Cape Charles Fishing
Saltwater fishing on a cape or island in Northampton County.
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Cape Charles, sized up for saltwater anglers
Tidewater anglers know Cape Charles as a cape or island in Northampton County, on the Chesapeake Bay side. From the point, Cape Charles is about 8 miles distant.
It has 2 saltwater launches in DWR saltwater access data. Within a 25-mile run sit 10 artificial reefs on the VMRC charts. 3 water-level stations from NOAA sit within 25 miles. Below the digest license line, a saltwater license and the VMRC limits apply.
USGS GNIS named feature 1464427; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Tidal ramps around Cape Charles
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Charles boat ramp on Cherrystone Inlet | dock and ramp, 4 ramps, barrier-free, saltwater | Town of Cape Charles | Town of Cape Charles, Rt. 1103 |
| Oyster boat ramp on Cherrystone Inlet | concrete ramp (no dock), 2 ramps, saltwater | Northampton | In Oyster on Rt 1802 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
What may come home from Cape Charles
| Species | Area | Size | Bag | Season | VAC section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black drum | Virginia tidal waters | 16 in minimum | 1 | not stated | 4VAC20-320-40 |
| Bluefish | Virginia tidal waters | not stated | 5 | not stated | 4VAC20-450-20 |
| Cobia | Virginia tidal waters | 43 in minimum | 1 | June 15 through September 20 | 4VAC20-510-20 |
| Grey trout (weakfish) | Virginia tidal waters | 12 in minimum | 1 | not stated | 4VAC20-380-60 |
| Speckled trout | Virginia tidal waters | 14 in minimum | 5 | Closed April 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026 | 4VAC20-280-30 |
| Striped bass | Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries (fall) | 19 in minimum, 24 in maximum | 1 | October 4 through December 31 | 4VAC20-252-90 |
| Striped bass | Potomac River tributaries | 19 in minimum, 24 in maximum | 1 | May 16 through July 6 and August 21 through December 31 | 4VAC20-252-100 |
| Striped bass | All Virginia waters | not stated | not stated | not stated | 4VAC20-252-50 |
Read the Cape Charles rows as of November 6, 2026; VMRC can change them by emergency order.
Virginia Administrative Code, Title 4 Agency 20 (Marine Resources Commission) on law.lis.virginia.gov, as of November 6, 2026 (VMRC rules change by emergency order; check the VMRC regulations page before keeping fish).
A Virginia saltwater license is $17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents 16 and older.
Virginia license fees in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (licenses run one year from purchase unless noted), read November 6, 2026. Virginia Marine Resources Commission license fees, read November 6, 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Tides near Cape Charles
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kiptopeke | 8632200 | 2 miles |
| CBBT, Chesapeake Channel | 8638901 | 11 miles |
| Sewells Point | 8638610 | 25 miles |
Tide prediction points near Cape Charles
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Kiptopeke Beach | 2 miles |
| Smith Island (Coast Guard Station) | 3 miles |
| Fishermans Island | 4 miles |
| Old Plantation Light | 8 miles |
| Cape Charles Harbor | 9 miles |
| Oyster Harbor | 10 miles |
For Cape Charles, follow the links for current water and tide data.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Reef sites near Cape Charles
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 5 miles | 15 |
| Cherrystone Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 13 miles | 15 |
| Bluefish Rock Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 15 miles | 15 |
| Back River Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 15 miles | 15 |
| York Spit Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 16 miles | |
| East Oceanview Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 20 miles | |
| Tower Artificial Reef | Atlantic Ocean | 21 miles | 30 |
| Poquoson Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 22 miles | 12 |
| Mobjack Bay Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 23 miles | 15 |
| Nassawadox Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 24 miles | 15 |
Reef points near Cape Charles are chart-grid midpoints from the VMRC guide, not structure positions.
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide reef charts, read November 7, 2026.
Launch names on Cape Charles from the VMRC guide
- Cape Charles Harbor RampVMRC angler guide listing
Ports within reach of Cape Charles
- Cape CharlesNorthampton County, 9 miles
- OysterNorthampton County, 10 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Old Dominion stops around Cape Charles
More Virginia coast pages near Cape Charles
- Magothy Baybay, 3 miles
- Fishermans Inletinlet, 3 miles
- Smith Island Inletinlet, 3 miles
- Fishermans Islandcape or island, 4 miles
- Smith Islandcape or island, 5 miles
The Bay beyond Cape Charles
- Chesapeake BayVirginia side
Lakes and rivers inland of Cape Charles
- Lake Whitehurst21 miles
- Trashmore Lake24 miles
- Sandy Bottom Park Pond27 miles
Bloodworm and minnow counters en route to Cape Charles
- Bailey's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Cape Charles, 9 miles
- Bbr Marina Shoresmarina, Virginia Beach, 18 miles
- Blue Marlin Marinemarina, Virginia Beach, 18 miles
- Sentara Therapy Center – Marina Shoresmarina, Virginia Beach, 18 miles
- Marina Shores Marina, 2100 Marina Shores Drmarina, Virginia Beach, 18 miles
- Great Mariner Management Comarina, Virginia Beach, 18 miles
Hired Commonwealth guides on Cape Charles
- Cape Charles Fishing Adventurecharter, Cape Charles, (717) 572-7589
Towns that make a good base for Cape Charles
Each locality touching Cape Charles, linked
- Northampton Countycounty seat Eastville
A Piscifun spread to take to Cape Charles
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Pictures of the water by Cape Charles
Photo: Watts, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
Photo: Missy Schmidt, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nannette Turner, CC BY 2.0
Sorting out Cape Charles, question by question
Which stretch of Tidewater holds Cape Charles?
Set the map on Northampton County, on the Chesapeake Bay side, about 8 miles from Cape Charles.
Which DWR launch serves Cape Charles?
2 saltwater launches serve it, such as Cape Charles boat ramp on Cherrystone Inlet.
Which license covers Cape Charles?
A Virginia saltwater license is $17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents 16 and older. Under-16 anglers are exempt.
What red drum slot does VMRC set on Cape Charles?
Red drum: 3 a day, 18-inch minimum, 26-inch maximum (4VAC20-1400-30), as of November 6, 2026.
Is there a speckled trout closure on Cape Charles?
Speckled trout: 5 a day, 14-inch minimum (4VAC20-280-30); the code closes the season April 1 through June 30, 2026, as of November 6, 2026.
Is flounder open on Cape Charles?
Summer flounder: 4 a day, 16-inch minimum (4VAC20-620-50); the minimum rises June 1 per the code section, as of November 6, 2026.
How do I read water levels at Cape Charles?
The nearest prediction station is Kiptopeke Beach, 2 miles away.
Does a listed marina or bait store serve Cape Charles?
Try Bailey's Bait & Tackle (about 9 miles away).
Which VMRC reef chart sits nearest Cape Charles?
Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 5 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
Plan a drift on Cape Charles
Saltwater limits and license fees sit on one page.