Virginia offers extraordinary fishing diversity from the Atlantic coast to the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore provide world-class striped bass, blue crab, and flounder fishing. The Shenandoah National Park features 100+ miles of brook trout streams, Smith Mountain Lake offers excellent bass and striper fishing, and the James River provides smallmouth bass and muskie fishing.
Fishing Regulations
- Creel limits are per person per day.
- It is unlawful to stock any species of fish into inland waters without DWR approval.
- American shad: no possession (catch and release only).
- Landowner permission required to fish on another's property (except designated stocked trout waters with signage).
7 species limits are shown per spot in the CatchTales app.
Pick a region below to explore its fishing spots.
Coastal & Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Beach, Chincoteague, Briery Creek Lake
40 spots
Hampton Roads & Tidewater
James River, York River, Back Bay, Little Annemessex River
40 spots
Northern VA & Potomac
Potomac River, Occoquan Reservoir, Burke Lake, Alder Lake
40 spots
Piedmont & Central
Lake Anna, Kerr Lake, Briery Creek, Beaver Pond
40 spots
Shenandoah & Mountains
Shenandoah National Park, Mossy Creek, Jackson River, Sheppe Pond
40 spots
Southwest & Blue Ridge
Claytor Lake, New River, Smith Mountain Lake, Blue Water Pond
39 spots
Get CatchTales
Ready to start bragging? Download the app and hit the water.