Pamunkey River Fishing
A river through Caroline and King William counties.
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What a Virginia angler should know about the Pamunkey River
The Pamunkey River crosses Caroline and King William counties. Ashland lies roughly 6 miles away.
DWR boating access data shows 2 access sites on it. Live numbers come from 2 USGS gauges. Downstream it becomes tidal water.
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.
How DWR says to reach Pamunkey River
Public access on the upper Pamunkey is limited to a few road crossings and a VDWR maintained canoe/small boat launch at Route 301 north of Hanover. On the Pam
These sentences on Pamunkey River belong to Virginia DWR.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Live Virginia gauge readout for the Pamunkey River
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Pamunkey Creek At Rt 651 Near Lahore, Va | 9 cfs, 3.12 ft gage height | Nov 8 7:15 pm |
| Pamunkey River Near Hanover, Va | 120 cfs, 3.28 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:45 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 7:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Provisional USGS data feed the Pamunkey River panel.
| USGS site | Name |
|---|---|
| 01670200 | PAMUNKEY CREEK AT RT 651 NEAR LAHORE, VA |
| 01673000 | PAMUNKEY RIVER NEAR HANOVER, VA |
USGS instantaneous values, provisional.
The fish DWR records for the Pamunkey River
The Pamunkey River list repeats DWR names; generic labels stay unlinked.
Virginia DWR waterbody page (updated 11/17/2023), read November 6, 2026.
Getting onto the Pamunkey River
| Site | Recorded attributes | Owner | Location (DWR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lestor Manor boat ramp on Pamunkey River | dock and ramp, 1 ramp, barrier-free, freshwater | King William County | From King William C.H., Rt. 30 South (.7);R on Rt 633 (7.4);L on Rt 672 (.4) |
| Little Page boat ramp on Pamunkey River | concrete ramp (no dock), barrier-free, freshwater | Hanover County | From Hanover, North on Rt 301 (2) |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Tidewater stretch of the Pamunkey River
- Mouth (GNIS)King William County
- Fall line landmark (digest)Rt. 360 Bridge
- Freshwater/saltwater license line (digest)Rt. 33 Bridges
- NoteTidal reach and saltwater-license boundary per VMRC/DWR, not given by GNIS.
The Pamunkey River license line splits freshwater from saltwater licensing.
| 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 |
| 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 creel and length for the Pamunkey 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 |
On Pamunkey River, statewide rows hold where no exception speaks.
- General Regulations
- See the fishing regulations section on the web at:a href=”https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/regulations/index.html
- Blue Catfish
- There is a possession limit of one blue catfish larger than 32 inches per person per day. There is no creel limit for blue catfish less than 32 inches in Virginia’s tidal rivers.
- Anadromous Species
- Regulations regarding season and creel limits for American shad, hickory shad, river herring, and striped bass in the Pamunkey are set by the
- Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). For information contact VMRC in Newport News at 1-800-541-4646 or on the web at:
- VMRC
- Note:
- Above Route 360, fishing for American and hickory shad is strictly catch and release only – No possession.
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.
State-record fish out of the Pamunkey River
| Species | Weight as printed | Date | Water as listed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gar | 23 lbs | 8-13-2021 | Pamunkey 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.
The Pamunkey River next to nearby creeks and rivers
| Stream | Distance | DWR access sites | USGS gauges | Stocked reaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pamunkey River | this stream | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Mattaponi River | 16 miles north | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Tidal Rappahannock River | 31 miles northeast | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Appomattox River | 33 miles south | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Rapidan River (Trout Section) | 43 miles northwest | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Chickahominy River | 47 miles southeast | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations and Stocked Trout Reaches, USGS gauges; read November 6, 2026.
Just off Pamunkey River, by road
Another Virginia impoundment after Pamunkey River
- Crump Park Pond11 miles
- Three Lakes Park12 miles
- Echo Lake13 miles
- Bryan Park14 miles
Filling the bait bucket close to Pamunkey River
- Bass Pro Shops, 11550 Lakeridge Pkwysporting goods store, Ashland, 6 miles
- Green Top Sporting Goods Corp.bait and tackle shop, Ashland, 9 miles
- Surfside Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Mechanicsville, 13 miles
- Jo Jo's Fishin Huntin Expressbait and tackle shop, Manquin, 13 miles
- Hopkins Gun & Tackle LLCbait and tackle shop, Mechanicsville, 13 miles
- Fly Fish the Worldbait and tackle shop, Richmond, 17 miles
Places to stay near Pamunkey River
- Ashland6 miles, Hanover County
- Glen Allen11 miles, Henrico County
- Mechanicsville11 miles, Hanover County
The Virginia counties and cities along Pamunkey River
- Caroline Countycounty seat Bowling Green
- King William Countycounty seat King William
Virginia streams near the Pamunkey River
- Mattaponi River16 miles
- Tidal Rappahannock River31 miles
- Appomattox River33 miles
- Rapidan River (Trout Section)43 miles
- Chickahominy River47 miles
Reels from Piscifun for the next trip to Pamunkey River
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Lakes, tidewater and stream riffles close to Pamunkey River, in pictures
Photo: David Tansey, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Mike Oswald, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jim, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks, CC BY 2.0
Sorting out the Pamunkey River, question by question
Where does the Pamunkey River show up on a Virginia road map?
Head for Caroline and King William counties, about 6 miles from Ashland.
Is there a DWR ramp on the Pamunkey River?
Lestor Manor boat ramp on Pamunkey River is among 2 access sites.
Which fish does DWR tie to the Pamunkey River?
Expect alewife, black crappie, blue catfish, channel catfish, crappie, hickory shad and largemouth bass, per DWR.
Are there wild trout in the Pamunkey River?
DWR lists no trout reach on it.
How many bass may go home from the Pamunkey River?
The statewide digest row for largemouth and smallmouth bass reads: 5 per day in the aggregate (combined); No statewide length limits.
What does DWR charge to fish the Pamunkey 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. Anyone not yet 16 is excused from buying one.
Where do I check flow on the Pamunkey River?
The panel above draws on 2 USGS gauges.
What tackle store is handiest for the Pamunkey River trips?
Bass Pro Shops (about 6 miles away) heads the list.
Where does the saltwater license start on the Pamunkey River?
The digest license line: Rt. 33 Bridges. The fall line landmark: Rt. 360 Bridge.
Which record-list fish did the Pamunkey River give up?
Gar, 23 lbs, 2021, is on the DWR record list for this water (no angler names here).
Wet-wade the Pamunkey River before the leaves turn
Every 2026 fee is one click away.