It’s a fishing day

False Cape State Park fishing conditions · Virginia

Tonight, 2 am–8 amStriped bass

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 63°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 98 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. 983 am
  2. 98
  3. 98
  4. 986 am
  5. 98
  6. 92
  7. 889 am
  8. 88
  9. 88
  10. 9212 pm
  11. 92
  12. 100
  13. 983 pm
  14. 98
  15. 98
  16. 946 pm
  17. 88
  18. 88
  19. 889 pm
  20. 88
  21. 88
  22. 88Tue
  23. 94
  24. 100
  25. 983 am
  26. 98
  27. 98
  28. 986 am
  29. 98
  30. 83
  31. 879 am
  32. 83
  33. 83
  34. 8312 pm
  35. 87
  36. 92
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
63°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
10 mph

From the northeast

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:20 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
55°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

100GoTonight, 2 am–8 am

Water

63°
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

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

90GoTonight, 2 am–8 am

Water

63°
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

90GoTonight, 2 am–8 am

Water

63°
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

82Worth the tripTonight, 2 am–8 am

Water

63°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Right in summer flounder's ideal range. 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. 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

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

49Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

63°
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

The water

  • Water temperature63°F
  • Seas4.6 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer30.37 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:20 am
  • Sunset today6:13 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:20 am–8:20 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

Undeveloped barrier beach between Back Bay and the ocean, reached on foot, by bike or by boat. Red drum in spring and fall, striped bass in winter, bluefish, summer flounder and speckled trout through the warm months.

Nearby

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

Sandbridge Beach10 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 2 am–8 am
100Go
Rudee Inlet — Virginia Beach15 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 1 am–8 amSmall Craft Advisory
77Worth the trip
First Landing State Park23 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 12 am–8 am
90Go
Ocean View Beach30 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 1 am–8 am
90Go
Buckroe Beach37 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 12 am–8 am
90Go
Anderson Park37 mi · VirginiaBest now until tomorrow 8 am
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at False Cape State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at False Cape 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 False Cape State Park?

False Cape State Park is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Red Drum, Striped Bass, Bluefish, Summer Flounder, and 1 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 False Cape 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 False Cape 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 False Cape State Park have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at False Cape State Park?

Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) saltwater regulations apply at False Cape 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 False Cape State Park tidal water?

Yes. False Cape 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.