Accomack County, VA · Atlantic Ocean
Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access
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.
Live · updated
Top pick today
Cobia — Cobia harvest is closed today.
Best conditions of 7 species tracked at Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access.
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Today's Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:23 AM | High | 3.5 ft |
| 11:25 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 6:06 PM | High | 4.6 ft |
Species at Chincoteague NWR
7 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top pick is open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 Cobia Cobia harvest is closed today. Out of season 74/100
Cobia is outside any documented open harvest period at this location. Check the state agency before fishing.
What's helping
- 83°F water — inside cobia's active range
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
About. Rachycentron canadum — Summer sight-casting target at channel markers, navigation buoys, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Hard-fighting, eel-bodied predator — looks a bit like a shark from above. Cast bucktails or live eels to cruising fish; chunking at anchor over wrecks also works. VA is the mid-Atlantic hot spot for cobia.
Prefers. Water 68–85°F (ideal 76°F) · either tide · depth 10–80 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 43"
- Daily creel
- 1
Virginia Atlantic coast: same rule as tidal Bay — 43-inch minimum, 1 per person / 2 per vessel, open only June 15–September 20. ASMFC-managed; limits can shift annually.
Source: Virginia tidal (VMRC) regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#2 Red Drum Workable day for Red Drum. In season 68/100
What's helping
- 83°F water — inside red drum's active range
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — red drum prefers incoming tide
About. Sciaenops ocellatus — Also called channel bass, redfish, or (as juveniles) puppy drum. Summer and fall target around the lower Bay shoals and the Eastern Shore coastal bays. Big "bull reds" cruise the surf in fall.
Prefers. Water 65–85°F (ideal 75°F) · incoming tide · depth 3–20 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 18"
- Max size
- 26"
- Daily creel
- 3
Virginia Atlantic coast: 18–26 inch slot, 3 per day. Same rule as tidal Bay. All fish outside the slot must be released. Popular fall surf fishery along the Eastern Shore seaside and Virginia Beach.
Source: Virginia tidal (VMRC) regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#2 Spotted Seatrout Spotted Seatrout targeting is prohibited today. No targeting 68/100
It is illegal to fish for Spotted Seatrout at this location today. Accidental catches must be released immediately.
What's helping
- 83°F water — inside spotted seatrout's active range
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- outgoing tide — spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide
About. Cynoscion nebulosus — Popularly called "speckled trout" or "specks." Summer-fall target in the lower Bay grass beds and the Eastern Shore coastal bays. Topwater walkers at dawn and soft plastics on jigheads are standard.
Prefers. Water 60–85°F (ideal 72°F) · incoming tide · depth 3–15 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 14"
- Daily creel
- 5
Virginia Atlantic coast: 14-inch minimum, 5 per day, no more than 1 fish over 24 inches. CLOSED April 1–June 30, 2026 (same spring closure as tidal Bay). 4VAC20-280.
Source: Virginia tidal (VMRC) regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#4 Summer Flounder Marginal conditions for Summer Flounder. In season 52/100
What's helping
- outgoing tide — summer flounder prefers outgoing tide
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 83°F water — above summer flounder's active range (58–75°f) — fish move deep
About. Paralichthys dentatus — Locally called "fluke." Flatfish that ambushes bait off sandy and mixed bottom. Drifting bucktails tipped with Gulp! or live minnows through Ocean City and Chincoteague inlets is the classic method.
Prefers. Water 58–75°F (ideal 65°F) · outgoing tide · depth 10–100 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 16"
- Daily creel
- 4
Virginia Atlantic coast: 16 in (Jan 1–May 31) / 17.5 in (Jun 1–Dec 31), 4 per day. ASMFC-managed; same season step-up as the rest of the mid-Atlantic. Classic VA fluke fisheries: CBBT tunnel islands, Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven.
Source: Virginia tidal (VMRC) regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#5 Bluefish Skip the Bluefish trip today. In season 32/100
What's helping
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 83°F water — above bluefish's active range (60–80°f) — fish move deep
- outgoing tide — bluefish prefers incoming tide
About. Pomatomus saltatrix — Toothy, aggressive pelagic predator. "Snapper blues" invade the lower Bay and coastal bays in summer; bigger choppers along the Atlantic coast. Hits metal jigs, topwater, and cut bait savagely — wire leaders recommended.
Prefers. Water 60–80°F (ideal 70°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–50 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 5
Virginia Atlantic coast: no minimum size, 5 per person per day. 4VAC20-450 — matches the tidal Bay rule. ASMFC coastwide allocation; adjusted annually.
Source: Virginia tidal (VMRC) regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#5 Striped Bass Skip the Striped Bass trip today. In season 32/100
What's helping
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 83°F water — above striped bass's active range (50–72°f) — fish move deep
- outgoing tide — striped bass prefers incoming tide
About. Morone saxatilis — Maryland's state fish. Anadromous — runs into Bay tributaries to spawn each spring. Targeted by trolling, jigging, live-lining, and surf casting. Locally called "rockfish."
Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · incoming tide · depth 5–35 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 28"
- Max size
- 31"
- Daily creel
- 1
Virginia Atlantic Ocean (coastal area). 28–31 inch slot, 1 fish per day. Open January 1–March 31 and May 16–December 31. Closed April 1–May 15 for the spawning run. 4VAC20-252-110. Matches the ASMFC coastwide slot. Distinct from the Bay slot (19–24 in) — the two are not interchangeable; the coastal reg applies only seaward of the COLREGS demarcation line.
Source: Virginia tidal (VMRC) regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#5 Sheepshead Skip the Sheepshead trip today. In season 32/100
What's helping
- 12 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- 83°F water — above sheepshead's active range (60–82°f) — fish move deep
- outgoing tide — sheepshead prefers slack tide
About. Archosargus probatocephalus — Structure-oriented crustacean eater with famously human-like teeth. VA piers, jetties, and the rocks and pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel are the classic targets. Fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or small pieces of shrimp on a knocker rig right against the structure. Expect to lose tackle.
Prefers. Water 60–82°F (ideal 72°F) · slack tide · depth 5–40 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 4
Virginia Atlantic coast and ocean piers: no minimum size, 4 per day. Seasonal fishery in practice — warm-water months only.
Source: Virginia tidal (VMRC) regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
Location Info
Water Body
Atlantic Ocean
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
Virginia tidal (VMRC)
Coordinates
Notes
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.
Local reports & rules for Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access: Virginia DWR fishing & regulations → · trout stocking schedule → · fish-consumption advisory →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
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.