It’s a fishing day

Cape Charles Town Pier fishing conditions · Virginia

Tonight, 12 am–8 amStriped bass

The bite peaks at 90. Water is 61°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 86 for striped bass, goTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, 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. 863 am
  2. 86
  3. 86
  4. 866 am
  5. 86
  6. 80
  7. 769 am
  8. 76
  9. 76
  10. 8012 pm
  11. 80
  12. 90
  13. 783 pm
  14. 76
  15. 76
  16. 806 pm
  17. 76
  18. 76
  19. 789 pm
  20. 78
  21. 78
  22. 86Tue
  23. 90
  24. 90
  25. 863 am
  26. 86
  27. 86
  28. 866 am
  29. 86
  30. 71
  31. 759 am
  32. 71
  33. 71
  34. 7112 pm
  35. 75
  36. 80
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
61°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
6 mph

From the north

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:22 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
55°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

NWS pressure forecast

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.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

90GoTonight, 12 am–8 am

Water

61°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

78Worth the tripTonight, 12 am–8 am

Water

61°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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. More on bluefish

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

78Worth the tripTonight, 12 am–8 am

Water

61°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. 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. More on spotted seatrout

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

58MarginalTonight, 12 am–8 am

Water

61°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside summer flounder's active range. 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. Likes an outgoing tide. More on summer flounder

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

58MarginalTonight, 12 am–8 am

Water

61°
50°60–82° · ideal 72°92°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Inside sheepshead's active range. Holds 5–40 ft down.

Keep

4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia tidal waters: no size limit, 4 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Season here: May–Oct. Likes slack water. More on sheepshead

Spanish Mackerel

Spanish mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus

37Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

61°
55°65–82° · ideal 74°92°

Why

Spanish mackerel prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–40 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia tidal waters: 14" minimum (total length), 15 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Season here: Jun–Sep. More on Spanish mackerel

Cobia

Cobia

Rachycentron canadum

–Not scoredOut of season

Out of seasonOut of season here today. Check the agency before fishing.

Water

61°
58°68–85° · ideal 76°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Below cobia's active range (68–85°F). Holds 10–80 ft down.

Keep

43" minimum · 1 a day

Out of season here today. Check the agency before fishing. Virginia tidal waters: 43" minimum, 1 a person or 2 a boat, whichever is less, Jun 15–Sep 20. No gaffing or towing.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Season here: Jun–Sep. More on cobia

The water

  • Water temperature61°F
  • Seas7.2 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer30.41 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:22 am
  • Sunset today6:13 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:30 am–8:30 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:40 pm–6:40 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

Town pier on the Eastern Shore side of the lower Chesapeake Bay. Free public access with views across the Bay. Spanish mackerel, sheepshead, and summer flounder are highlights in warm months; stripers in the fall run.

Free public pier. Anglers fishing from a VMRC-designated license-free public pier do not need a paid Virginia saltwater license, but a free Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) registration is required for ages 16+. Confirm Cape Charles' current designation with VMRC.

Nearby

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

Kiptopeke State Park7 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 11 pm to tomorrow 8 am
90Go
Buckroe Beach21 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 12 am–8 am
90Go
First Landing State Park24 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 12 am–8 am
90Go
Ocean View Beach25 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 1 am–8 am
90Go
Anderson Park30 mi · VirginiaBest now until tomorrow 8 am
100Go
Hilton Pier Park30 mi · VirginiaBest now until tomorrow 8 am
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Cape Charles Town Pier?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Cape Charles Town Pier 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 Cape Charles Town Pier?

Cape Charles Town Pier is listed on this site for 7 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Spotted Seatrout, Summer Flounder, and 3 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 Cape Charles Town Pier?

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 Cape Charles Town Pier 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 Cape Charles Town Pier have?

Cape Charles Town Pier has a fishing pier — shore-only anglers can fish here without a boat. Free public pier. Anglers fishing from a VMRC-designated license-free public pier do not need a paid Virginia saltwater license, but a free Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) registration is required for ages 16+. Confirm Cape Charles' current designation with VMRC.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Cape Charles Town Pier?

Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) saltwater regulations apply at Cape Charles Town Pier. 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 Cape Charles Town Pier tidal water?

Yes. Cape Charles Town Pier sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.