x xx xx x xx
Croaker x x x xx xx xx xx x x
Dolphin x x xx xx xx x
Flounder x xx xx xx xx xx xx xx x
Gray Trout x xx xx xx x xx xx x
King Mackerel x xx xx xx xx
Kingfish (Roundhead) x xx xx xx xx x
Red Drum x x xx xx x xx xx xx x
Sea Bass x x x x xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx
Sheepshead x xx xx xx x x
Spadefish x xx xx xx xx x
Spanish Mackerel xx xx xx xx x
Speckled Trout x xx xx x xx xx xx xx x
Spot x xx xx xx x
Striped Bass xx x x x xx xx x x xx xx xx xx
Tarpon x xx xx x
Tautog xx x xx xx xx xx x x x xx xx xx
Wahoo x x xx xx xx
White Marlin x xx xx xx x
Yellowfin Tuna x xx xx xx xx xx x
11
Species Bait or Lure Method Location Seasons Average State Record
Weights
Amber- Live bait (spot, croaker, Drifting and slow trolling live bait over and Ocean waters over and around wrecks June — October; peak July 30 – 60 pounds 118 pounds; caught at the
jack bluefish, menhaden, small around obstructions (wrecks, reefs, tow- & underwater obstructions; Chesapeake — middle September Chesapeake Light Tower in
fish); Artificial lures (spoons, ers, buoys); casting and trolling artificial Light Tower 1986 by Mark J. Roberts
surface plugs, diamond lures over and around obstructions
jigs, white bucktails, plastic
squids)
Black Sea Squid, crab, cut fish, clam, Bottomfishing, generally near and over Ocean waters; species less plentiful April — December; species 1 – 3-1/2 pounds 10 pounds, 4 ounces;
Bass shrimp, diamond jigs, underwater obstructions (wrecks, reefs, (especially large individuals) in lower moves to waters offshore caught over offshore wreck
metal jigs rocks and rough bottom areas) Chesapeake Bay (20 fathoms and more) by Al Paschall in 2000
during winter, where they
can be caught over wrecks
and ledges
Bluefish Artificial lures (spoons, tube Trolling, casting or jigging to schools of Offshore and coastal waters; Chesapeake Middle April — July; October 8 – 16 pounds 25 pounds, 4 ounces;
(large) eels, metal squids, surface fish with artificial lures; surfcasting with Bay; Eastern Shore barrier island surf — December caught at Bluefish Rock in
plugs), cut bait (fresh cut bait or lures; chumming while using Chesapeake Bay in 1986 by
menhaden, mullet, herring, cut bait; bluefish can be taken on streamer Gayle E. Cozzens
spot), whole balao or Boston flies with a fly rod
mackerel
Bluefish Artificial lures (small spoons, Trolling or casting to schools of fish with Chesapeake Bay, coastal ocean waters, May — October 1 – 5 pounds
(small) feather lures, metal squids, artificial lures; surfcasting and bottom ocean surf, inlets
surface plugs) and cut bait fishing with cut bait; surfcasting with
artificial lures
Blueline Squid, cut fish, metal jigs Bottom fishing, generally over rough bot- Offshore ocean waters January — December; 4 – 8 pounds 20 pounds, 4 ounces;
Tilefish tom in 300 feet of water or greater caught at Norfolk Canyon by
David Akridge, Jr in 2009
Cobia Live bait (eels, spot, menha- Cast, drift or slow troll live baits around Buoys in lower Chesapeake Bay, at the May — September; peak 20 – 50 pounds 109 pounds, 8 ounces;
den, mullet); artificial lures buoys, underwater obstructions and mouth of the Bay and along coastal mid-June — mid - Sep- caught at York Spit by
(large spoons, white buck- schools of fish swimming on the surface; beaches; CBBT; Bluefish Rock off Hamp- tember Joseph F. Berberich, III
tails, plastic eels, swimming anchor, chum and fish live baits, fresh ton, Cabbage Patch and Kiptopeake areas in 2006
plugs); cut bait (menhaden dead baits and cut bait in chum slick and off Cape Charles, and York Spit area;
or spot) on bottom; cast and troll lures around coastal buoys and wrecks; Chesapeake
buoys, obstructions and to schools of bull- Light Tower; Latimer Shoal; Inner Middle
fish (rays) or schools, pods or individual Ground Shoal; York Spit area
cobia swimming on surface
Croaker Peeler crab, bloodworms, Bottomfishing with bait, anchored or Chesapeake Bay, tributary rivers of the March — November 1/2 – 2 pounds 8 pounds, 11 ounces;
cut bait, squid, shrimp drifting from boats, and also caught from Bay, coastal ocean waters, inlets caught at Newpoint Light by
piers, docks, shore and surf Norman T. Jenkins in 2007
Dolphin Artificial lures (offshore Trolling with lures, balao and squid; Offshore ocean waters May — October 2 – 20 pounds 71 pounds, 8 ounces;
trolling lures), balao, squid, casting to schools of dolphin around caught off VA Beach in 1991
cut bait weedlines and floating debris with cut bait by Don Dorey
(fish or squid) and lures (bucktails, surface
plugs, streamer flies)
Black Whole clam, peeler crab, Bottomfishing with bait on “fishfinder” rig; Chesapeake Bay along shallow portion of May — September; peak May 40 – 60 pounds 111 pounds; caught off
Drum whelk, peeler crab/clam running tides and late afternoons and eve- channel ledge running from Fisherman’s — early June along Eastern Cape Charles in 1973 by
“sandwich”, bucktail and nings considered best; occasionally caught Island to north of Cape Charles, especially Shore bayside and seaside Betty Hall
leadhead jigs on bucktails or metal squids by casting or off Kiptopeake, at Cabbage Patch and inlets; peak late June— early
jigging to a school of fish buoys C-10 & C-12; around middleground August at 2nd & 3rd Islands
bars of Eastern Shore seaside inlets; 2nd of Chesapeake Bay Bridge
& 3rd Islands of Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel
Tunnel
Flounder Live bait (minnows and Drift fishing with live or dead natural baits Seaside inlets of the Eastern Shore; March — November; peak 1 – 3 pounds 17 pounds, 8 ounces;
small fish), frozen min- fished on the bottom; slow trolling natural Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel area; lower May — July on Eastern caught at Chesapeake Bay
nows, fresh strip baits baits on bottom; casting from beaches and Chesapeake Bay; Rudee Inlet; the Cell and Shore seaside; July — Octo- Bridge Tunnel in 1971 by
(bluefish, flounder and piers; trolling small bucktails dressed with eastern end of the “Cut” Channel in the ber in Chesapeake Bay C.E. Cross
shark belly, squid), minnow/ strip baits (especially for big fish along middle Chesapeake Bay
strip combination, artificial Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel); casting
lures (bucktails); big strip bucktails
baits and live spot or small
mullet often used for big fish
at Chesapeake Bay Bridge
Tunnel
Kingfish Bloodworms, shrimp, small Bottomfishing with bait Surf zone of coastal waters from Sand- May — October 1/2 – 1-1/2 2 pounds, 13 ounces;
(Round- pieces of cut bait, squid, bridge to Assateague Island; ocean piers; pounds caught off Sandbridge by
head, sand fleas lower portion of the Chesapeake Bay, Chip Waters in 2002
Whiting) including lower bay piers
Mackerel, Small tube worms and jigs Jigging to schools of suspended fish Coastal and offshore ocean waters, from Mid - February – mid April 1/2 – 3 pounds None; 3 pound minimum for
Atlantic 5-35 miles offshore peak March — early April initial state record
(Boston
Mackerel)
Mackerel, Live bait (menhaden, mullet, Slow trolling, drifting or anchoring with live Coastal and offshore ocean waters, par- June — October; peak Sep- 5 – 20 pounds 63 pounds, 1 ounce; caught
King spot, small bluefish); artifi- bait; trolling with artificial lures, strip bait ticularly around wrecks, towers, obstruc- tember — middle October off Sandbridge by Susan
cial lures (spoons, feather and balao tions, ledges, lumps and other “structure”; Smith in 2007
lures, nylon jigs); strip baits mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and off
and small whole balao ocean inlets
Mackerel, Small artificial lures (spoons, Trolling; casting to schools of fish Coastal ocean waters, particularly off June — October; peak June 1 – 3 pounds 9 pounds, 13 ounces;
Spanish metal lures, feather and inlets, along tidelines, and over coastal — September caught off Virginia Beach in
nylon lures), small live baits wrecks; lower Chesapeake Bay 1993 by Everett Cameron
(menhaden, mullet)
Blue Whole dead fish (balao, Trolling Offshore ocean waters June — October; peak 150 – 400 pounds 1093 pounds, 12 ounces;
Marlin mullets, spanish mackerel), middle June — September caught off Virginia Beach in
squid, artificial lures (off- 1978 by Edward A. Givens
shore trolling lures), and live
baits (small dolphin, bonito
and skipjack tuna
12Species Bait or Lure Method Location Seasons Average State Record
Weights
White Whole dead fish (balao, mul- Trolling; occasionally casting live baits to Offshore ocean waters June — October; peak August 40 – 60 pounds 131 pounds, 10 ounces;
Marlin let), squid, strip baits, eels, marlin “balling” bait or swimming on surface — September caught off Virginia Beach in
artificial lures (offshore trolling 1978 by Rudolph D. Van’t Riet
lures), live bait (pilchards,
cigar minnows)
Sailfish Whole dead fish (balao, Trolling; also, sailfish seem to be attracted to Offshore ocean waters June — October; peak July — 20 – 40 pounds 68 pounds, 8 ounces; caught
small mullet), strip baits, slow trolled live baits fished in similar meth- September off Virginia Beach in 1977 by
squid, artificial lures (small od as used to slow troll for king mackerel P.J. Murden
offshore trolling lures, live
bait (small fish)
Sharks Whole dead fish and cut fish; Anchor, chum and fish dead and live fish Offshore and coastal ocean waters, particu- June — October 50 – 250 pounds 1099 pounds, 12 ounces;
live bait (fish) baits in chum slick and on bottom larly around and over obstructions (wrecks, caught off Virginia Beach in
reefs, towers), ledges and lumps; Eastern 1981 by John Thurston
Shore seaside coastal waters and inlets
Sheeps- Fiddler crabs, mole crabs Fishing bait near the bottom (suspended Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel; wrecks May — October 3 – 8 pounds 20 pounds, 12 ounces
head (sand fleas), clams off the bottom) near submerged structures in nearshore coastal waters and lower caught from the Seagull
Chesapeake Bay Fishing Pier (CBBT) by Arun
Nhek in 2005
Spadefish Pieces of fresh mussels and Fish visible schools of fish around obstruc- Coastal ocean waters and the lower Chesa- May — September 3 – 8 pounds 14 pounds, 14 ounces;
clams; pieces of jellyfish tions (buoys, towers, etc.) with small (#1 or peake Bay; Fish consistently found at the caught at the Cell by Roland
#2) double strength hooks Cell, Plantation Light, York Spit Light, Tiger E. Murphy in 2009
wreck, 4A-buoy, Chesapeake Light Tower,
and CBBT
Spot Bloodworms, peeler crab, Bottomfishing with bait; anchored or drifting Chesapeake Bay and Bay tributary rivers, June — October; peak 8 – 12 ounces 2 lbs., 6 oz.; caught at the
clam from boats, also caught from docks, piers, coastal ocean waters, inlets — all inshore July — September for Chesa- Egg Island Bar in Chesapeake
shore and surf; big runs of fish in the fall in coastal waters peake Bay and tributary Bay in 1980 by Nathan
lower Chesapeake Bay and in surf and piers rivers; peak middle August - Dryden
of Virginia Beach middle October in lower Bay
and coastal ocean areas
Striped Artificial lures (spoons, plas- Troll artificial lures around bridges, piers, All coastal inshore and Chesapeake Bay January — December; peak 5 – 25 pounds 73 pounds; caught near the
Bass tic eels, bucktails, surface Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, jetties or waters (tidal waters, including Bay tributary for large fish in November 4A-Buoy by Frederick Barnes
plugs, swimming plugs), troll in vicinity of schools of fish (where rivers and Eastern Shore bayside creeks); and December; peak fishing in 2008
peeler crab, bloodworms, gulls diving and slicks on the water); cast best concentrations of fish in main portion for school fish generally in
eels, cut bait, live bait bucktails and plugs around bridges, piers, of Chesapeake Bay and around Chesa- spring and fall
jetties and CBBT; bottomfishing with peake Bay Bridge Tunnel; large fish most
bloodworms in deep holes, creeks and often found along CBBT, main portion of
rivers that flow into Chesapeake Bay during Chesapeake Bay and off the Virginia Capes
winter months and in Assateague surf at the mouth of the Bay; Assateague surf in
during late fall and early spring; peeler crab late fall and early spring
baits fished in tributary rivers and creeks
near shore during summer
Swordfish Whole dead squid and fish Fish at night from a drifting boat using Offshore ocean waters April — October; peak 381 pounds, 8 ounces;
natural baits with chemical lightsticks, with August — September caught at the Norfolk Canyon
baits weighted to maintain specific depths in 1978 by J.D. Alexander
Tarpon Whole dead fish (spot, Anchor and fish live bait under floats, fish Inlets, interior marsh areas, and ocean Late June early September; 40 – 80 pounds 130 pounds; caught on East-
croaker, menhaden); live bait dead bait on the bottom and at various waters along the beaches of Eastern Shore peak July — August ern Shore seaside in 1975 by
(spot, croaker, menhaden, depths; cast artificial lures to rolling fish seaside barrier islands; fish deep holes on Barry Truitt
mullet); whole squid; artificial low tides and shallow areas on high tides
lures (plugs and weighted
streamer flies)
Tautog Crab (blue, fiddler, green and Bottomfishing with bait over underwater Wrecks and reefs in ocean waters off the January — December peak 3 – 6 pounds 24 pounds; caught off Wacha-
mole crabs); clams; whelk obstructions (wrecks, reefs, rocks) coast and in lower Chesapeake Bay; along March — June and October preague in 1987 by Gregory
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel — December R. Bell
Trout, Artificial lures (bucktails, lead Jigging or casting artificial lures to schools Large fish: Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, May — November; peak at 1 – 8 pounds 19 pounds; caught at the
Gray jigs with plastic tails, metal of fish on bottom or suspended above the Chesapeake Bay over deepwater rocks, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tun- Chesapeake Bay Bridge
(Weakfish) jigs), live bait (spot and small bottom; bottomfishing with live and natural and along channel edges, and occasionally nel May June and October; Tunnel in 1983 by Philip W.
mullet), peeler crab, squid, baits from anchored or drifting boat; surf- in Eastern Shore seaside inlets, Small fish: peak in Chesapeake Bay, Bay Halstead
cut bait casting with cut bait or squid Coastal ocean waters and inlets of Eastern tributary rivers, and Eastern
Shore seaside, Chesapeake Bay along Shore seaside inlets June -
channel edges and over deepwater rocks, September; peak in ocean
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (especially waters off Eastern Shore
between 4th Island and High Level Bridge), from middle September
Chesapeake Bay tributary rivers (especially -November
James, York and Rappahannock)
Trout, Artificial lures (mirro-sided Spring method: peeler crab baits fished Spring: Mobjack Bay area (North, Ware, April — Middle December; 2 – 4 pounds 16 pounds; caught at
Speckled plugs, bucktails, plastic tail near shore of marshy or grassy areas on East, Piankatank Rivers); submerged grass peak May — middle June Mason’s Beach on Eastern
jigs), peeler crab, live bait flooding tides; Fall method: casting artificial flats and marshes of northern Eastern and September — November Shore bayside in 1977 by
(small spot, mullet); live lures; also some live bait fishing, trolling Shore bayside, Rudee Inlet with lures. William Katko
shrimp and jigging Fall: Lynnhaven Inlet, Rudee Inlet; Eastern
Shore bayside creeks, Mobjack Bay
area, Windmill Point and Gwynn’s Island;
Poquoson Flats
Tuna, Whole dead fish (balao), Trolling Offshore ocean waters June — October; peak late 100 – 175 pounds 285 pounds, 12 ounces;
Bigeye squid, artificial lures (feather June — July caught at the Norfolk Canyon
lures, cedar plugs, offshore by Melvin Bray in 2003
trolling lures)
Tuna, Artificial lures (cedar plugs, Trolling, chunking and chumming Offshore ocean waters, especially the June — September; peak 30 – 70 pounds 573 pounds; caught off
Bluefin feather lures, spoons), Southeast Lumps, the Fingers, 26 Mile Hill, June — August; big fish occa- Virginia Beach by Frederick
squid, small fish 20 Fathom Finger; off Chicoteague sionally found around Chesa- “Bo” Haycox in 2007
peake Light Tower in late
November and December
Tuna, Whole dead fish (balao), Trolling, chunking and chumming Offshore ocean waters May — October; peak June 30 – 70 pounds 203 pounds, 12 ounces;
Yellowfin squid, artificial lures (feather — September caught at the Norfolk
lures, offshore trolling lures, Canyon in 1981 by Bruce
cedar plugs) Gottwald, Jr.
Tunny, Artificial lures (small Trolling, can cast small metal lures to Offshore and coastal ocean waters; May — November 6 – 14 pounds 25 pounds, 4 ounces;
Little feather and nylon lures, schools of fish on surface occasionally in lower Chesapeake Bay caught off Virginia Capes
(False spoons, cedar plugs), in 1964 by Jack Sparrow
Albacore) strip baits
Wahoo Artificial lures (offshore Trolling Offshore ocean waters June — October 20 – 40 pounds 109 pounds; caught off
trolling lures, feather lures, Virginia Beach in 1994 by
spoons, large plugs), small Delmo Dawson
dead fish (balao)
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