Chickahominy River Fishing
Virginia river fishing in Charles City and James City counties.
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The Chickahominy River in brief
In Charles City and James City counties you meet the Chickahominy River, a river on the Virginia map. Supplies are nearest in Williamsburg, around 10 miles off.
Flow comes from 2 USGS gauges. Below the fall line it is tidal, with a saltwater license line.
Virginia DWR waterbody pages, Stocked Trout Reaches and Cold Water Stream Survey layers and Boating Access Locations; USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
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Moratorium on Possession of River Herring It is now illegal for any person fishing tidal rivers to have river herring in their possession – this includes blueback herring and alewife. All river herring inadvertently caught by anglers must be immediately released back into the water. In Virginia, regulations regarding the harvest and possession of river herring are set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
The DWR page supplies the quoted lines on Chickahominy River.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
USGS stations on the Chickahominy River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Chickahominy River At Chamberlayne Rd Nr Atlee, Va | 17 cfs, 2.63 ft gage height | Nov 8 7:25 pm |
| Chickahominy River Near Providence Forge, Va | 447 cfs, 6.29 ft gage height | Nov 8 7:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 7:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
The Chickahominy River readings update on their own and can be revised.
| USGS site | Name |
|---|---|
| 02042287 | CHICKAHOMINY RIVER AT CHAMBERLAYNE RD NR ATLEE, VA |
| 02042500 | CHICKAHOMINY RIVER NEAR PROVIDENCE FORGE, VA |
USGS instantaneous values, provisional.
Species on the DWR page for the Chickahominy River
No survey or catch data went into the Chickahominy River list beyond DWR labels.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
DWR boating access along the Chickahominy River
The DWR access layer has nothing on Chickahominy River; wade in only where access is public.
Ramps worth knowing close to Chickahominy River
- Grey's Creek boat ramp on Tidal James RiverTidal James River, 6 miles southeast
- Lawnes Creek boat ramp on Tidal James RiverTidal James River, 13 miles southeast
- Diascund Reservoir boat rampDiascund Reservoir, 14 miles north
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Brackish water on the Chickahominy River
- Mouth (GNIS)Charles City County
- Fall line landmark (digest)Walkers Dam
- NoteTidal reach and saltwater-license boundary per VMRC/DWR, not given by GNIS.
Tidal rules on Chickahominy River start at the landmark above.
| 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 |
| Spadefish | Virginia tidal waters | not stated | 4 | not stated | 4VAC20-970-30 |
| 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 |
Rules 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 keep counts for the Chickahominy River
| Species as printed | Applies to | 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 |
The 2026 statewide rows are the default for Chickahominy River.
- Largemouth Bass
- 5 per day
- No length limits
- Blue Catfish
- Only 1 Blue Catfish longer than 32 inches per person per day
- Anadromous Species
- Regulations regarding season and limits set for American shad, hickory shad, river herring, and striped bass in the tidal Rappahannock are set by the Virginia Marine Resource Commission (VMRC). For season information contact VMRC in Newport News at 1-800-541-4646 or on the web at:
- VMRC
- Other Species
- See
- Creel & Length Limit Table
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
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.
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 license fees in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (licenses run one year from purchase unless noted), read November 6, 2026.
Record-book weights from the Chickahominy River
| Species | Weight as printed | Date | Water as listed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowfin | 10 lbs. 12 oz. | 7-31-2016 | Chickahominy River |
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.
Tournament dates on the Chickahominy River
Every sourced event on Chickahominy River sits on one page.
The Chickahominy River beside other Virginia streams
| Stream | Distance | DWR access sites | USGS gauges | Stocked reaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickahominy River | this stream | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Tidal James River | 13 miles southeast | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Appomattox River | 22 miles west | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Blackwater River | 30 miles south | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Nottoway River | 31 miles southwest | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Pamunkey River | 47 miles northwest | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations and Stocked Trout Reaches, USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
Old Dominion stops around Chickahominy River
Other impoundments a short drive from Chickahominy River
- Little Creek Reservoir10 miles
- Waller Mill Reservoir11 miles
- Chickahominy Lake13 miles
- Diascund Reservoir15 miles
Bloodworm and minnow counters en route to Chickahominy River
- River's Rest Marina & Resortmarina, Charles City, 9 miles
- Hooker Bait and Tacklebait and tackle shop, Toano, 11 miles
- Ed Allen Boat & Baitbait and tackle shop, Lanexa, 13 miles
- Marina Power & Lightingmarina, Williamsburg, 13 miles
- The Fishing Holebait and tackle shop, Waverly, 18 miles
- G Town Baitn Tacklebait and tackle shop, Hayes, 22 miles
Towns that make a good base for Chickahominy River
- Williamsburg10 miles, City of Williamsburg
- Waverly18 miles, Sussex County
- Gloucester Point22 miles, Gloucester County
Each locality touching Chickahominy River, linked
- Charles City Countycounty seat Charles City
- James City Countycounty seat Williamsburg
Neighbouring rivers of the Chickahominy River
- Tidal James River13 miles
- Appomattox River22 miles
- Blackwater River30 miles
- Nottoway River31 miles
- Pamunkey River47 miles
A Piscifun spread to take to Chickahominy River
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Photo ID for the fish swimming at Chickahominy River
Photo: kjell, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
What a Virginia tackle counter hears about the Chickahominy River
Which part of the Commonwealth holds the Chickahominy River?
Set the map on Charles City and James City counties, about 10 miles from Williamsburg.
How many access sites serve the Chickahominy River?
Grey's Creek boat ramp on Tidal James River, some 6 miles away, is the closest.
Which species does DWR list for the Chickahominy River?
DWR sources name alewife, black crappie, blue catfish, bowfin, common carp, chain pickerel and channel catfish.
Do DWR trout trucks visit the Chickahominy River?
It is not on the DWR trout layers.
Do I measure bass on the Chickahominy River?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
Which license do I carry on the Chickahominy River?
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. Anglers under 16 need none.
Which USGS gauge reads the Chickahominy River?
Live numbers come from 2 USGS gauges above.
Does a listed fly or tackle store serve the Chickahominy River?
Try River's Rest Marina & Resort (about 9 miles away).
Where does the Chickahominy River turn tidal?
The fall line landmark: Walkers Dam.
Does the DWR record list include the Chickahominy River?
Bowfin, 10 lbs. 12 oz., 2016, is on the DWR record list for this water (no angler names here).
Read the USGS gauge, then fish the Chickahominy River
Know the creel limits before the first cast.