First Landing State Park fishing conditions · Virginia

Tonight, 12 am–8 amStriped bass

The bite peaks at 90. Water is 63°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

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.

863 am
86
86
866 am
86
80
769 am
76
76
8012 pm
80
90
863 pm
78
76
806 pm
76
76
769 pm
78
78
86Tue
90
90
863 am
86
86
866 am
86
71
759 am
71
71
7112 pm
75
75

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: 63°F
Wind: 9 mph
Light: Dark
Sky: Clear
Air: 57°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 100% lit

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

Morone saxatilis

90GoTonight, 12 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

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

Pomatomus saltatrix

78Worth the tripTonight, 12 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

Cynoscion nebulosus

78Worth the tripTonight, 12 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

Paralichthys dentatus

70Worth the tripTonight, 12 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. 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

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

37Sit 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
Seas7.2 ft at the nearest buoy
Barometer30.38 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunrise today7:21 am
Sunset today6:14 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

Virginia's most-visited state park, on the Chesapeake Bay at Cape Henry where the Bay meets the Atlantic. Bay-front shoreline and quick access to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel structures. Striped bass, bluefish, summer flounder, red drum, and speckled trout all move through with the seasons.

Day-use parking fee. Lower-Bay species mix shifts strongly by season; the nearby CBBT structures are a major draw.

WaterChesapeake Bay
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesVirginia tidal (VMRC)
WhereVirginia Beach · 36.9218, -76.0569

Nearby

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

Rudee Inlet — Virginia Beach8 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 1 am–8 amSmall Craft Advisory

77Worth the trip

Ocean View Beach10 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 1 am–8 am

90Go

Sandbridge Beach13 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 2 am–8 am

100Go

Buckroe Beach15 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 12 am–8 am

90Go

Kiptopeke State Park17 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 11 pm to tomorrow 8 am

90Go

Anderson Park20 mi · VirginiaBest now until tomorrow 8 am

100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at First Landing State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at First Landing 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 First Landing State Park?

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

First Landing State Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Day-use parking fee. Lower-Bay species mix shifts strongly by season; the nearby CBBT structures are a major draw.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at First Landing State Park?

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

Yes. First Landing 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.

Is there parking or an entry fee at First Landing State Park?

Day-use parking fee. Lower-Bay species mix shifts strongly by season; the nearby CBBT structures are a major draw.