Occohannock Creek Fishing
Saltwater fishing on a tidal creek in Accomack County.
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Occohannock Creek, sized up for saltwater anglers
Tidewater anglers know Occohannock Creek as a tidal creek in Accomack County, on the Chesapeake Bay side. From the point, Exmore is about 6 miles distant.
It has 1 saltwater launch in DWR saltwater access data. Within a 25-mile run sit 10 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 1471804; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Tidal ramps around Occohannock Creek
| 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 Occohannock Creek
| 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 |
| Cobia | Virginia tidal waters | 43 in minimum | 1 | June 15 through September 20 | 4VAC20-510-20 |
| Grey trout (weakfish) | Virginia tidal waters | 12 in minimum | 1 | not stated | 4VAC20-380-60 |
| Spanish mackerel | Virginia tidal waters | 14 in minimum | 15 | not stated | 4VAC20-540-30 |
| Speckled trout | Virginia tidal waters | 14 in minimum | 5 | Closed April 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026 | 4VAC20-280-30 |
| Striped bass | Potomac River tributaries | 19 in minimum, 24 in maximum | 1 | May 16 through July 6 and August 21 through December 31 | 4VAC20-252-100 |
| Striped bass | All Virginia waters | not stated | not stated | not stated | 4VAC20-252-50 |
Read the Occohannock Creek 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 trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Tides near Occohannock Creek
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Wachapreague | 8631044 | 14 miles |
| Windmill Point | 8636580 | 20 miles |
Tide prediction points near Occohannock Creek
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Gaskins Point, Occohannock Creek | 1 mile |
| Rappahannock Light | 4 miles |
| Upshur Neck, south end | 10 miles |
| Harborton, Pungoteague Creek | 10 miles |
For Occohannock Creek, follow the links for current water and tide data.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Reef sites near Occohannock Creek
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Occohannock Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 4 miles | 15 |
| Nassawadox Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 6 miles | 15 |
| Nandua-Pungoteague Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 8 miles | 15 |
| Anglers Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 13 miles | 15 |
| Windmill Point Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 17 miles | 15 |
| Cherrystone Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 17 miles | 15 |
| Gwynn Island Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 17 miles | 14 |
| Asphalt Pile Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 21 miles | 15 |
| Wachapreague Artificial Reef | Atlantic Ocean | 21 miles | 15 |
| Northern Neck Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 21 miles | 20 |
Reef points near Occohannock Creek 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 Occohannock Creek
Harbor places around Occohannock Creek
- WachapreagueAccomack County, 14 miles
- Willis WharfNorthampton County, 8 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Old Dominion stops around Occohannock Creek
More Virginia coast pages near Occohannock Creek
- Nandua Creektidal creek, 6 miles
- Pungoteague Creektidal creek, 10 miles
- Hungars Creektidal creek, 10 miles
- Hog Island Baybay, 13 miles
- Onancock Creektidal creek, 13 miles
The Bay beyond Occohannock Creek
- Chesapeake BayVirginia side
Lakes and rivers inland of Occohannock Creek
- Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir34 miles
- Lee Hall Reservoir40 miles
Bloodworm and minnow counters en route to Occohannock Creek
- Captain Zed's Bait Tacklebait and tackle shop, Wachapreague, 14 miles
- Wachapreague Town Marinamarina, Wachapreague, 14 miles
- Deep Creek Marine & Boatyardmarina, Onancock, 18 miles
- James Parks Marinemarina, Tangier, 20 miles
- Windmill Point Marinamarina, White Stone, 20 miles
- Bailey's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Cape Charles, 20 miles
Hired Commonwealth guides on Occohannock Creek
- Captain Jay's Adventurescharter, Chincoteague Island, (757) 894-4620
- Easternshore Adventure Charterscharter, Greenbackville, (410) 251-1912
- Island Queen Inland Charterscharter, Chincoteague Island, (757) 990-2404
- Marlin Magic Charterscharter, Wachapreague, (757) 787-1908
Towns that make a good base for Occohannock Creek
- Exmore6 miles, Northampton County
- Onancock15 miles, Accomack County
- Cape Charles21 miles, Northampton County
- Kilmarnock27 miles, Lancaster County
Each locality touching Occohannock Creek, linked
- Accomack Countycounty seat Accomac
A Piscifun spread to take to Occohannock Creek
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Pictures of the water by Occohannock Creek

Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain

Photo: Nannette Turner, CC BY 2.0

Photo: schizoform, CC BY 2.0

Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sorting out Occohannock Creek, question by question
Which stretch of Tidewater holds Occohannock Creek?
Set the map on Accomack County, on the Chesapeake Bay side, about 6 miles from Exmore.
Which DWR launch serves Occohannock Creek?
1 saltwater launch serve it, such as Red Bank boat ramp on Hog Island Bay.
Which license covers Occohannock Creek?
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 Occohannock Creek?
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 Occohannock Creek?
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 Occohannock Creek?
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 Occohannock Creek?
The nearest prediction station is Gaskins Point, Occohannock Creek, 1 mile away.
Does a listed marina or bait store serve Occohannock Creek?
Try Captain Zed's Bait Tackle (about 14 miles away).
Which VMRC reef chart sits nearest Occohannock Creek?
Occohannock Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 4 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
Plan a drift on Occohannock Creek
Saltwater limits and license fees sit on one page.

