Great Machipongo Inlet Fishing
Coastal inlet fishing in Northampton County.
Pick for red drumPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto, nearby stand in for Great Machipongo Inlet: Missy Schmidt, CC BY 2.0
The essentials of Great Machipongo Inlet
Great Machipongo Inlet, a inlet of Northampton County, lies on the Atlantic side. Count on about 13 miles to Exmore.
Boaters reach it from 1 saltwater launch on the DWR list. The VMRC angler guide charts 7 artificial reefs within 25 miles. There are 2 water-level stations close by. Marine limits and the saltwater license apply here.
USGS GNIS named feature 1467443; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Saltwater ramps close to Great Machipongo Inlet
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Bank boat ramp on Hog Island Bay | dock and ramp, 2 ramps, saltwater | DWR | From Nassawadox, Rt 13 South (1); L on Rt 617 (1.9) |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
VMRC size and possession limits for Great Machipongo Inlet
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Spanish mackerel | Virginia tidal waters | 14 in minimum | 15 | not stated | 4VAC20-540-30 |
| Tautog | Virginia tidal waters | 16 in minimum | 4 | Closed May 16 through June 30 | 4VAC20-960-45 |
For Great Machipongo Inlet, these are the code limits as read on 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.
Where to check the tide at Great Machipongo Inlet
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Wachapreague | 8631044 | 17 miles |
| Kiptopeke | 8632200 | 20 miles |
Where NOAA predicts the tide near Great Machipongo Inlet
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Great Machipongo Inlet (inside) | 2 miles |
| Sand Shoal Inlet (Coast Guard Station) | 5 miles |
| Upshur Neck, south end | 8 miles |
| Revel Creek, Revel Island | 9 miles |
Open a station to see today near Great Machipongo Inlet.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Fish-holding reefs close to Great Machipongo Inlet
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wachapreague Artificial Reef | Atlantic Ocean | 16 miles | 15 |
| Cherrystone Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 18 miles | 15 |
| Nassawadox Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 18 miles | 15 |
| Parramore Artificial Reef | Atlantic Ocean | 20 miles | 30 |
| Occohannock Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 21 miles | 15 |
| Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 22 miles | 15 |
| Nandua-Pungoteague Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 25 miles | 15 |
Reef positions near Great Machipongo Inlet are approximate chart-grid centres.
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide reef charts, read November 7, 2026.
Harbors and wharves by Great Machipongo Inlet
Waterfront towns by Great Machipongo Inlet
- OysterNorthampton County, 12 miles
- Willis WharfNorthampton County, 11 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Close to Great Machipongo Inlet on the Commonwealth map
Virginia saltwater next door to Great Machipongo Inlet
- Hog Island Baybay, 6 miles
- Sand Shoal Inletinlet, 6 miles
- Quinby Inletinlet, 8 miles
- New Inletinlet, 9 miles
- Hungars Creektidal creek, 14 miles
Stores with hooks, line and lures around Great Machipongo Inlet
- Captain Zed's Bait Tacklebait and tackle shop, Wachapreague, 17 miles
- Wachapreague Town Marinamarina, Wachapreague, 17 miles
- Bailey's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Cape Charles, 17 miles
- Bay Creek Marinamarina, Cape Charles
Booking a skipper or guide for Great Machipongo Inlet
- Cape Charles Fishing Adventurecharter, Cape Charles, (717) 572-7589
A bed and a breakfast counter near Great Machipongo Inlet
- Exmore13 miles, Northampton County
- Cape Charles18 miles, Northampton County
- Onancock24 miles, Accomack County
Locality pages that take in Great Machipongo Inlet
- Northampton Countycounty seat Eastville
Piscifun tackle that suits Great Machipongo Inlet
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How the banks by Great Machipongo Inlet look on a clear day
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nicolas Henderson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
Photo: Doug Lewis, CC BY 2.0
Questions on Great Machipongo Inlet before the truck is loaded
Which Virginia locality holds Great Machipongo Inlet?
GNIS places it in Northampton County, on the Atlantic side, about 13 miles from Exmore.
Which DWR saltwater ramp gets a boat to Great Machipongo Inlet?
DWR records 1 saltwater launch, among them Red Bank boat ramp on Hog Island Bay.
What does DWR charge to fish Great Machipongo Inlet?
A Virginia saltwater license is $17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents 16 and older. Kids under 16 are exempt.
Which red drum rule applies on Great Machipongo Inlet?
Red drum: 3 a day, 18-inch minimum, 26-inch maximum (4VAC20-1400-30), as of November 6, 2026.
What size speckled trout may go home from Great Machipongo Inlet?
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.
What size flounder may go home from Great Machipongo Inlet?
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.
Which NOAA gauge sits closest to Great Machipongo Inlet?
Great Machipongo Inlet (inside), about 2 miles away, is closest.
Which Virginia bait counter sits closest to Great Machipongo Inlet?
Nearest in our list: Captain Zed's Bait Tackle (about 17 miles away).
Can I reach a reef from Great Machipongo Inlet?
Wachapreague Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 16 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
For the red drum herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99 Spend a falling tide on Great Machipongo Inlet
Know the slot and season before the first cast.