Eastern Branch Elizabeth River Fishing
Saltwater fishing on a tidal river in City of Chesapeake.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Portsmouth: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Eastern Branch Elizabeth River, sized up for saltwater anglers
Tidewater anglers know Eastern Branch Elizabeth River as a tidal river in City of Chesapeake, on the Chesapeake Bay side. From the point, Portsmouth is about 4 miles distant.
It has 1 saltwater launch in DWR saltwater access data. Within a 25-mile run sit 4 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 1478529; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Tidal ramps around Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabeth River boat ramp on Southern Branch Elizabeth River | dock and ramp, 4 ramps, barrier-free, saltwater | Chesapeake | City of Chesapeake, Rt 337 |
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 Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
| 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 |
| Spanish mackerel | Virginia tidal waters | 14 in minimum | 15 | not stated | 4VAC20-540-30 |
| Summer flounder | Tidal waters except Potomac River tributaries | 16 in minimum | 4 | Open year-round (January 1 through May 31 size) | 4VAC20-620-50 |
| Summer flounder | Tidal waters except Potomac River tributaries | 17.5 in minimum | 4 | Open year-round (June 1 through December 31 size) | 4VAC20-620-50 |
| Summer flounder | Potomac River tributaries | not stated | not stated | not stated | 4VAC20-620-60 |
Read the Eastern Branch Elizabeth River 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).
Fresh or salt license on Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
- Freshwater/saltwater license line (digest)The Great Bridge Locks
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older, and a saltwater license is $17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents.
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 Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Money Point | 8639348 | 4 miles |
| Sewells Point | 8638610 | 7 miles |
| CBBT, Chesapeake Channel | 8638901 | 18 miles |
Tide prediction points near Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Norfolk | under a mile |
| Portsmouth, Naval Shipyard | 1 mile |
| Lafayette River | 3 miles |
| Craney Island Light | 4 miles |
| Money Point | 4 miles |
| Western Branch | 6 miles |
For Eastern Branch Elizabeth River, follow the links for current water and tide data.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Reef sites near Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Oceanview Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 9 miles | |
| Middle Ground Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 9 miles | 12 |
| Bluefish Rock Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 15 miles | 15 |
| Back River Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 21 miles | 15 |
Reef points near Eastern Branch Elizabeth River are chart-grid midpoints from the VMRC guide, not structure positions.
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide reef charts, read November 7, 2026.
Ports within reach of Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
Harbor places around Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
- NorfolkNorfolk (city), under a mile
- HamptonHampton (city), 13 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Old Dominion stops around Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
More Virginia coast pages near Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
- Southern Branch Elizabeth Rivertidal river, under a mile
- Western Branch Elizabeth Rivertidal river, 3 miles
- Lafayette Rivertidal river, 4 miles
- Elizabeth Rivertidal river, 6 miles
- Willoughby Baybay, 8 miles
The Bay beyond Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
- Chesapeake BayVirginia side
Lakes and rivers inland of Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
- Tidal James River29 miles
- Lake Whitehurst7 miles
- Trashmore Lake9 miles
- Lake Biggins15 miles
Bloodworm and minnow counters en route to Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
- Tidewater Yacht Marinamarina, Portsmouth, under a mile
- Ocean Yacht Marinamarina, Portsmouth, under a mile
- Marina Owensmarina, Norfolk, under a mile
- Portsmouth Boating Centermarina, Portsmouth, 1 mile
- Scott's Creek Marina Incmarina, Portsmouth, 1 mile
- Shipwright Marinamarina, Portsmouth, 3 miles
Towns that make a good base for Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
- Portsmouth4 miles, City of Portsmouth
- Norfolk6 miles, City of Norfolk
- Chesapeake11 miles, City of Chesapeake
- Hampton14 miles, City of Hampton
Each locality touching Eastern Branch Elizabeth River, linked
- City of Chesapeakeindependent city
A Piscifun spread to take to Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
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Pictures of the water by Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Doug Lewis, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
Sorting out Eastern Branch Elizabeth River, question by question
Which stretch of Tidewater holds Eastern Branch Elizabeth River?
Set the map on City of Chesapeake, on the Chesapeake Bay side, about 4 miles from Portsmouth.
Which DWR launch serves Eastern Branch Elizabeth River?
1 saltwater launch serve it, such as Elizabeth River boat ramp on Southern Branch Elizabeth River.
Which license covers Eastern Branch Elizabeth River?
A Virginia saltwater license is $17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents 16 and older. The digest license line here: The Great Bridge Locks. Under-16 anglers are exempt.
What red drum slot does VMRC set on Eastern Branch Elizabeth River?
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 Eastern Branch Elizabeth 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.
Is flounder open on Eastern Branch Elizabeth 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.
How do I read water levels at Eastern Branch Elizabeth River?
The nearest prediction station is Norfolk, under a mile away.
Does a listed marina or bait store serve Eastern Branch Elizabeth River?
Try Tidewater Yacht Marina (under a mile away).
Which VMRC reef chart sits nearest Eastern Branch Elizabeth River?
East Oceanview Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 9 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
Plan a drift on Eastern Branch Elizabeth River
Saltwater limits and license fees sit on one page.