Fishermans Island Fishing
Saltwater fishing on a cape or island in Northampton County.
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Fishermans Island, sized up for saltwater anglers
Tidewater anglers know Fishermans Island as a cape or island in Northampton County, on the Chesapeake Bay side. From the point, Cape Charles is about 11 miles distant.
Within a 25-mile run sit 9 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 1491085; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Tidal ramps around Fishermans Island
The DWR list has nothing within 10 miles of Fishermans Island.
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 Fishermans Island
| Species | Area | Size | Bag | Season | VAC section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic croaker | Virginia tidal waters | not stated | 50 | not stated | 4VAC20-1370-30 |
| Black sea bass | Virginia tidal waters | 13 in minimum | 15 | 2026: May 11 through December 31; 2027: April 1 through December 31 | 4VAC20-950-45 |
| 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 |
| Summer flounder | Potomac River tributaries | not stated | not stated | not stated | 4VAC20-620-60 |
| Tautog | Virginia tidal waters | 16 in minimum | 4 | Closed May 16 through June 30 | 4VAC20-960-45 |
Read the Fishermans Island 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.
Tides near Fishermans Island
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kiptopeke | 8632200 | 5 miles |
| CBBT, Chesapeake Channel | 8638901 | 8 miles |
| Sewells Point | 8638610 | 23 miles |
Tide prediction points near Fishermans Island
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Fishermans Island | 1 mile |
| Smith Island (Coast Guard Station) | 4 miles |
| Kiptopeke Beach | 5 miles |
| CBBT, CHESAPEAKE CHANNEL | 8 miles |
| Old Plantation Light | 11 miles |
| Cape Henry | 12 miles |
For Fishermans Island, follow the links for current water and tide data.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Reef sites near Fishermans Island
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 7 miles | 15 |
| Bluefish Rock Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 13 miles | 15 |
| Back River Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 15 miles | 15 |
| Cherrystone Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 16 miles | 15 |
| East Oceanview Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 17 miles | |
| York Spit Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 18 miles | |
| Tower Artificial Reef | Atlantic Ocean | 19 miles | 30 |
| Poquoson Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 22 miles | 12 |
| Mobjack Bay Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 25 miles | 15 |
Reef points near Fishermans Island 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 Fishermans Island
Harbor places around Fishermans Island
- Cape CharlesNorthampton County, 12 miles
- OysterNorthampton County, 14 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Old Dominion stops around Fishermans Island
More Virginia coast pages near Fishermans Island
- Fishermans Inletinlet, 1 mile
- Smith Island Inletinlet, 2 miles
- Cape Charlescape or island, 4 miles
- Smith Islandcape or island, 6 miles
- Magothy Baybay, 6 miles
The Bay beyond Fishermans Island
- Chesapeake BayVirginia side
Lakes and rivers inland of Fishermans Island
- Lake Whitehurst18 miles
- Trashmore Lake20 miles
- Sandy Bottom Park Pond26 miles
Bloodworm and minnow counters en route to Fishermans Island
- Bailey's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Cape Charles, 12 miles
- Bbr Marina Shoresmarina, Virginia Beach, 14 miles
- Blue Marlin Marinemarina, Virginia Beach, 14 miles
- Sentara Therapy Center – Marina Shoresmarina, Virginia Beach, 14 miles
- Marina Shores Marina, 2100 Marina Shores Drmarina, Virginia Beach, 14 miles
- Great Mariner Management Comarina, Virginia Beach, 14 miles
Hired Commonwealth guides on Fishermans Island
- Cape Charles Fishing Adventurecharter, Cape Charles, (717) 572-7589
Towns that make a good base for Fishermans Island
Each locality touching Fishermans Island, linked
- Northampton Countycounty seat Eastville
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Pictures of the water by Fishermans Island
Photo: Watts, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nannette Turner, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
Photo: Nicolas Henderson, CC BY 2.0
Sorting out Fishermans Island, question by question
Which stretch of Tidewater holds Fishermans Island?
Set the map on Northampton County, on the Chesapeake Bay side, about 11 miles from Cape Charles.
Which DWR launch serves Fishermans Island?
No DWR ramp is close.
Which license covers Fishermans Island?
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 Fishermans Island?
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 Fishermans Island?
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 Fishermans Island?
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 Fishermans Island?
The nearest prediction station is Fishermans Island, 1 mile away.
Does a listed marina or bait store serve Fishermans Island?
Try Bailey's Bait & Tackle (about 12 miles away).
Which VMRC reef chart sits nearest Fishermans Island?
Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 7 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
Plan a drift on Fishermans Island
Saltwater limits and license fees sit on one page.