Fishing in Prince William County, Virginia
Government seat in Manassas; 482,204 residents at the 2020 Census.
- 3lake pages
- 0DWR launches
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Prince William County for fishing, in summary
At the 2020 count Prince William County had 482,204 residents and ran its business from Manassas. Within its lines, DWR data lists DWR Region 4. Salt and brackish fishing add 1 coast page and 0 saltwater launches.
Occoquan Reservoir is the largest of 3 local lakes with a page. DWR data also shows 2 fishing piers. DWR trout stocking data lists 32 stocking dates for its streams and lakes.
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.
Impoundments that fall in Prince William County
| Lake | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occoquan Reservoir | 2,100 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, channel catfish, crappie |
| Silver Lake | 23 acres | lake | 0 | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Locust Shade Park | 3 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 0 | bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
Past the Prince William County line come these lake pages, each with its distance from Manassas.
| Lake | From Manassas | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burke Lake | 10 miles east | 218 acres | lake | 1 | black crappie, blue catfish, bluegill |
| Lake Brittle | 11 miles west | 77 acres | reservoir | 1 | black crappie, bluegill, bullhead |
| Germantown Lake | 16 miles southwest | 109 acres | reservoir | 0 | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Fairfax Lake | 18 miles northeast | 28 acres | lake | 0 | bluegill, channel catfish, crappie |
| Cook Lake | 21 miles east | 3 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 0 | channel catfish, brown trout, rainbow trout |
| Lake Curtis | 22 miles south | 91 acres | lake | 1 | bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
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.
The salt side of Prince William County
The Chesapeake Bay page links every tidal river and inlet; the ones here are listed below.
- Little Creekinlet, bay side
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.
Prince William County area lakes sorted by fish
Each bar counts lake pages within 50 miles of Manassas where DWR names the fish; channel catfish comes up most often.
Species DWR names on waterbody pages and its fishing grid, counted per lake page within 50 miles; not a survey of fish numbers.
Waters of Prince William County without their own page
These 2 waters of Prince William County stay listed until DWR publishes more about them.
| Water | Kind | Area | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Manassas | lake | 704 acres (DWR outline area) | Gainesville |
| Lake Montclair | lake | 104 acres (NHD outline area) | Montclair |
Virginia DWR Public Fishing Lakes layer (outline, motor rule, region number), read November 6, 2026. Acres are the NHD outline area of the mapped lake (USGS National Hydrography Dataset), not a DWR figure.
Prince William County creeks and rivers
Prince William County stream gauges, live
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| S F Quantico Creek Near Independent Hill, Va | 1 cfs, 2.85 ft gage height | Nov 13 8:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 13, 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.
Prince William County boating access on the DWR layer
Piers and platforms across Prince William County
- Leesylvania Park on Potomac RiverPotomac River, fishing pier
- Locust Shade ParkLocust Shade Park, fishing pier
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026. Virginia DWR Fishing Piers layer (name and water only), read November 6, 2026.
Hatchery trout deliveries to Prince William County
| Date | Water as listed | Category | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 16, 2026 | Quantico MCB | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| April 2, 2026 | Quantico MCB | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| March 30, 2026 | Locust Shade Park | U | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| March 26, 2026 | Quantico MCB | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| March 17, 2026 | Quantico MCB | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| March 16, 2026 | Locust Shade Park | U | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| January 12, 2026 | Locust Shade Park | U | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| December 8, 2025 | Locust Shade Park | U | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| November 10, 2025 | Locust Shade Park | U | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| April 8, 2025 | Quantico MCB | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| April 3, 2025 | Quantico MCB | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| April 2, 2025 | Locust Shade Park | U | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| March 19, 2025 | Quantico MCB | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| March 11, 2025 | Locust Shade Park | U | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| February 28, 2025 | Locust Shade Park | U | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Tiger Trout |
| February 25, 2025 | Quantico MCB | B | Rainbow Trout |
| December 13, 2024 | Locust Shade Park | U | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| November 8, 2024 | Locust Shade Park | U | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| April 5, 2024 | Quantico MCB | B | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
| March 14, 2024 | Locust Shade Park | U | Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout |
Trout plan listings for Prince William County
| Water | County or city as printed | Category | Category meaning | National forest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantico MCB | Prince William County | B | stocked 5 times between October 1 and May 15 | |
| Locust Shade Park | Prince William County | U | urban fishing waters, trout license required November 1 through April 30, stocked 5 times between November 1 and April 15 |
Virginia DWR trout stocking schedule (date, county, water, category and species as listed; DWR prints no numbers or sizes), read November 6, 2026 2026 Catchable Trout Stocking Plan (category letters as printed), read November 6, 2026. Designated stocked trout waters require a trout license October 1 to June 15; urban waters November 1 to April 30 (as printed).
Creel and length rows that cover Prince William County
Statewide creel and length rows cover Prince William County except where the digest singles out a water. Residents buy the yearly freshwater license at $23; out-of-state anglers spend $47. Add the saltwater license for tidal fishing: $17.50 if you live in Virginia, $25 if not.
| 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 |
Marine creel and size rows in Prince William 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. 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.
Record weights from water of Prince William County
No water of Prince William County appears on the record list, but these nearby ones do.
| Species | Weight as printed | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | 31 lbs. 4 oz. | Motts Run Reservoir | 1994 |
| White Bass | 6 lbs. 13 oz. | Lake Orange | 1989 |
| Brook Trout | 5 lbs. 15 oz. | Cub Run | 2019 |
| Gar | 23 lbs | Pamunkey River | 2021 |
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.
Virginia tackle and captain listings in Prince William County
Marinas and bait counters inside Prince William County
- Fisher's Minnowsbait and tackle shop, Gainesville
- Belmont Bay Harbor Marinamarina, Woodbridge
- Cabela'ssporting goods store, Gainesville
- E Z Cruz Marinamarina, Woodbridge
- Hampton's Landing Marinamarina, Woodbridge
- Harbour Viewmarina, Woodbridge
- Pilot House Marina-Boat Salesmarina, Woodbridge
- Tyme N' Tyde Marinamarina, Woodbridge
Prince William County fishing guides and captains
- Scott Capt Captcharter, Woodbridge, (703) 670-5716
Yellow Pages and chain store listings; guide and charter business listings (matched by the waters they list or their locality), read November 6, 2026.
Neighbouring pages for Prince William County
Town listings for Prince William County
- Dale Citypop. 72,088
- Lake Ridgepop. 46,162
- Woodbridgepop. 44,668
- Linton Hallpop. 41,754
- Cherry Hillpop. 23,683
- Montclairpop. 22,279
- Leesylvaniapop. 21,193
- Buckhallpop. 20,420
- Sudleypop. 19,008
- Gainesvillepop. 18,112
- Bull Run (Prince William County)pop. 16,794
- Yorkshirepop. 10,992
- Independent Hillpop. 10,165
- Trianglepop. 9,589
- Potomac Millspop. 6,332
- Dumfriespop. 5,679
Neighbours of Prince William County
- City of Manassas3 miles north
- City of Manassas Park5 miles northeast
- Fairfax County14 miles northeast
- City of Fairfax14 miles northeast
A Piscifun spread to take to Prince William County
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Photo ID for the fish swimming at Prince William County
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, CC0 1.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Prince William County fishing, asked and answered
Can the public launch a boat inside Prince William County?
There is no DWR-recorded launch inside it.
Which Prince William County lake has the most surface?
Occoquan Reservoir, at 2,100 acres.
What species does DWR name on lakes around Prince William County?
Channel catfish leads the count of lake pages within 50 miles, then largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie; DWR names them on its waterbody pages.
Where does a Prince William County angler buy bait?
Start at Fisher's Minnows; the local list has 8.
In which town are the Prince William County offices?
The seat is Manassas.
What does a visitor pay to fish in Prince William County?
Residents buy the yearly freshwater license at $23; out-of-state anglers spend $47. Add the saltwater license for tidal fishing: $17.50 if you live in Virginia, $25 if not.
Which Virginia counties and cities are close to Prince William County?
Look at City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park and Fairfax County next.
Does DWR number a region for Prince William County?
DWR lakes, ramps or piers inside it carry the number for DWR Region 4.
Is there a fishing pier in Prince William County?
DWR pier data has 2 fishing piers; Leesylvania Park on Potomac River is one.
Is trout water in Prince William County stocked?
The DWR schedule carries 32 stocking dates; the newest lists Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout (April 16, 2026; category B) at Quantico MCB.
Does Prince William County have saltwater fishing?
Salt and brackish fishing add 1 coast page and 0 saltwater launches.
Fish Prince William County over a long weekend
River pages carry USGS gauges that update on their own.