Lynnhaven River Fishing
Saltwater fishing on a tidal river in City of Virginia Beach.
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Lynnhaven River, sized up for saltwater anglers
Tidewater anglers know Lynnhaven River as a tidal river in City of Virginia Beach, on the Chesapeake Bay side. From the point, Norfolk is about 8 miles distant.
It has 1 saltwater launch in DWR saltwater access data. Within a 25-mile run sit 7 artificial reefs on the VMRC charts. 4 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 1480071; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Tidal ramps around Lynnhaven River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owls Creek boat ramp on Linkhorn Bay | dock and ramp, 4 ramps, barrier-free, saltwater | Vity of Virginia Beach | From Virginia Beach, South on General Booth Blvd. |
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 Lynnhaven 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 |
| 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 | Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries (spring/summer) | 19 in minimum, 24 in maximum | 1 | May 16 through June 15 | 4VAC20-252-80 |
| Tautog | Virginia tidal waters | 16 in minimum | 4 | Closed May 16 through June 30 | 4VAC20-960-45 |
Read the Lynnhaven 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).
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 Lynnhaven River
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| CBBT, Chesapeake Channel | 8638901 | 9 miles |
| Sewells Point | 8638610 | 13 miles |
| Money Point | 8639348 | 15 miles |
| Kiptopeke | 8632200 | 19 miles |
Tide prediction points near Lynnhaven River
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Lynnhaven Inlet, Virginia Pilots Dock | under a mile |
| Bayville | 1 mile |
| Long Creek | 1 mile |
| Broad Bay Canal | 2 miles |
| Brown Cove | 3 miles |
| Buchanan Creek entrance | 3 miles |
For Lynnhaven River, follow the links for current water and tide data.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Reef sites near Lynnhaven River
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Oceanview Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 6 miles | |
| Bluefish Rock Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 11 miles | 15 |
| Middle Ground Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 17 miles | 12 |
| Back River Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 18 miles | 15 |
| Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 18 miles | 15 |
| Tower Artificial Reef | Atlantic Ocean | 20 miles | 30 |
| York Spit Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 24 miles |
Reef points near Lynnhaven 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.
Launch names on Lynnhaven River from the VMRC guide
- Lynnhaven Inlet Crab Creek Boat RampVMRC angler guide listing
Ports within reach of Lynnhaven River
- Virginia BeachVirginia Beach (city), 7 miles
- NorfolkNorfolk (city), 11 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Old Dominion stops around Lynnhaven River
More Virginia coast pages near Lynnhaven River
- Lynnhaven Inletinlet, under a mile
- Lynnhaven Baybay, 2 miles
- Broad Baybay, 3 miles
- Cape Henrycape or island, 4 miles
- Linkhorn Baybay, 5 miles
The Bay beyond Lynnhaven River
- Chesapeake BayVirginia side
Lakes and rivers inland of Lynnhaven River
- Trashmore Lake6 miles
- Lake Whitehurst6 miles
- Lake Biggins21 miles
Bloodworm and minnow counters en route to Lynnhaven River
- Shellfish Companybait and tackle shop, Virginia Beach, under a mile
- Dockside Seafood & Fishing Centermarina, Virginia Beach, under a mile
- Athey Marinamarina, Virginia Beach, under a mile
- Blue Marlin Marinemarina, Virginia Beach, 1 mile
- Great Mariner Management Comarina, Virginia Beach, 1 mile
- Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Virginia Beach, 1 mile
Hired Commonwealth guides on Lynnhaven River
- A-Aa Four Winds Charteringcharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 464-4680
- AAA Ryno Charterscharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 679-3474
- AfishinadoVB Fishing Charterscharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 748-0488
- Aquaman Sportfishing Charterscharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 200-0200
- Big Time Charters Inccharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 496-1040
- E Fishin Sea Sportfishingcharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 985-6255
- E-Fishinsea Sport Fishing Charterscharter, Virginia Beach, (970) 946-7071
- First Landing Charterscharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 708-0707
Towns that make a good base for Lynnhaven River
- Norfolk8 miles, City of Norfolk
- Virginia Beach10 miles, City of Virginia Beach
- Hampton15 miles, City of Hampton
- Portsmouth15 miles, City of Portsmouth
Each locality touching Lynnhaven River, linked
- City of Virginia Beachindependent city
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Pictures of the water by Lynnhaven River
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 Lynnhaven River, question by question
Which stretch of Tidewater holds Lynnhaven River?
Set the map on City of Virginia Beach, on the Chesapeake Bay side, about 8 miles from Norfolk.
Which DWR launch serves Lynnhaven River?
1 saltwater launch serve it, such as Owls Creek boat ramp on Linkhorn Bay.
Which license covers Lynnhaven River?
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 Lynnhaven 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 Lynnhaven 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 Lynnhaven 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 Lynnhaven River?
The nearest prediction station is Lynnhaven Inlet, Virginia Pilots Dock, under a mile away.
Does a listed marina or bait store serve Lynnhaven River?
Try Shellfish Company (under a mile away).
Which VMRC reef chart sits nearest Lynnhaven River?
East Oceanview Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 6 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
Plan a drift on Lynnhaven River
Saltwater limits and license fees sit on one page.