Virginia Fishing Charters
Virginia fishing charters cover tidal rivers, Atlantic wrecks, and deep Appalachian lakes—everything from cobia off Cape Charles to muskies in the New River.
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Top Rated Charters in Virginia
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Virginia Fishing Guide
Virginia’s fishing scene is built around water that moves. You’ve got the salty Atlantic, brackish Chesapeake, tidal rivers like the Rappahannock and James, plus highland lakes and fast mountain streams. Saltwater trips run out of places like Virginia Beach, Cape Charles, and Wachapreague. Most of those are half-day to full-day charters targeting cobia, red drum, spadefish, flounder, or heading to deeper wrecks for tautog and sea bass. Summer brings in Spanish mackerel and the occasional king. Offshore boats chase tuna and mahi, with long runs past the Norfolk Canyon when weather allows.
Inshore and nearshore setups usually launch from public ramps like Owl Creek or Lynnhaven Inlet. Expect live eels, cut bait, or jigs depending on the season. Cobia guys might tower spot and pitch live bunker, while sheepshead guys are scraping fiddlers off pilings. On the freshwater side, you’ve got legendary bass lakes like Smith Mountain and Kerr, muskie runs on the New and James Rivers, and mountain trout water up in Shenandoah. Guided lake trips usually focus on largemouth, stripers, or crappie depending on time of year.
Virginia’s charter scene stays busy from spring through fall, but winter still has its place—especially if you’re targeting blue catfish or coldwater stripers inland. Whether it’s a drift boat, bass boat, or 30-footer with outriggers, there’s always water worth fishing here.
Regional Fishing Highlights
Virginia Beach & Coastal Wrecks
This is the state’s saltwater hub. In summer, cobia and red drum move through the Bay mouth and inshore waters, drawing sight-fishing trips from Lynnhaven or Rudee Inlet. Wreck trips go after flounder, tautog, and sea bass on structure within 30 miles. Offshore, boats run out to the Cigar or Canyon for yellowfin, mahi, and billfish. Techniques range from trolling to bottom dropping. Spring sheepshead and fall speckled trout keep things lively closer to shore.
Chesapeake Bay & Eastern Shore
Up the Bay, charter captains work tidal rivers, grassy flats, and channel edges. Catches include striped bass (rockfish), croaker, spot, and flounder. Light tackle jigging, chumming, and live bait all have their place here. Cape Charles is a known hotspot for big red drum in May and June. Farther north, Tangier Sound offers shallow water options for specks and schoolie stripers, often out of places like Onancock.
Central Virginia Lakes
Smith Mountain Lake and Kerr (Buggs Island) are the top freshwater charter spots. Stripers are the headliners—caught by trolling planers, casting swimbaits, or drifting live shad. Largemouth bass, crappie, and catfish round out the list. Most trips are early morning departures, either casting points and docks or chasing bait schools offshore.
Western Rivers & Highlands
The James and New Rivers hold some of the best muskie and smallmouth fishing in the East. Jet boats and drift boats run guided float trips targeting these hard-pulling river fish. Most guides throw big spinnerbaits or jerkbaits for muskies, and soft plastics or topwater for smallies. In spring and fall, the action heats up. Farther west, native brook trout can be caught in Shenandoah’s higher elevations—fly or ultralight gear only.
Fishing Seasons in Virginia
Spring
Cobia show up near the Bay mouth in May, and red drum follow shortly after. Speckled trout and sheepshead turn on inshore. Stripers move up tidal rivers and also bite well in reservoirs. In the mountains, trout season hits full swing with snowmelt runoff settling down.
Summer
This is peak cobia and flounder season in the Bay. Spanish mackerel school up along the beaches, and offshore trips head for tuna and mahi. Catfish and stripers hit early mornings on inland lakes, while smallmouth bite well in rivers until water temps rise too much.
Fall
Speckled trout and red drum feed hard in the lower Bay. Big stripers start schooling up again, especially up north. On freshwater, bass return shallow, crappie school up, and muskie fishing turns solid on rivers. Cooling water gives a final push before winter.
Winter
Cold weather narrows the list, but options are still there. Blue catfish bite heavy on the James and Rappahannock. Tautog fishing off Virginia Beach wrecks can be excellent if the seas cooperate. Stripers in reservoirs chase bait in open water, and trout fishing remains steady in stocked streams.
Most Popular Gamefish in Virginia
- Cobia – 20–60 lbs. Sight-cast with live bait or bucktails near buoys and bridges in summer.
- Red Drum – 10–50 lbs. Fished with cut bait on shoals near Cape Charles and Bay mouth in spring.
- Speckled Trout – 2–6 lbs. Target grass flats and creek mouths using soft plastics or shrimp under corks.
- Striped Bass – 3–40 lbs. Found in tidal rivers and reservoirs; caught trolling, jigging, or with live bait.
- Flounder – 1–5 lbs. Drifted over inlets and wrecks using minnow or strip bait rigs.
- Spanish Mackerel – 1–4 lbs. Fast-trolling spoons behind planers along coastal beaches.
- Tautog – 3–10 lbs. Fished with crab baits around offshore wrecks and pilings.
- Blue Catfish – 10–70 lbs. Found in tidal rivers, especially winter; cut bait on bottom rigs.
- Muskellunge – 30–50 inches. Cast big baits on New and James Rivers; cold months are best.
Virginia Fishing FAQs
Do I need a fishing license for a Virginia charter?
If you’re on a licensed charter boat, your saltwater license is usually covered. Freshwater trips often require individual licenses, unless it’s private land or a stocked pond.
What’s the best time of year to fish in Virginia?
May through October is prime for most species, but winter has great blue cat and tautog action if you can handle the cold.
Can kids go on Virginia fishing charters?
Yes, many charters welcome kids, especially inshore and lake trips where the action is steady and water’s calmer.
What kind of bait is used for cobia around Virginia Beach?
Live eels, bunker, or cut bait are standard. Some captains pitch bucktails when sight-fishing off towers.
Where can I catch big red drum in Virginia?
Cape Charles is the go-to in May and June. Look for drum around the shoals and Bay mouth on calm days.
Is offshore fishing good out of Virginia Beach?
Yes, when weather allows. Boats target yellowfin, mahi, and marlin offshore, but runs can be 60+ miles.
Do Virginia lakes have striped bass?
Yes, lakes like Smith Mountain and Kerr are known for landlocked stripers, caught trolling or with live bait.
What’s the top freshwater river for smallmouth?
The New River consistently produces big smallmouth, especially on float trips through the southwest section.
Are there good winter fishing options?
Definitely. Blue cats stay active all winter in tidal rivers, and tautog bite well on ocean wrecks when it’s calm.