It’s a fishing day

Hilton Pier Park fishing conditions · Virginia

Now until tomorrow 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: 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. 983 pm
  14. 98
  15. 98
  16. 1006 pm
  17. 96
  18. 96
  19. 969 pm
  20. 96
  21. 98
  22. 98Tue
  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. 100
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
63°F

Striped bass range 50–72°

Wind
6 mph

From the north

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:23 am

Sky
Clear

No rain expected

Air
52°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

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

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

98GoTonight, 1 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

98GoTonight, 1 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

90GoTonight, 1 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

White Perch

White perch

Morone americana

90GoTonight, 1 am–8 am

Water

63°
40°50–78° · ideal 65°88°

Why

Right in white perch's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia sets no statewide daily or length limit for white perch, including the tidal rivers below the fall line.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Season here: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. Likes an outgoing tide. More on white perch

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

57MarginalTonight, 1 am–3 am

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
  • Barometer30.39 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:23 am
  • Sunset today6:15 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:30 am–8:30 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

A Newport News park on the James River with a fishing pier. Striped bass and white perch in the river, with speckled trout, red drum, summer flounder and bluefish in warm months.

Nearby

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

Anderson Park6 mi · VirginiaBest now until tomorrow 8 am
100Go
Buckroe Beach11 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 12 am–8 am
90Go
Ocean View Beach14 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 1 am–8 am
90Go
First Landing State Park24 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 12 am–8 am
90Go
Kiptopeke State Park28 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 11 pm to tomorrow 8 am
90Go
Cape Charles Town Pier30 mi · VirginiaBest tonight 12 am–8 am
90Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Hilton Pier Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Hilton Pier 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 Hilton Pier Park?

Hilton Pier Park is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Spotted Seatrout, Red Drum, and 2 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 Hilton Pier 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 Hilton Pier 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 Hilton Pier Park have?

Hilton Pier Park has a fishing pier — shore-only anglers can fish here without a boat.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Hilton Pier Park?

Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) saltwater regulations apply at Hilton Pier 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 Hilton Pier Park tidal water?

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