Fishing near Suffolk, Virginia
An independent city; the 2020 Census counted 94,324 residents.
- 1 mileto nearest lake page
- 1launch nearby
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Suffolk as a Virginia fishing base
Census 2020 put Suffolk, a Virginia independent city, at 94,324 residents. The closest paged lake is Speight’s Run, near 1 mile northwest of town. For more room, Western Branch Reservoir covers 1,265 acres. The shortest tow to a launch is 8 miles, to Western Branch boat ramp on Lake Prince.
Residents buy the yearly freshwater license at $23; out-of-state anglers spend $47.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Suffolk; miles are straight lines.
Suffolk area lakes, nearest first
| Lake | Distance | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speight’s Run | 1 mile northwest | 197 acres | lake | 0 | bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass |
| Lake Kilby | 2 miles northeast | 222 acres | lake | 0 | black crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel |
| Lake Meade | 4 miles northeast | 512 acres | lake | 0 | bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass |
| Lake Cohoon | 4 miles north | 510 acres | reservoir | 0 | bluegill, chain pickerel, crappie |
| Lake Prince | 7 miles north | 946 acres | lake | 1 | black crappie, bluegill, chain pickerel |
| Western Branch Reservoir | 8 miles north | 1,265 acres | reservoir | 0 | crappie, largemouth bass, muskellunge |
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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NOAA water-level stations near Suffolk
| Station | ID | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Money Point | 8639348 | 19 miles |
USGS GNIS names and points; Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026. NOAA CO-OPS Tides & Currents station list, read November 6, 2026.
River pages handy to Suffolk
- Blackwater River15 miles, 3 DWR launches, 5 USGS gauges
Current flow near Suffolk
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Blackwater River Near Franklin, Va | 12 cfs, 0.83 ft gage height | Nov 7 4:45 pm |
| Blackwater River At Hwys 58/258 At Franklin, Va | -354 cfs, 0.61 ft gage height | Nov 7 5:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 7, 2026 5:34 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.
Pins around Suffolk
- Western Branch boat ramp on Lake PrinceLake Prince, ramp, 2 ramps, freshwater, 8 miles
Virginia DWR Boating Access Locations layer (attributes as recorded; lanes, fees and hours are not in the layer), read November 6, 2026.
Bait counters and captains close to Suffolk
Tackle stores handy to Suffolk
- Harbor View Partners, 2602 Nansemond Pkwymarina, Suffolk, 8 miles
- Harbor View Partners, 106 Sharpe Drmarina, Suffolk
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point); guide and charter business listings; read November 6, 2026.
Virginia record weights around Suffolk
| Species | Weight as printed | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Carp | 49 lbs. 4 oz. | Lake Prince | 1986 |
| Gar | 25 lbs. 2 oz. | Lake Prince | 1987 |
| White Catfish | 7 lbs. 6 oz. | Western Branch Reservoir | 1992 |
| Bowfin | 10 lbs. 12 oz. | Chickahominy River | 2016 |
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. Waters within 40 miles.
Bag and length rules for Suffolk anglers
Residents buy the yearly freshwater license at $23; out-of-state anglers spend $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.
Neighbouring pages for Suffolk
More towns around Suffolk
- Windsor10 miles
- Franklin17 miles
- Carrollton18 miles
- Chesapeake18 miles
- Portsmouth19 miles
Which locality takes in Suffolk
- City of Suffolkindependent city
A Piscifun spread to take to Suffolk
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Photo ID for the fish swimming at Suffolk
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Richard Hurd, CC BY 2.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Suffolk visitors ask
Which Virginia lake is the short hop from Suffolk?
Speight’s Run, 1 mile northwest.
Which DWR launch serves a Suffolk boater?
Western Branch boat ramp on Lake Prince, a run of 8 miles.
Which DWR pier is handy for Suffolk?
Inside 15 miles there is no DWR pier.
What is the closest listed bait counter to Suffolk?
Harbor View Partners is listed 8 miles from town.
Which local government covers Suffolk?
As an independent city it has its own locality page, City of Suffolk.
Must a Suffolk visitor carry a Virginia license?
A yearly freshwater license for a non-Virginian is $47, or $8 for a short-term option DWR lists.
What nearby impoundment gives a Suffolk boater the most room?
Western Branch Reservoir covers 1,265 acres and lies 8 miles off.
Which Virginia communities neighbour Suffolk?
In order of distance, Windsor (10 miles), Franklin (17 miles) and Carrollton (18 miles).
Is any Virginia record from a lake by Suffolk?
Common Carp, 49 lbs. 4 oz., 1986, from Lake Prince.
Base in Suffolk and fish every sunrise
Every launch name leads to a directions link.