It’s a fishing day

Belle Isle State Park fishing conditions · Virginia

Today, 2 pm–3 pmSummer flounder

The bite peaks at 98. Water is 61°, inside their 58–75° range, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 84 for summer flounder, worth the tripTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Summer flounder, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 843 am
  2. 84
  3. 84
  4. 846 am
  5. 84
  6. 78
  7. 749 am
  8. 74
  9. 74
  10. 8012 pm
  11. 80
  12. 98
  13. 863 pm
  14. 86
  15. 84
  16. 886 pm
  17. 84
  18. 84
  19. 849 pm
  20. 84
  21. 84
  22. 84Tue
  23. 88
  24. 90
  25. 863 am
  26. 86
  27. 94
  28. 946 am
  29. 94
  30. 79
  31. 839 am
  32. 79
  33. 79
  34. 7912 pm
  35. 83
  36. 88
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
61°F

Summer flounder range 58–75°

Wind
1 mph

From the northwest

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:25 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
42°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Virginia tidal (VMRC) regulations for these waters.

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

98GoToday, 2 pm–3 pm

Water

61°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Summer flounder prefers outgoing tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia tidal waters: 16" minimum Jan 1–May 31 and 17.5" Jun 1–Dec 31, 4 a day, open all year. Virginia rivers that empty into the Potomac follow PRFC rules.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Season here: May–Sep. More on summer flounder

White Perch

White perch

Morone americana

98GoToday, 2 pm–3 pm

Water

61°
40°50–78° · ideal 65°88°

Why

White perch prefers outgoing tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia sets no statewide daily or length limit for white perch, including the tidal rivers below the fall line.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Season here: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on white perch

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

90GoTomorrow, 5 am–8 am

Water

61°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

19" minimum · 24" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers: 1 fish a day, 19–24", in two seasons, May 16–Jun 15 and Oct 4–Dec 31. Virginia rivers that empty into the Potomac follow PRFC rules. Non-offset circle hooks with bait; no gaffing.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. Likes an incoming tide. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 5 am–8 am

Water

61°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside bluefish's active range. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia marine waters: no size limit, 5 a day, including on for-hire trips.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Season here: May–Oct. Likes an incoming tide. More on bluefish

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

78Worth the tripTomorrow, 5 am–8 am

Water

61°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside spotted seatrout's active range. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia tidal waters: 14" minimum, 5 a day with no more than 1 over 24". Recreational anglers may not take, catch or possess speckled trout from Apr 1 to Jun 30, 2026 (4VAC20-280-30).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Season here: May–Oct. Likes an incoming tide. More on spotted seatrout

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

37Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

61°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Below red drum's active range (65–85°F). Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 26" maximum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia tidal waters: 18–26" slot, 3 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Season here: Jun–Nov. Likes an incoming tide. More on red drum

The water

  • Water temperature61°F
  • Barometer30.42 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:25 am
  • Sunset today6:15 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:30 am–8:30 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:50 pm–6:50 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Virginia DWR has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: VA DWR/VMRC · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A state park on the Rappahannock River in Lancaster County. Striped bass and white perch in the river, with speckled trout, red drum, summer flounder and bluefish in warm months.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Smith Point Beach18 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 12 am–8 am
90Go
Point Lookout State Park24 mi · MarylandBest tonight 11 pm to tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Elms Beach Park28 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 3 am–3 pm
100Go
Solomons Island Fishing Pier39 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 1 am–3 pm
100Go
Myrtle Point Park39 mi · MarylandBest tomorrow 5 am–3 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Belle Isle State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Belle Isle State Park you need a Virginia saltwater recreational fishing license issued by VMRC, or a free Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) registration if otherwise exempt. See the agency's current rules: https://mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/recfish-licensing.shtm

What fish are commonly targeted at Belle Isle State Park?

Belle Isle State Park is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Spotted Seatrout, Red Drum, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Belle Isle State Park?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Belle Isle State Park against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Belle Isle State Park have?

Belle Isle State Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Belle Isle State Park?

Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) saltwater regulations apply at Belle Isle State Park. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Belle Isle State Park tidal water?

Yes. Belle Isle State Park sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.