It’s a fishing day

Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access fishing conditions · Virginia

Now until tomorrow 8 amStriped bass

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 59°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 100 for striped bass, go · inside the best windowTap 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. 1003 am
  2. 100
  3. 100
  4. 1006 am
  5. 100
  6. 100
  7. 969 am
  8. 96
  9. 96
  10. 10012 pm
  11. 100
  12. 100
  13. 1003 pm
  14. 100
  15. 100
  16. 1006 pm
  17. 100
  18. 100
  19. 1009 pm
  20. 100
  21. 100
  22. 100Tue
  23. 100
  24. 100
  25. 1003 am
  26. 100
  27. 100
  28. 1006 am
  29. 100
  30. 91
  31. 959 am
  32. 91
  33. 91
  34. 9112 pm
  35. 95
  36. 95
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
59°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
5 mph

From the north

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:20 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
48°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.

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

100GoNow until tomorrow 8 am

Water

59°
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

28" minimum · 31" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia coastal waters (the ocean out to 3 miles and the seaside of the Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach): 1 fish a day, 28–31", open Jan 1–Mar 31 and May 16–Dec 31. Federal waters beyond 3 miles are closed. 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

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

78Worth the tripToday 2 pm to tomorrow 8 am

Water

59°
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. Federal waters follow NOAA Fisheries rules.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Season here: May–Sep. Likes an outgoing tide. More on summer flounder

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

57MarginalTonight, 1 am–3 am

Water

59°
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

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

57MarginalTonight, 1 am–3 am

Water

59°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

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

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

57MarginalTonight, 1 am–3 am

Water

59°
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

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

37Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

59°
50°60–82° · ideal 72°92°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Below sheepshead's active range (60–82°F). 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

Cobia

Cobia

Rachycentron canadum

–Not scoredOut of season

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

Water

59°
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 temperature59°F
  • Barometer30.39 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:20 am
  • Sunset today6:10 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:20 am–8:20 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

Barrier island National Wildlife Refuge with Atlantic surf and back-bay fishing access. The refuge beaches see red drum, flounder, and cobia in summer; stripers stack up in fall. Back-bay access on the VA side for seatrout and sheepshead.

NWR entry fee. Seasonal beach closures for nesting piping plovers and other birds — check USFWS Chincoteague NWR for current open areas. No overnight camping on the refuge.

Also a beach: swim conditions and water-quality advisories on itsabeachday.com.

Nearby

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

Assateague Island — MD Surf14 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Public Landing Beach17 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Assateague Island National Seashore22 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Assateague State Park25 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Ocean City Inlet — North Jetty31 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go
Assawoman State Wildlife Area35 mi · MarylandBest now until tomorrow 3 pm
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access 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 Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access?

Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access is listed on this site for 7 commonly-targeted species: Summer Flounder, Bluefish, Striped Bass, Red Drum, 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 Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access?

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 Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access 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 Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access have?

Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. NWR entry fee. Seasonal beach closures for nesting piping plovers and other birds — check USFWS Chincoteague NWR for current open areas. No overnight camping on the refuge.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access?

Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) saltwater regulations apply at Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access. 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 Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access tidal water?

Yes. Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.

Is there parking or an entry fee at Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access?

NWR entry fee. Seasonal beach closures for nesting piping plovers and other birds — check USFWS Chincoteague NWR for current open areas. No overnight camping on the refuge.