Severn River Fishing
This tidal river lies in Gloucester 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 Severn River
In Gloucester County, Severn River is a tidal river on the Chesapeake Bay side. The closest Census place is Gloucester Point, roughly 6 miles off.
DWR lists 3 saltwater launches on or beside it. A boat can reach 10 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 1474180; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Launches near Severn River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Town Point on East River | dock and ramp & seperate hand launch, 1 ramp, barrier-free, saltwater | VDOT | From Mathews, Rt. 14 South (3.8); R on Rt. 615 (.6) |
| Warehouse boat ramp | dock and ramp, 1 ramp, barrier-free, saltwater | VDOT | East of Glouceter on Rt 621 (2) |
| Gloucester Point on York River | dock and ramp, 2 ramps, barrier-free, saltwater | VDOT | Town of Gloucester Point, Rt 1208 |
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 Severn 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 |
| Spot | Virginia tidal waters | not stated | 50 | not stated | 4VAC20-1380-30 |
| 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 Severn 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 Severn River
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Yorktown USCG Training Center | 8637689 | 8 miles |
| Windmill Point | 8636580 | 21 miles |
Tide tables close to Severn River
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Browns Bay | 2 miles |
| Mobjack, East River | 5 miles |
| Tue Marshes Light | 6 miles |
| Belleville | 7 miles |
| Yorktown, Goodwin Neck | 7 miles |
| Gloucester Point | 8 miles |
NOAA pages carry the live data for Severn River; this band only links them.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Wrecks and reef sites around Severn River
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobjack Bay Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 4 miles | 15 |
| Poquoson Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 8 miles | 12 |
| York Spit Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 11 miles | |
| Gwynn Island Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 14 miles | 14 |
| Back River Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 16 miles | 15 |
| Cherrystone Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 20 miles | 15 |
| Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 22 miles | 15 |
| Bluefish Rock Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 22 miles | 15 |
| Windmill Point Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 23 miles | 15 |
| Nassawadox Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 24 miles | 15 |
The reef distances from Severn River use VMRC chart grids.
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide reef charts, read November 7, 2026.
Named put-ins on Severn River
- Severn Holiday Ramp (Severn River)VMRC angler guide listing
Waterfront towns close to Severn River
- Gloucester PointGloucester County, 7 miles
- PoquosonPoquoson (city), 14 miles
- YorktownYork County, 8 miles
- MathewsMathews County, 9 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Around Severn River, within a Virginia drive
Other coastal pages near Severn River
- Ware Rivertidal river, 3 miles
- East Rivertidal river, 4 miles
- York Rivertidal river, 5 miles
- Mobjack Baybay, 6 miles
- Poquoson Rivertidal river, 11 miles
The Bay that Severn River feeds
- Chesapeake BayVirginia side
Upstream options near Severn River
- Tidal James River20 miles
- Chickahominy River28 miles
- Lee Hall Reservoir10 miles
- Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir12 miles
- Harwood’s Mill Reservoir13 miles
Where to buy bait before Severn River
- Regensburg Marine Incbait and tackle shop, Hayes, 2 miles
- Holiday Marinamarina, Hayes, 3 miles
- Severn River Marinamarina, Hayes, 3 miles
- Crown Pointe Marinamarina, Hayes, 4 miles
- Marina On Davis Creekmarina, Port Haywood, 6 miles
- G Town Baitn Tacklebait and tackle shop, Hayes, 6 miles
Paid trips that cover Severn River
- York River Charterscharter, Gloucester Point, (757) 645-8397
Virginia towns close to Severn River
- Gloucester Point6 miles, Gloucester County
- Gloucester Courthouse9 miles, Gloucester County
- Poquoson14 miles, City of Poquoson
- Bethel Manor16 miles, York County
The localities Severn River runs through
- Gloucester Countycounty seat Gloucester
Piscifun spinning gear for a day out on Severn River
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Shorelines around Severn River through a camera
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
Photo: Watts, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Missy Schmidt, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Doug Lewis, CC BY 2.0
Severn River: what Old Dominion anglers keep asking
Where is Severn River?
Head for Gloucester County, on the Chesapeake Bay side, about 6 miles from Gloucester Point.
Where do Tidewater boaters put in for Severn River?
Town Point on East River is one of 3 saltwater launches on the DWR list.
Can I fish Severn 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 Severn 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 Severn 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 Severn 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 Severn River?
NOAA predicts the tide at Browns Bay, some 2 miles away.
Which shop is on the way to Severn River?
Stop at Regensburg Marine Inc (about 2 miles away).
Which VMRC reef is near Severn River?
Mobjack Bay Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 4 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
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