York River Fishing
A Tidewater tidal river in Gloucester County.
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
York River in brief
The federal names map lists York River as a tidal river in Gloucester County, on the Chesapeake Bay side. Gloucester Point is the closest Tidewater town, about 7 miles away.
1 saltwater launch serve it on DWR records. There are 10 artificial reefs within 25 miles, per the VMRC guide. NOAA runs 4 water-level stations in range. VMRC rules and a saltwater license cover it.
USGS GNIS named feature 1479591; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations; NOAA CO-OPS; read November 6, 2026.
Ramps that reach York River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucester Point on York River | dock and ramp, 2 ramps, barrier-free, saltwater | VDOT | Town of Gloucester Point, Rt 1208 |
Bank access a short walk from York River
- Yorktown FIshing Pierfishing pier
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Saltwater limits at York River
| Species | Area | Size | Bag | Season | VAC section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic croaker | Virginia tidal waters | not stated | 50 | not stated | 4VAC20-1370-30 |
| Red drum | Virginia tidal waters | 18 in minimum, 26 in maximum | 3 | not stated | 4VAC20-1400-30 |
| 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 |
| Striped bass | Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries (spring/summer) | 19 in minimum, 24 in maximum | 1 | May 16 through June 15 | 4VAC20-252-80 |
| Striped bass | Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries (fall) | 19 in minimum, 24 in maximum | 1 | October 4 through December 31 | 4VAC20-252-90 |
| Tautog | Virginia tidal waters | 16 in minimum | 4 | Closed May 16 through June 30 | 4VAC20-960-45 |
The rows for York River come from the Virginia Administrative Code as of November 6, 2026; "not stated" means the section gives no number.
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).
The license boundary on York River
- Freshwater/saltwater license line (digest)Rt. 33 Bridges
A Virginia freshwater license is $23 a year for residents and $47 for nonresidents 16 and older, and a saltwater license is $17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents.
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 red drum herePiscifun NautiX saltwater spinning reel14% OFFSale $94.99 Water level readings around York River
| NOAA water-level station | ID | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Yorktown USCG Training Center | 8637689 | 5 miles |
| Sewells Point | 8638610 | 21 miles |
| CBBT, Chesapeake Channel | 8638901 | 22 miles |
| Kiptopeke | 8632200 | 22 miles |
NOAA prediction stations by York River
| Prediction station | Distance |
|---|---|
| Tue Marshes Light | under a mile |
| Yorktown, Goodwin Neck | 3 miles |
| Browns Bay | 4 miles |
| Yorktown, USCG Training Center | 5 miles |
| Gloucester Point | 6 miles |
| Mobjack, East River | 9 miles |
The links open NOAA pages for York River; no readings are copied here.
NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
VMRC reef sites near York River
| Reef | Area | Distance | Clearance (ft, MLW) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poquoson Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 3 miles | 12 |
| Mobjack Bay Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 5 miles | 15 |
| York Spit Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 8 miles | |
| Back River Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 11 miles | 15 |
| Bluefish Rock Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 18 miles | 15 |
| Gwynn Island Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 18 miles | 14 |
| Cabbage Patch Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 19 miles | 15 |
| Cherrystone Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 19 miles | 15 |
| Middle Ground Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 21 miles | 12 |
| East Oceanview Artificial Reef | Chesapeake Bay | 23 miles |
Check the current VMRC reef map before running to a site near York River.
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide reef charts, read November 7, 2026.
Landings printed for York River
- York River State ParkVMRC angler guide listing
Ports and fishing towns by York River
- Gloucester PointGloucester County, 6 miles
- PoquosonPoquoson (city), 9 miles
- YorktownYork County, 7 miles
- MathewsMathews County, 14 miles
Virginia Marine Resources Commission saltwater angler guide (c. 2008, names only); USGS GNIS populated places.
Neighbouring stops for York River
Tidal water close to York River
- Mobjack Baybay, 5 miles
- Severn Rivertidal river, 5 miles
- Poquoson Rivertidal river, 5 miles
- Ware Rivertidal river, 8 miles
- East Rivertidal river, 8 miles
Where York River opens out
- Chesapeake BayVirginia side
Freshwater a drive from York River
- Tidal James River18 miles
- Chickahominy River28 miles
- Harwood’s Mill Reservoir9 miles
- Lee Hall Reservoir10 miles
- Sandy Bottom Park Pond13 miles
Commonwealth tackle shops serving York River
- Crown Pointe Marinamarina, Hayes, 3 miles
- Regensburg Marine Incbait and tackle shop, Hayes, 4 miles
- Mills Marinamarina, Seaford, 4 miles
- The Oyster Landingmarina, Seaford, 5 miles
- Holiday Marinamarina, Hayes, 5 miles
- Legasea Marinemarina, Yorktown, 5 miles
Who to hire for a day on York River
- York River Charterscharter, Gloucester Point, (757) 645-8397
Where anglers bunk when fishing York River
- Gloucester Point7 miles, Gloucester County
- Poquoson9 miles, City of Poquoson
- Bethel Manor11 miles, York County
- Gloucester Courthouse13 miles, Gloucester County
York River, broken out by Virginia locality
- Gloucester Countycounty seat Gloucester
Piscifun reels for a Virginia day on York River
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Ridge-ringed reservoirs and creek bends near York River, photographed
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain
Photo: Missy Schmidt, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Doug Lewis, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Watts, CC BY 2.0
Straight replies on York River from the Virginia rule books
Which county or city is York River in?
Look in Gloucester County, on the Chesapeake Bay side, about 7 miles from Gloucester Point.
Can a skiff on a trailer reach York River from a public ramp?
Try Gloucester Point on York River; DWR lists 1 saltwater launch within 10 miles.
What license should I carry on York River?
A Virginia saltwater license is $17.50 for residents and $25 for nonresidents 16 and older. The digest license line here: Rt. 33 Bridges. Those under 16 are exempt.
What size red drum may go home from York River?
Red drum: 3 a day, 18-inch minimum, 26-inch maximum (4VAC20-1400-30), as of November 6, 2026.
How many speckled trout can I keep from York 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.
What summer flounder rows cover York 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.
What station covers York River?
NOAA predicts the water at Tue Marshes Light, under a mile off.
What store sells bait near York River?
Crown Pointe Marina (about 3 miles away) is first on our list.
Is there reef structure off York River?
Poquoson Artificial Reef is the closest VMRC guide reef, about 3 miles away (chart-grid midpoint, not a structure position).
Time the tide for York River
Buy the saltwater license online first.