Coan River Fishing
This tidal river lies in Northumberland County, on the Chesapeake Bay side.
Pick for red drumPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Eastern Shore of Virginia: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
First notes on Coan River
In Northumberland County, Coan River is a tidal river on the Chesapeake Bay side. The closest Census place is Warsaw, roughly 16 miles off.
DWR lists 1 saltwater launch on or beside it. A boat can reach 2 artificial reefs within 25 miles. It is covered by 1 water-level station within 25 miles. It falls under the saltwater rules of the Marine Resources Commission.
USGS GNIS named feature 1465019; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Launches near Coan River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coopers boat ramp on Great Wicomico River | dock and ramp, 1 ramp, barrier-free, saltwater | VDOT | From Heathsville, Rt. 360 East (4) to Horse Head; R on Rt 707 (1.5) |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Keep rules on Coan River
| Species | Area | Size | Bag | Season | VAC section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic croaker | Virginia tidal waters | not stated | 50 | not stated | 4VAC20-1370-30 |
| Red drum | Virginia tidal waters | 18 in minimum, 26 in maximum | 3 | not stated | 4VAC20-1400-30 |
| Sheepshead | Within or outside Virginia tidal waters | not stated | 4 | not stated | 4VAC20-1110-30 |
| Spadefish | Virginia tidal waters | not stated | 4 | not stated | 4VAC20-970-30 |
| Spot | Virginia tidal waters | not stated | 50 | not stated | 4VAC20-1380-30 |
| Striped bass | Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries (spring/summer) | 19 in minimum, 24 in maximum | 1 | May 16 through June 15 | 4VAC20-252-80 |
| 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 |
VMRC code sections set these limits on Coan River, current to November 6, 2026.
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 red drum herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99 Tide tables for Coan River
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lewisetta | 8635750 | under a mile |
Tide tables close to Coan River
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Lewisetta, Va. | under a mile |
| Travis Point, Coan River, Va. | under a mile |
| Kinsale, Yeocomico River, Va. | 7 miles |
| Glebe Point, Great Wicomico River | 11 miles |
NOAA pages carry the live data for Coan River; this band only links them.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Wrecks and reef sites around Coan River
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt Pile Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 21 miles | 15 |
| Northern Neck Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 21 miles | 20 |
The reef distances from Coan River use VMRC chart grids.
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide reef charts, read November 7, 2026.
Waterfront towns close to Coan River
Shore towns near Coan River
- ReedvilleNorthumberland County, 14 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Around Coan River, within a Virginia drive
Other coastal pages near Coan River
- Yeocomico Rivertidal river, 4 miles
- Little Wicomico Rivertidal river, 14 miles
- Great Wicomico Rivertidal river, 14 miles
- Corrotoman Rivertidal river, 23 miles
- Piankatank Rivertidal river, 33 miles
The Bay that Coan River feeds
- Chesapeake BayVirginia side
Upstream options near Coan River
- Tidal Rappahannock River26 miles
- Gardy’s Millpond7 miles
- Chandler’s Mill Pond22 miles
- Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir37 miles
Where to buy bait before Coan River
- Coan River Marina Incmarina, Lottsburg, under a mile
- R W's Sports Shopbait and tackle shop, Callao, 4 miles
- Olverson's Lodge Creek Marinamarina, Lottsburg, 4 miles
- Crown Anglebait and tackle shop, Kinsale, 6 miles
- Fish on Tacklebait and tackle shop, Hague, 13 miles
- Coles Point Marinamarina, Hague, 13 miles
Paid trips that cover Coan River
- Captain Billy's Charterscharter, Heathsville, (804) 580-7292
- Crabbe Charter Fishingcharter, Heathsville, (804) 453-3251
- Fisher's Bay Charters Captaincharter, Heathsville, (804) 580-2548
Virginia towns close to Coan River
- Warsaw16 miles, Richmond County
- Kilmarnock20 miles, Lancaster County
- Tappahannock22 miles, Essex County
The localities Coan River runs through
- Northumberland Countycounty seat Heathsville
Piscifun spinning gear for a day out on Coan River
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Shorelines around Coan River through a camera
Photo: David Tansey, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
Photo: schizoform, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Coan River: what Old Dominion anglers keep asking
Where is Coan River?
Head for Northumberland County, on the Chesapeake Bay side, about 16 miles from Warsaw.
Where do Tidewater boaters put in for Coan River?
Coopers boat ramp on Great Wicomico River is one of 1 saltwater launch on the DWR list.
Can I fish Coan River with a freshwater license?
A Virginia saltwater license is $17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents 16 and older. Anglers under 16 need none.
Which puppy drum sizes may leave Coan River?
Red drum: 3 a day, 18-inch minimum, 26-inch maximum (4VAC20-1400-30), as of November 6, 2026.
Is speckled trout season open on Coan River?
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.
How many flounder can I keep from Coan River?
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.
Where can I check the tide for Coan River?
NOAA predicts the tide at Lewisetta, Va., under a mile away.
Which shop is on the way to Coan River?
Stop at Coan River Marina Inc (under a mile away).
Which VMRC reef is near Coan River?
Asphalt Pile Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 21 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
Bring the cast net to Coan River
Every 2026 saltwater fee is one click away.