Ware River Fishing
Saltwater fishing on a tidal river in Gloucester County.
Pick for red drumPiscifun Alloy S inshore spinning reelCheck price at PiscifunPhoto of Chickahominy River: schizoform, CC BY 2.0
Ware River, sized up for saltwater anglers
Tidewater anglers know Ware River as a tidal river in Gloucester County, on the Chesapeake Bay side. From the point, Gloucester Courthouse is about 7 miles distant.
It has 3 saltwater launches in DWR saltwater access data. Within a 25-mile run sit 9 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 1476328; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Tidal ramps around Ware River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warehouse boat ramp | dock and ramp, 1 ramp, barrier-free, saltwater | VDOT | East of Glouceter on Rt 621 (2) |
| 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) |
| 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.
What may come home from Ware River
| Species | Area | Size | Bag | Season | VAC section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Spanish mackerel | Virginia tidal waters | 14 in minimum | 15 | not stated | 4VAC20-540-30 |
| Summer flounder | Tidal waters except Potomac River tributaries | 16 in minimum | 4 | Open year-round (January 1 through May 31 size) | 4VAC20-620-50 |
| 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 |
Read the Ware 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 Ware River
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Yorktown USCG Training Center | 8637689 | 10 miles |
| Windmill Point | 8636580 | 19 miles |
Tide prediction points near Ware River
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Belleville | 4 miles |
| Mobjack, East River | 4 miles |
| Browns Bay | 4 miles |
| Tue Marshes Light | 9 miles |
| Gloucester Point | 9 miles |
| Yorktown, Goodwin Neck | 9 miles |
For Ware River, follow the links for current water and tide data.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
Reef sites near Ware River
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobjack Bay Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 6 miles | 15 |
| Poquoson Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 11 miles | 12 |
| Gwynn Island Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 13 miles | 14 |
| York Spit Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 13 miles | |
| Back River Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 18 miles | 15 |
| Windmill Point Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 21 miles | 15 |
| Cherrystone Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 21 miles | 15 |
| Nassawadox Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 24 miles | 15 |
| Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 24 miles | 15 |
Reef points near Ware 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.
Ports within reach of Ware River
Harbor places around Ware River
- Gloucester PointGloucester County, 8 miles
- DeltavilleMiddlesex County, 14 miles
- YorktownYork County, 10 miles
- MathewsMathews County, 8 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Old Dominion stops around Ware River
More Virginia coast pages near Ware River
- Severn Rivertidal river, 3 miles
- East Rivertidal river, 4 miles
- York Rivertidal river, 8 miles
- Mobjack Baybay, 8 miles
- Poquoson Rivertidal river, 13 miles
The Bay beyond Ware River
- Chesapeake BayVirginia side
Lakes and rivers inland of Ware River
- Tidal James River21 miles
- Chickahominy River27 miles
- Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir10 miles
- Lee Hall Reservoir11 miles
- Harwood’s Mill Reservoir15 miles
Bloodworm and minnow counters en route to Ware River
- Severn River Marinamarina, Hayes, 4 miles
- Regensburg Marine Incbait and tackle shop, Hayes, 4 miles
- Holiday Marinamarina, Hayes, 4 miles
- G Town Baitn Tacklebait and tackle shop, Hayes, 6 miles
- Neal's Hunting & Fishingbait and tackle shop, Gloucester, 6 miles
- Crown Pointe Marinamarina, Hayes, 6 miles
Hired Commonwealth guides on Ware River
- York River Charterscharter, Gloucester Point, (757) 645-8397
Towns that make a good base for Ware River
- Gloucester Courthouse7 miles, Gloucester County
- Gloucester Point7 miles, Gloucester County
- Williamsburg17 miles, City of Williamsburg
- Poquoson17 miles, City of Poquoson
Each locality touching Ware River, linked
- Gloucester Countycounty seat Gloucester
A Piscifun spread to take to Ware River
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Pictures of the water by Ware River
Photo: schizoform, CC BY 2.0
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
Photo: Watts, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0
Sorting out Ware River, question by question
Which stretch of Tidewater holds Ware River?
Set the map on Gloucester County, on the Chesapeake Bay side, about 7 miles from Gloucester Courthouse.
Which DWR launch serves Ware River?
3 saltwater launches serve it, such as Warehouse boat ramp.
Which license covers Ware 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 Ware 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 Ware 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 Ware 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 Ware River?
The nearest prediction station is Belleville, 4 miles away.
Does a listed marina or bait store serve Ware River?
Try Severn River Marina (about 4 miles away).
Which VMRC reef chart sits nearest Ware River?
Mobjack Bay Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 6 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
For the red drum herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99 Plan a drift on Ware River
Saltwater limits and license fees sit on one page.