Fishing near Alexandria, Virginia
An independent city; the 2020 Census counted 159,467 residents.
- 1 mileto nearest lake page
- 1launch nearby
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What Alexandria offers an angler
Alexandria stands as an independent city; 2020 Census population 159,467. Cook Lake sits around 1 mile to the southwest, the first lake with a page. Nearby, Occoquan Reservoir leads on size with 2,100 acres. Gravelly Point on Potomac River, roughly 4 miles off, is the nearest launch on the DWR layer.
Cameron Run Lake fishing pier on Cook Lake offers pier fishing 1 mile out.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Alexandria; miles are straight lines.
Lakes within reach of Alexandria
| Lake | Distance | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cook Lake | 1 mile southwest | 3 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 0 | channel catfish, brown trout, rainbow trout |
| Burke Lake | 12 miles west | 218 acres | lake | 1 | black crappie, blue catfish, bluegill |
| Occoquan Reservoir | 15 miles southwest | 2,100 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, channel catfish, crappie |
| Fairfax Lake | 16 miles northwest | 28 acres | lake | 0 | bluegill, channel catfish, crappie |
| Locust Shade Park | 24 miles southwest | 3 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 0 | 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.
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- Holmes Run3 miles, 1 stocked trout reach
- Accotink Creek8 miles, 1 stocked trout reach, 2 USGS gauges
Stream readings around Alexandria
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Run At Alexandria, Va | 10 cfs, 3.88 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:20 pm |
| Fourmile Run At Alexandria, Va | 3 cfs, 4.08 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:20 pm |
| N Branch Little Hunting Creek Nr Gum Springs, Va | 0 cfs, 4.40 ft gage height | Nov 8 6:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 8, 2026 6:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
DWR waterbody pages, stocked trout reaches and wild trout survey layers, and USGS gauges (live readings); read November 6, 2026.
Launches, piers and lakes around Alexandria
- Gravelly Point on Potomac RiverPotomac River, concrete ramp (no dock), 2 ramps, barrier-free, freshwater, 4 miles
Boatless fishing near Alexandria
- Cameron Run Lake fishing pier on Cook Lakefishing pier, 1 mile
- Lake Burke fishing pierfishing pier, 12 miles
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Listed tackle and charter help for Alexandria
Hooks, line and bait around Alexandria
- Marina Barbosa Psychhealthmarina, Alexandria, 2 miles
- Washington Sailing Marinamarina, Alexandria, 2 miles
- Belle Haven Marina Incmarina, Alexandria, 4 miles
- District Anglingbait and tackle shop, Arlington, 6 miles
- Tackle Emmanualbait and tackle shop, Alexandria, 6 miles
- Marina Maidsmarina, Springfield, 6 miles
- Boat America Corporationmarina, Springfield, 7 miles
- Old Dominion Boat Clubmarina, Alexandria, 9 miles
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point); guide and charter business listings; read November 6, 2026.
Digest rows for Alexandria visitors
Virginians 16 and older pay $23 for a year of freshwater fishing; visitors from other states pay $47.
| 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 |
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. Lake and river pages print any water exception. Virginia license fees in the 2026 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia digest (licenses run one year from purchase unless noted), read November 6, 2026.
Close by Alexandria
Neighbouring places to Alexandria
- Huntington2 miles
- Rose Hill3 miles
- Belle Haven3 miles
- Bailey's Crossroads3 miles
- Lincolnia4 miles
Locality fishing page for Alexandria
- City of Alexandriaindependent city
Piscifun reels for a Virginia day on Alexandria
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Sorting out the Alexandria species by sight
Photo: NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Fishing near Alexandria, answered
What reservoir page is the shortest drive from Alexandria?
Cook Lake, 1 mile southwest.
How many miles separate Alexandria from a public launch?
Gravelly Point on Potomac River is the nearest, 4 miles away.
Which deck near Alexandria suits young anglers?
It is Cameron Run Lake fishing pier on Cook Lake, some 1 mile off.
Which shop near Alexandria sells bait?
Marina Barbosa Psychhealth is listed 2 miles from town.
Inside which county or city is Alexandria?
It governs itself as an independent city: see City of Alexandria.
What does DWR charge a Alexandria visitor to fish?
Out-of-state anglers buy a $47 annual Virginia freshwater license, or $8 for a short-term option DWR lists.
What is the broadest impoundment around Alexandria?
Occoquan Reservoir covers 2,100 acres and lies 15 miles off.
Which towns flank Alexandria?
The nearest town pages: Huntington (2 miles), Rose Hill (3 miles) and Belle Haven (3 miles).
Leave Alexandria before first light
Each lake or river named above opens its own Virginia page.