Hog Island Bay Fishing
Saltwater fishing on a bay in Northampton County.
Pick for red drumPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto, nearby stand in for Hog Island Bay: Missy Schmidt, CC BY 2.0
Hog Island Bay, sized up for saltwater anglers
Tidewater anglers know Hog Island Bay as a bay in Northampton County, on the Atlantic side. From the point, Exmore is about 7 miles distant.
It has 1 saltwater launch in DWR saltwater access data. Within a 25-mile run sit 8 artificial reefs on the VMRC charts. 2 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 1468105; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Tidal ramps around Hog Island Bay
| 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.
What may come home from Hog Island Bay
| 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 | Coastal area | 28 in minimum, 31 in maximum | 1 | January 1 through March 31 and May 16 through December 31 | 4VAC20-252-110 |
| Striped bass | All Virginia waters | not stated | not stated | not stated | 4VAC20-252-50 |
| Tautog | Virginia tidal waters | 16 in minimum | 4 | Closed May 16 through June 30 | 4VAC20-960-45 |
Read the Hog Island Bay 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 red drum herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99 Tides near Hog Island Bay
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Wachapreague | 8631044 | 12 miles |
| Kiptopeke | 8632200 | 23 miles |
Tide prediction points near Hog Island Bay
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Upshur Neck, south end | 3 miles |
| Great Machipongo Inlet (inside) | 4 miles |
| Revel Creek, Revel Island | 6 miles |
| Sand Shoal Inlet (Coast Guard Station) | 10 miles |
| Gaskins Point, Occohannock Creek | 12 miles |
For Hog Island Bay, follow the links for current water and tide data.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Reef sites near Hog Island Bay
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wachapreague Artificial Reef | Atlantic Ocean | 13 miles | 15 |
| Nassawadox Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 15 miles | 15 |
| Occohannock Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 17 miles | 15 |
| Cherrystone Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 18 miles | 15 |
| Parramore Artificial Reef | Atlantic Ocean | 19 miles | 30 |
| Nandua-Pungoteague Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 20 miles | 15 |
| Anglers Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 22 miles | 15 |
| Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 25 miles | 15 |
Reef points near Hog Island Bay 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 Hog Island Bay
Harbor places around Hog Island Bay
- WachapreagueAccomack County, 12 miles
- OysterNorthampton County, 14 miles
- Willis WharfNorthampton County, 6 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Old Dominion stops around Hog Island Bay
More Virginia coast pages near Hog Island Bay
- Quinby Inletinlet, 5 miles
- Great Machipongo Inletinlet, 6 miles
- Sand Shoal Inletinlet, 11 miles
- Hungars Creektidal creek, 12 miles
- Occohannock Creektidal creek, 13 miles
Bloodworm and minnow counters en route to Hog Island Bay
- Captain Zed's Bait Tacklebait and tackle shop, Wachapreague, 12 miles
- Wachapreague Town Marinamarina, Wachapreague, 12 miles
- Bailey's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Cape Charles, 19 miles
- Deep Creek Marine & Boatyardmarina, Onancock, 23 miles
- Bay Creek Marinamarina, Cape Charles
Hired Commonwealth guides on Hog Island Bay
- Cape Charles Fishing Adventurecharter, Cape Charles, (717) 572-7589
Towns that make a good base for Hog Island Bay
- Exmore7 miles, Northampton County
- Onancock19 miles, Accomack County
- Cape Charles19 miles, Northampton County
Each locality touching Hog Island Bay, linked
- Northampton Countycounty seat Eastville
A Piscifun spread to take to Hog Island Bay
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Pictures of the water by Hog Island Bay
Photo: Nannette Turner, 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
Sorting out Hog Island Bay, question by question
Which stretch of Tidewater holds Hog Island Bay?
Set the map on Northampton County, on the Atlantic side, about 7 miles from Exmore.
Which DWR launch serves Hog Island Bay?
1 saltwater launch serve it, such as Red Bank boat ramp on Hog Island Bay.
Which license covers Hog Island Bay?
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 Hog Island Bay?
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 Hog Island Bay?
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 Hog Island Bay?
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 Hog Island Bay?
The nearest prediction station is Upshur Neck, south end, 3 miles away.
Does a listed marina or bait store serve Hog Island Bay?
Try Captain Zed's Bait Tackle (about 12 miles away).
Which VMRC reef chart sits nearest Hog Island Bay?
Wachapreague Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 13 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
Plan a drift on Hog Island Bay
Saltwater limits and license fees sit on one page.