Fishing in Isle of Wight County, Virginia
Government seat in Isle of Wight; 38,606 residents at the 2020 Census.
- 2lake pages
- 3DWR launches
- 1river pages
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How Isle of Wight County stacks up for a rod and reel
The 2020 Census counted 38,606 people across Isle of Wight County, with Isle of Wight as the seat. DWR layer points inside it carry the number for DWR Region 1. Brackish water counts here too, with 1 coast page and 1 saltwater launch.
Biggest among 2 local lake pages: Western Branch Reservoir. The boundary holds 3 boating access sites by the DWR access count.
Census 2020 population; Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR trout stocking schedule (date, county, water, category and species as listed; DWR prints no numbers or sizes), read November 6, 2026.
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Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026. Lake points from the Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026.
Lakes and reservoirs filed under Isle of Wight County
| Lake | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Branch Reservoir | 1,265 acres | reservoir | 0 | crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge |
| Burnt Mills Reservoir | 711 acres | reservoir | 0 | black crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel |
Few lake pages fall inside Isle of Wight County, so the nearest ones beyond it are measured from Isle of Wight.
| Lake | From Isle of Wight | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lone Star Lakes | 7 miles east | 50 acres | lake | 1 | blue catfish, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Lake Prince | 8 miles southeast | 946 acres | lake | 1 | black crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel |
| Lake Cohoon | 10 miles south | 510 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, chain pickerel, crappie |
| Lake Meade | 12 miles southeast | 512 acres | lake | 0 | bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass |
| Speight’s Run | 13 miles south | 197 acres | lake | 0 | bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass |
| Lake Kilby | 13 miles southeast | 222 acres | lake | 0 | black crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel |
Acres are the NHD outline area of the mapped lake (USGS National Hydrography Dataset), not a DWR figure. Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Where Isle of Wight County meets brackish water
The Chesapeake Bay page covers ports, tides and limits bay-wide; the local salt water is listed below.
- Pagan Rivertidal river, bay side
DWR salt-side launches of Isle of Wight County
- Jones Creek boat rampJones Creek, dock and ramp, 2 ramps, barrier-free, saltwater
USGS GNIS names and points for bays, inlets and tidal rivers; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
A tally of DWR-listed fish around Isle of Wight County
Bars show how many lake pages within 50 miles of Isle of Wight name each fish; largemouth bass is first.
Species DWR names on waterbody pages and its fishing grid, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a survey of fish numbers.
Current to cast in Isle of Wight County
- Blackwater River3 DWR launches, 5 USGS gauges
Isle of Wight County USGS stations
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River At Hwys 58/258 At Franklin, Va | -441 cfs, 0.94 ft gage height | Nov 12 8:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 12, 2026 8:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
DWR waterbody pages, DWR Stocked Trout Reaches and Cold Water Stream Survey layers (wild trout classes and kilometres as recorded), DWR launches and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 6, 2026.
Trailer-ready DWR sites around Isle of Wight County
- Blackwater ParkBlackwater River, dock and ramps & seperate hand launch, 2 ramps, barrier-free, freshwater
- Jones Creek boat rampJones Creek, dock and ramp, 2 ramps, barrier-free, saltwater
- Joyner's Bridge boat ramp on Blackwater RiverBlackwater River, ramp (no dock), 1 ramp, freshwater
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Keeper counts in force across Isle of Wight County
Freshwater in Isle of Wight County follows the statewide rows below unless the digest names a water as an exception. Budget $23 for the resident freshwater license, or $47 as a nonresident. For brackish and salt water, the saltwater license is $17.50 (resident) or $25 (nonresident).
| Species | Where it applies | Creel | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth, Smallmouth Bass | statewide | 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Alabama, Spotted Bass | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Landlocked Striped Bass and Landlocked Striped Bass X White Bass Hybrids | statewide | 4 per day in the aggregate | No fish less than 20 inches |
| Striped Bass | Anadromous (coastal) striped bass above the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and Crane Lake (City of Suffolk) | Creel and length limits shall be as set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for recreational fishing in tidal waters | no length limit printed |
| Striped Bass | Striped bass in the Meherrin, Nottoway, Blackwater (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers and their tributaries plus Back Bay | No possession | no length limit printed |
| Walleye, Saugeye | statewide | 5 per day in the aggregate | No walleye or saugeye less than 18 inches |
| Sauger | statewide | 2 per day | No statewide length limits |
| White Bass | statewide | 5 per day | No statewide length limits |
| Chain Pickerel and Northern Pike | statewide | 5 per day | No statewide length limits |
| Muskellunge | statewide | 1 per day | No muskellunge less than 40 inches |
| Bluegill (bream) and other sunfish excluding Crappie, Rock Bass (redeye) and Roanoke Bass | statewide | 50 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Crappie (black or white) | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate (combined) | No statewide length limits |
| Rock Bass (redeye) | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate with Roanoke bass | No statewide length limits |
| Roanoke Bass | statewide | 25 per day in the aggregate with rock bass | No statewide length limits |
| Perch (yellow and white) | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Trout | statewide | 6 per day | 7 inch minimum size |
| Channel, White, and Flathead | statewide | 20 per day | No length limits |
| Blue | statewide | 20 per day | No statewide length limits |
| Hickory Shad | Above and below the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and their tributaries | Creel and length limits shall be the same as those set by the Virginia Marine Resources Comm. in tidal rivers | no length limit printed |
| Hickory Shad | Meherrin River below Emporia Dam, Nottoway River, Blackwater River (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers, and their tributaries plus Back Bay | 10 per day | No length limits |
| Anadromous (coastal) Alewife and Blueback Herring | Above and below the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and their tributaries | Creel and length limits shall be the same as those set by the Virginia Marine Resources Comm. for these species in tidal rivers | no length limit printed |
| Other native or naturalized nongame fish | statewide | 20 per day | No length limits |
| Threatened and endangered species | statewide | No possession | no length limit printed |
| Grass Carp | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Longnose Gar | statewide | July 1 to April 14: 5 per day | April 15 to June 30: 1 per day No statewide length limits |
| Bowfin | statewide | July 1 to April 14: 5 per day | April 15 to June 30: 1 per day No statewide length limits |
| Northern Snakehead | statewide | No statewide daily limit | No statewide length limit |
| Spotted Sea Trout | Back Bay and tributaries, including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its tributaries | 4 per day, no fish less than 14 inches | no length limit printed |
| Red Drum | Back Bay and tributaries, including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its tributaries | 1 per day between 18 and 27 inches | no length limit printed |
| Grey Trout | Back Bay and tributaries, including Brinson’s Inlet Lake (Lake Tecumseh), and the North Landing River and its tributaries | 1 per day, no fish less than 12 inches | no length limit printed |
Isle of Wight County lakes the digest singles out (2)
| Water | Species | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Nottoway, Meherrin, Blackwater (Franklin County), Blackwater (Chowan), Falling and Smith rivers and their tributaries | Rock Bass (redeye) | 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) with Roanoke bass No rock bass less than 8 inches |
| Nottoway, Meherrin, and Blackwater (Franklin County), Blackwater (Chowan), Falling and Smith rivers and their tributaries | Roanoke Bass | 5 per day in the aggregate (combined) with rock bass No Roanoke bass less than 8 inches |
VAC saltwater rows for Isle of Wight County
| Species | Area | Size | Bag | Season | VAC section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
| Speckled trout | Virginia tidal waters | 14 in minimum | 5 | Closed April 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026 | 4VAC20-280-30 |
| Black drum | Virginia tidal waters | 16 in minimum | 1 | not stated | 4VAC20-320-40 |
| Grey trout (weakfish) | Virginia tidal waters | 12 in minimum | 1 | not stated | 4VAC20-380-60 |
| Bluefish | Virginia tidal waters | not stated | 5 | not stated | 4VAC20-450-20 |
| Sharks (recreationally permitted) | Vessel: one per trip per vessel; shore angler: one per calendar day | 54 in minimum | 1 | not stated | 4VAC20-490-40 |
| Cobia | Virginia tidal waters | 43 in minimum | 1 | June 15 through September 20 | 4VAC20-510-20 |
| Amberjack | Virginia tidal waters | 32 in minimum | 2 | not stated | 4VAC20-510-20 |
| Spanish mackerel | Virginia tidal waters | 14 in minimum | 15 | not stated | 4VAC20-540-30 |
| King mackerel | Virginia tidal waters | 27 in minimum | 3 | not stated | 4VAC20-540-30 |
Statewide creel and length limits as printed (page updated August 17, 2026), 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read November 6, 2026. Water-specific exceptions as printed, 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (eRegulations, linked from the Virginia DWR regulations page), read 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). Virginia license fees in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (licenses run one year from purchase unless noted), read November 6, 2026.
Heaviest Virginia catches by Isle of Wight County
| Species | Weight as printed | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Catfish | 7 lbs. 6 oz. | Western Branch Reservoir | 1992 |
State Record Freshwater Fish as of 9-2-2025 (keeper: Virginia DWR (State Record Freshwater Fish list as of 9-2-2025); angler names left off here), read November 6, 2026.
Stores and paid captains across Isle of Wight County
Bloodworms, line and lures in Isle of Wight County
- G Daddy's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Carrollton
- Brown's Marinamarina, Carrollton
Yellow Pages and chain store listings; guide and charter business listings (matched by the waters they list or their locality), read November 6, 2026.
Onward from Isle of Wight County
Communities within Isle of Wight County
- Smithfieldpop. 8,533
- Carrolltonpop. 7,498
- Windsorpop. 2,746
The counties and cities ringing Isle of Wight County
- City of Suffolk15 miles south
- City of Newport News16 miles northeast
- Surry County18 miles northwest
- City of Portsmouth20 miles east
Piscifun tackle that suits Isle of Wight County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Commonwealth fish worth recognizing at Isle of Wight County
Photo: Watts, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Replies for Isle of Wight County anglers
At which launches can a trailer back down within Isle of Wight County?
You can pick from 3 boating access sites, Blackwater Park among them.
What is the largest lake page inside Isle of Wight County?
Western Branch Reservoir, at 1,265 acres.
Which fish live in the lakes around Isle of Wight County, per DWR?
Largemouth bass leads the count of lake pages within 50 miles, then crappie, bluegill and redear sunfish; DWR names them on its waterbody pages.
What tackle sellers do the listings show in Isle of Wight County?
The listings hold 2 here, such as G Daddy's Bait & Tackle.
Where is Isle of Wight County government business done?
Courthouse business happens in Isle of Wight.
What does DWR charge to fish in Isle of Wight County?
Budget $23 for the resident freshwater license, or $47 as a nonresident. For brackish and salt water, the saltwater license is $17.50 (resident) or $25 (nonresident).
Which localities border Isle of Wight County?
City of Suffolk, City of Newport News and Surry County sit closest on the map.
Which region does DWR data give Isle of Wight County?
DWR lakes, ramps or piers inside it carry the number for DWR Region 1.
Does the digest name lakes of Isle of Wight County separately?
The digest lists 2 water exceptions here, starting with Nottoway, Meherrin, Blackwater (Franklin County), Blackwater (Chowan), Falling and Smith r; the table above shows each.
Which state records trace to water of Isle of Wight County?
White Catfish, 7 lbs. 6 oz., 1992, from Western Branch Reservoir.
Does Isle of Wight County reach the Chesapeake or tidal rivers?
Brackish water counts here too, with 1 coast page and 1 saltwater launch.
Spend a sunrise on the water in Isle of Wight County
Each launch name opens a directions link.