State
Virginia
11 public access points across 6 water bodies.
Virginia spans three fishing regulatory worlds. The tidal Chesapeake and Atlantic coast are managed by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC); non-tidal inland waters are the Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR) beat. The tidal Potomac main stem follows its own rules under the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. Virginia's offshore waters hold Spanish mackerel, cobia, sheepshead, and spadefish in addition to the standard tidal Bay species.
Water bodies
- Chesapeake BayThe defining estuary of the mid-Atlantic — striper country.
- Lower Virginia ChesapeakeEastern Shore, CBBT approaches, cobia country.
- Tidal PotomacDC to Point Lookout — PRFC jurisdiction.
- Upper PotomacAbove Great Falls — smallmouth water.
- Maryland AtlanticAssateague, Ocean City inlet.
- Virginia AtlanticChincoteague to Rudee Inlet.
All Virginia fishing locations
- Mason Neck State Park — Fairfax
- Occoquan Regional Park — Fairfax
- Pohick Bay Regional Park — Fairfax
- Leesylvania State Park — Prince William
- Riverbend Park — Upper Potomac — Fairfax
- Chincoteague NWR — Fishing Access — Accomack
- Kiptopeke State Park — Northampton
- Cape Charles Town Pier — Northampton
- Rudee Inlet — Virginia Beach — Virginia Beach
- Burke Lake Park — Fairfax
- Lake Anna State Park — Spotsylvania
Regulations & licensing
Virginia tidal and marine waters are regulated by VMRC. Non-tidal inland waters fall under VDWR jurisdiction. The tidal Potomac main stem is governed by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission — separate rules apply there regardless of which shore you're fishing from.