New Inlet Fishing
A inlet in Northampton County, on the Atlantic side.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo, nearby stand in for New Inlet: Nannette Turner, CC BY 2.0
New Inlet, the short version
USGS records New Inlet as a inlet on the Atlantic side within Northampton County. Cape Charles sits some 12 miles from the named point.
DWR records 1 saltwater launch opening onto it. 7 artificial reefs from the VMRC reef charts lie within 25 miles. NOAA keeps 2 water-level stations within 25 miles. Its tidal water follows the VMRC saltwater limits.
USGS GNIS named feature 1471456; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Getting a boat onto New Inlet
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oyster boat ramp on Cherrystone Inlet | concrete ramp (no dock), 2 ramps, saltwater | Northampton | In Oyster on Rt 1802 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Marine creel limits on New Inlet
| Species | Area | Size | Bag | Season | VAC section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black drum | Virginia tidal waters | 16 in minimum | 1 | not stated | 4VAC20-320-40 |
| Bluefish | Virginia tidal waters | not stated | 5 | not stated | 4VAC20-450-20 |
| Grey trout (weakfish) | Virginia tidal waters | 12 in minimum | 1 | not stated | 4VAC20-380-60 |
| Red drum | Virginia tidal waters | 18 in minimum, 26 in maximum | 3 | not stated | 4VAC20-1400-30 |
| Speckled trout | Virginia tidal waters | 14 in minimum | 5 | Closed April 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026 | 4VAC20-280-30 |
| 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 |
The Marine Resources Commission rules shown for New Inlet date from 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.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Tide prediction points near New Inlet
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kiptopeke | 8632200 | 12 miles |
| CBBT, Chesapeake Channel | 8638901 | 21 miles |
Prediction stations for New Inlet
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Sand Shoal Inlet (Coast Guard Station) | 4 miles |
| Oyster Harbor | 8 miles |
| Smith Island (Coast Guard Station) | 10 miles |
| Great Machipongo Inlet (inside) | 11 miles |
| Kiptopeke Beach | 12 miles |
Readings for New Inlet stay on NOAA pages.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Artificial reefs off New Inlet
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherrystone Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 14 miles | 15 |
| Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 15 miles | 15 |
| Nassawadox Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 21 miles | 15 |
| York Spit Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 24 miles | |
| Tower Artificial Reef | Atlantic Ocean | 24 miles | 30 |
| Wachapreague Artificial Reef | Atlantic Ocean | 25 miles | 15 |
| Back River Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 25 miles | 15 |
VMRC guide charts supply the reefs listed for New Inlet.
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide reef charts, read November 7, 2026.
Fishing villages around New Inlet
Communities near New Inlet
- Cape CharlesNorthampton County, 12 miles
- OysterNorthampton County, 7 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Just off New Inlet, by road
Coast water within reach of New Inlet
- Sand Shoal Inletinlet, 3 miles
- Smith Islandcape or island, 8 miles
- Magothy Baybay, 8 miles
- Great Machipongo Inletinlet, 9 miles
- Cape Charlescape or island, 11 miles
Fresh water inland from New Inlet
- Lake Whitehurst32 miles
- Trashmore Lake34 miles
- Sandy Bottom Park Pond37 miles
Filling the bait bucket close to New Inlet
- Bailey's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Cape Charles, 12 miles
- Bay Creek Marinamarina, Cape Charles
Virginia captains and guides who work New Inlet
- Cape Charles Fishing Adventurecharter, Cape Charles, (717) 572-7589
Places to stay near New Inlet
- Cape Charles12 miles, Northampton County
- Exmore20 miles, Northampton County
- Poquoson29 miles, City of Poquoson
The Virginia counties and cities along New Inlet
- Northampton Countycounty seat Eastville
Reels from Piscifun for the next trip to New Inlet
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Lakes, tidewater and stream riffles close to New Inlet, in pictures
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nicolas Henderson, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Watts, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
New Inlet, asked and answered for Virginia anglers
How does a Virginia chart or map label New Inlet?
It is in Northampton County, on the Atlantic side, about 12 miles from Cape Charles.
Does DWR list a tidal launch close to New Inlet?
Start at Oyster boat ramp on Cherrystone Inlet, one of 1 saltwater launch.
Does New Inlet call for the Virginia saltwater license?
A Virginia saltwater license is $17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents 16 and older. Youth under 16 fish free.
Can I keep a big red drum from New Inlet?
Red drum: 3 a day, 18-inch minimum, 26-inch maximum (4VAC20-1400-30), as of November 6, 2026.
Which speckled trout rule covers New 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.
Which flounder rule covers New 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 tide table fits New Inlet?
The tide table for Sand Shoal Inlet (Coast Guard Station), around 4 miles off, fits best.
What tackle store is handiest for New Inlet trips?
Bailey's Bait & Tackle (about 12 miles away) heads the list.
Do VMRC reef sites lie within reach of New Inlet?
Cherrystone Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 14 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
Catch the tide on New Inlet
Licenses and code limits are on the regulations page.