Little Wicomico 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 Little Wicomico River
In Northumberland County, Little Wicomico River is a tidal river on the Chesapeake Bay side. The closest Census place is Kilmarnock, roughly 15 miles off.
DWR lists 1 saltwater launch on or beside it. A boat can reach 5 artificial reefs within 25 miles. It is covered by 2 water-level stations within 25 miles. It falls under the saltwater rules of the Marine Resources Commission.
USGS GNIS named feature 1469686; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Launches near Little Wicomico River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shell boat ramp on Great Wicomico River | dock and ramp, 2 ramps, saltwater | VDOT | Southeast on Rt 657 (2) of Reedville |
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 Little Wicomico River
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Tautog | Virginia tidal waters | 16 in minimum | 4 | Closed May 16 through June 30 | 4VAC20-960-45 |
VMRC code sections set these limits on Little Wicomico 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.
Tide tables for Little Wicomico River
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Lewisetta | 8635750 | 14 miles |
| Windmill Point | 8636580 | 19 miles |
Tide tables close to Little Wicomico River
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Sunnybank, Little Wicomico River | 2 miles |
| Fleeton Point | 6 miles |
| Great Wicomico River Light | 6 miles |
| Glebe Point, Great Wicomico River | 8 miles |
NOAA pages carry the live data for Little Wicomico River; this band only links them.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Wrecks and reef sites around Little Wicomico River
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Neck Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 8 miles | 20 |
| Asphalt Pile Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 10 miles | 15 |
| Windmill Point Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 19 miles | 15 |
| Nandua-Pungoteague Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 21 miles | 15 |
| Anglers Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 22 miles | 15 |
The reef distances from Little Wicomico River use VMRC chart grids.
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide reef charts, read November 7, 2026.
Waterfront towns close to Little Wicomico River
Shore towns near Little Wicomico River
- ReedvilleNorthumberland County, 4 miles
- KilmarnockLancaster County, 15 miles
- TangierAccomack County, 14 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Around Little Wicomico River, within a Virginia drive
Other coastal pages near Little Wicomico River
- Great Wicomico Rivertidal river, 6 miles
- Coan Rivertidal river, 14 miles
- Yeocomico Rivertidal river, 18 miles
- Corrotoman Rivertidal river, 21 miles
- Pocomoke Soundsound, 24 miles
The Bay that Little Wicomico River feeds
- Chesapeake BayVirginia side
Upstream options near Little Wicomico River
- Gardy’s Millpond21 miles
- Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir34 miles
- Chandler’s Mill Pond36 miles
Where to buy bait before Little Wicomico River
- Smith Point Marinamarina, Reedville, under a mile
- Reedville Marina Incmarina, Reedville, 4 miles
- Buzzard's Point Marinamarina, Reedville, 4 miles
- Ingram Bay Marinamarina, Heathsville, 7 miles
- James Parks Marinemarina, Tangier, 14 miles
- Coan River Marina Incmarina, Lottsburg, 14 miles
Paid trips that cover Little Wicomico 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 Little Wicomico River
- Kilmarnock15 miles, Lancaster County
- Warsaw29 miles, Richmond County
- Onancock30 miles, Accomack County
The localities Little Wicomico River runs through
- Northumberland Countycounty seat Heathsville
Piscifun spinning gear for a day out on Little Wicomico River
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Shorelines around Little Wicomico River through a camera
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
Photo: Rob Shenk, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: schizoform, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Little Wicomico River: what Old Dominion anglers keep asking
Where is Little Wicomico River?
Head for Northumberland County, on the Chesapeake Bay side, about 15 miles from Kilmarnock.
Where do Tidewater boaters put in for Little Wicomico River?
Shell boat ramp on Great Wicomico River is one of 1 saltwater launch on the DWR list.
Can I fish Little Wicomico 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 Little Wicomico 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 Little Wicomico 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 Little Wicomico 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 Little Wicomico River?
NOAA predicts the tide at Sunnybank, Little Wicomico River, some 2 miles away.
Which shop is on the way to Little Wicomico River?
Stop at Smith Point Marina (under a mile away).
Which VMRC reef is near Little Wicomico River?
Northern Neck Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 8 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
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