Smith Island Fishing
Coastal cape or island fishing in Northampton County.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Norfolk: Watts, CC BY 2.0
The essentials of Smith Island
Smith Island, a cape or island of Northampton County, lies on the Atlantic side. Count on about 11 miles to Cape Charles.
The VMRC angler guide charts 7 artificial reefs within 25 miles. There are 2 water-level stations close by. Marine limits and the saltwater license apply here.
USGS GNIS named feature 1477933; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Saltwater ramps close to Smith Island
No DWR saltwater launch sits within 10 miles of Smith Island; the state ramp list covers the rest.
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
VMRC size and possession limits for Smith Island
| 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 | 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 |
For Smith Island, these are the code limits as read on 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 Where to check the tide at Smith Island
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kiptopeke | 8632200 | 7 miles |
| CBBT, Chesapeake Channel | 8638901 | 14 miles |
Where NOAA predicts the tide near Smith Island
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Smith Island (Coast Guard Station) | 3 miles |
| Kiptopeke Beach | 7 miles |
| Fishermans Island | 7 miles |
| Oyster Harbor | 10 miles |
| Cape Charles Harbor | 12 miles |
| Old Plantation Light | 12 miles |
Open a station to see today near Smith Island.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Fish-holding reefs close to Smith Island
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 10 miles | 15 |
| Cherrystone Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 15 miles | 15 |
| Tower Artificial Reef | Atlantic Ocean | 19 miles | 30 |
| Bluefish Rock Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 19 miles | 15 |
| Back River Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 20 miles | 15 |
| York Spit Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 21 miles | |
| East Oceanview Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 23 miles |
Reef positions near Smith Island are approximate chart-grid centres.
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide reef charts, read November 7, 2026.
Harbors and wharves by Smith Island
Waterfront towns by Smith Island
- Cape CharlesNorthampton County, 12 miles
- OysterNorthampton County, 10 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Close to Smith Island on the Commonwealth map
Virginia saltwater next door to Smith Island
- Magothy Baybay, 4 miles
- Smith Island Inletinlet, 4 miles
- Cape Charlescape or island, 5 miles
- Fishermans Inletinlet, 6 miles
- Fishermans Islandcape or island, 6 miles
Non-tidal water close to Smith Island
- Lake Whitehurst24 miles
- Trashmore Lake26 miles
- Sandy Bottom Park Pond31 miles
Stores with hooks, line and lures around Smith Island
- Bailey's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Cape Charles, 12 miles
- Bbr Marina Shoresmarina, Virginia Beach, 19 miles
- Sentara Therapy Center – Marina Shoresmarina, Virginia Beach, 20 miles
- Marina Shores Marina, 2100 Marina Shores Drmarina, Virginia Beach, 20 miles
- Blue Marlin Marinemarina, Virginia Beach, 20 miles
- Great Mariner Management Comarina, Virginia Beach, 20 miles
Booking a skipper or guide for Smith Island
- Cape Charles Fishing Adventurecharter, Cape Charles, (717) 572-7589
A bed and a breakfast counter near Smith Island
Locality pages that take in Smith Island
- Northampton Countycounty seat Eastville
Piscifun tackle that suits Smith Island
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
How the banks by Smith Island look on a clear day
Photo: Doug Lewis, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Missy Schmidt, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nannette Turner, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nicolas Henderson, CC BY 2.0
Questions on Smith Island before the truck is loaded
Which Virginia locality holds Smith Island?
GNIS places it in Northampton County, on the Atlantic side, about 11 miles from Cape Charles.
Which DWR saltwater ramp gets a boat to Smith Island?
The DWR list has nothing near it.
What does DWR charge to fish Smith Island?
A Virginia saltwater license is $17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents 16 and older. Kids under 16 are exempt.
Which red drum rule applies on Smith Island?
Red drum: 3 a day, 18-inch minimum, 26-inch maximum (4VAC20-1400-30), as of November 6, 2026.
What size speckled trout may go home from Smith Island?
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.
What size flounder may go home from Smith Island?
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 NOAA gauge sits closest to Smith Island?
Smith Island (Coast Guard Station), about 3 miles away, is closest.
Which Virginia bait counter sits closest to Smith Island?
Nearest in our list: Bailey's Bait & Tackle (about 12 miles away).
Can I reach a reef from Smith Island?
Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 10 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
Spend a falling tide on Smith Island
Know the slot and season before the first cast.