Fishing near Virginia Beach, Virginia
An independent city; the 2020 Census counted 459,470 residents.
- 6 milesto nearest lake page
- 2launches nearby
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What Virginia Beach offers an angler
Virginia Beach stands as an independent city; 2020 Census population 459,470. Trashmore Lake sits around 6 miles to the northwest, the first lake with a page. Nearby, Back Bay leads on size with 25,000 acres. Owls Creek boat ramp on Linkhorn Bay, roughly 4 miles off, is the nearest launch on the DWR layer.
From here, Sandbridge Beach is 5 miles away for salt-side fishing. Virginia Beach Fishing Pier on Linkhorn Bay offers pier fishing 5 miles out.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Virginia Beach; miles are straight lines.
Lakes within reach of Virginia Beach
| Lake | Distance | Area | Kind | DWR launches | Fish DWR names |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trashmore Lake | 6 miles northwest | 52 acres | lake | 0 | common carp, largemouth bass, white perch |
| Back Bay | 12 miles south | 25,000 acres | lake | 1 | |
| Lake Whitehurst | 13 miles northwest | 838 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 0 | |
| Northwest River Park Lake | 17 miles southwest | 0 acres (DWR outline area) | lake | 0 | bluegill, channel catfish, crappie |
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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- Sandbridge Beachcape or island, 5 miles
- Linkhorn Baybay, 7 miles
- Lynnhaven Baybay, 8 miles
- Broad Baybay, 8 miles
- Lynnhaven Rivertidal river, 10 miles
Launching onto tidal water from Virginia Beach
- Owls Creek boat ramp on Linkhorn BayLinkhorn Bay, dock and ramp, 4 ramps, barrier-free, saltwater, 4 miles
- Back Bay boat rampBack Bay, dock and ramp, 1 ramp, fresh and salt, 10 miles
- Princess Anne WMA boat ramp on Back BayBack Bay, 1 ramp, saltwater, 13 miles
- Elizabeth River boat ramp on Southern Branch Elizabeth RiverSouthern Branch Elizabeth River, dock and ramp, 4 ramps, barrier-free, saltwater, 14 miles
NOAA stations within reach of Virginia Beach
| Station | ID | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Money Point | 8639348 | 15 miles |
| CBBT, Chesapeake Channel | 8638901 | 18 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.
Rivers near Virginia Beach
Stream readings around Virginia Beach
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Conveyance Chan At Ramsgate Ln Nr Great Bridge, Va | 0 cfs, 0.10 ft gage height | Nov 7 8:40 am |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 7, 2026 6:32 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 Virginia Beach
- Owls Creek boat ramp on Linkhorn BayLinkhorn Bay, dock and ramp, 4 ramps, barrier-free, saltwater, 4 miles
- Back Bay boat rampBack Bay, dock and ramp, 1 ramp, fresh and salt, 10 miles
Boatless fishing near Virginia Beach
- Virginia Beach Fishing Pier on Linkhorn Bayfishing pier, 5 miles
- Little Island Fishing Pier on Sandbridge Beachfishing pier, 8 miles
- Oak Grove Lake Park (east)fishing pier, 13 miles
- Oak Grove Lake Parkfishing pier, 13 miles
- Oak Grove Lake Park (west)fishing pier, 13 miles
- Oak Grove Lake Parkfishing pier, 13 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 Virginia Beach
Hooks, line and bait around Virginia Beach
- Tackleworksbait and tackle shop, Virginia Beach, 2 miles
- Tow Boat USmarina, Virginia Beach, 4 miles
- All Repair Marine Repair Servicemarina, Virginia Beach, 5 miles
- Dare Marinamarina, Virginia Beach, 5 miles
- Rudee Inlet Station Marinamarina, Virginia Beach, 5 miles
- Electrified Marinamarina, Virginia Beach, 5 miles
- Fishermans Wharf Marinamarina, Virginia Beach, 5 miles
- Marina Shores Marina, 200 Winston Salem Avemarina, Virginia Beach, 5 miles
Hiring a captain out of Virginia Beach
- A-Aa Four Winds Charteringcharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 464-4680
- AAA Ryno Charterscharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 679-3474
- AfishinadoVB Fishing Charterscharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 748-0488
- Aquaman Sportfishing Charterscharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 200-0200
- Big Time Charters Inccharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 496-1040
- Chesapeake Bay Sport Fishingfishing guide, Virginia Beach, (410) 703-2760
- E Fishin Sea Sportfishingcharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 985-6255
- E-Fishinsea Sport Fishing Charterscharter, Virginia Beach, (970) 946-7071
- First Landing Charterscharter, Virginia Beach, (757) 708-0707
- Flyn Fish Sportfishingfly fishing guide, Virginia Beach, (757) 560-3828
Yellow Pages and chain store listings (miles only for shops with an exact point); guide and charter business listings; read November 6, 2026.
Record-class water close to Virginia Beach
| Species | Weight as printed | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Catfish | 7 lbs. 6 oz. | Western Branch Reservoir | 1992 |
| Common Carp | 49 lbs. 4 oz. | Lake Prince | 1986 |
| Gar | 25 lbs. 2 oz. | Lake Prince | 1987 |
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.
Digest rows for Virginia Beach visitors
Virginians 16 and older pay $23 for a year of freshwater fishing; visitors from other states pay $47. Bay and tidal river trips add a saltwater license at $17.50 for residents and $25 for visitors.
| 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 |
Bay keeper rules from Virginia Beach
| 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 |
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 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.
Close by Virginia Beach
Neighbouring places to Virginia Beach
- Norfolk16 miles
- Chesapeake17 miles
- Portsmouth19 miles
- Hampton24 miles
- Poquoson28 miles
Locality fishing page for Virginia Beach
- City of Virginia Beachindependent city
Piscifun reels for a Virginia day on Virginia Beach
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Sorting out the Virginia Beach species by sight
Photo: Argyleist, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Nick Tobler (Cowturtle), CC BY 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, CC BY-SA 2.0
Fishing near Virginia Beach, answered
What reservoir page is the shortest drive from Virginia Beach?
Trashmore Lake, 6 miles northwest.
How many miles separate Virginia Beach from a public launch?
Owls Creek boat ramp on Linkhorn Bay is the nearest, 4 miles away.
Which deck near Virginia Beach suits young anglers?
It is Virginia Beach Fishing Pier on Linkhorn Bay, some 5 miles off.
Which shop near Virginia Beach sells bait?
Tackleworks is listed 2 miles from town.
Inside which county or city is Virginia Beach?
It governs itself as an independent city: see City of Virginia Beach.
What does DWR charge a Virginia Beach visitor to fish?
Out-of-state anglers buy a $47 annual Virginia freshwater license, or $8 for a short-term option DWR lists. Salt-side fishing needs a saltwater license as well.
What is the broadest impoundment around Virginia Beach?
Back Bay covers 25,000 acres and lies 12 miles off.
Which towns flank Virginia Beach?
The nearest town pages: Norfolk (16 miles), Chesapeake (17 miles) and Portsmouth (19 miles).
What record entries point to water around Virginia Beach?
White Catfish, 7 lbs. 6 oz., 1992, from Western Branch Reservoir.
Which tidal water serves Virginia Beach?
Sandbridge Beach, 5 miles away.
Leave Virginia Beach before first light
Each lake or river named above opens its own Virginia page.