Species
Atlantic Spadefish
Chaetodipterus faber · family Ephippidae
Live · updated
Schooling disk-shaped fish at offshore structure — wrecks, reef balls, and the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Famously picky biters; small hook (#1-#2) baited with a sliver of jellyball or clam strip on a dropshot rig over a chum slick is the drill. Hard fighters for their size.
Preferred conditions
- Water temp
- 70–82°F (ideal 76°F)
- Tide
- slack
- Moon
- either
- Depth
- 15–60 ft
- Active months
- Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Best atlantic spadefish conditions today
No locations match that filter.
Regulations by jurisdiction
Virginia (tidal — VMRC)
Stale: last verified 51 days ago.
tidal bay
- Creel
- 4
Virginia tidal waters: no minimum size, 4 per day. VMRC regulation 4VAC20-970 (effective 2002; creel later tightened). Warm-water-only fishery in practice — fish appear around mid-June and leave by early October.
Source · verified 2026-04-22
Stale: last verified 51 days ago.
atlantic
- Creel
- 4
Virginia Atlantic coast: no minimum size, 4 per day. Fishery targets structure — wrecks, reefs, and nearshore buoys.
Source · verified 2026-04-22