{"id":10934,"date":"2019-11-06T15:32:41","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T14:32:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/?p=10934"},"modified":"2026-03-15T19:12:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T19:12:20","slug":"fishing-in-virginia-beach-complete-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/fishing-in-virginia-beach-complete-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia Beach Fishing: The Complete Guide for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 10<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><p>For most people, <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/location\/us\/VA\/virginia-beach?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=10934\">Virginia Beach<\/a> means sand, sun, sea, and surfing. &ldquo;Resort City&rdquo; is one of the East Coast&rsquo;s top vacation spots, with almost 20 million visitors each year. What many of them don&rsquo;t realize is that Virginia Beach fishing is out of this world. Huge Cobia, doormat Flounder, monster Marlin &ndash; the city&rsquo;s surrounded by fish.<\/p><script src=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.com\/player.js\" async><\/script><script src=\"https:\/\/fast.wistia.com\/embed\/81gxkkodub.js\" async type=\"module\"><\/script><style>wistia-player[media-id='81gxkkodub']:not(:defined) { background: center \/ contain no-repeat url('https:\/\/fast.wistia.com\/embed\/medias\/81gxkkodub\/swatch'); display: block; filter: blur(5px); padding-top:56.25%; }<\/style><wistia-player media-id=\"81gxkkodub\" aspect=\"1.7777777777777777\"><div class=\"wistia_preload_transcript_outer_wrapper\" style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%; display:flex; justify-content:center; align-items: center; margin-top:-56.25%;\"><div class=\"wistia_preload_transcript_inner_wrapper\" style=\" overflow: auto;\"><p class=\"wistia_preload_transcript_text\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" style=\"text-align: justify; font-size: 5px !important;\">Strap into your fighting chair and get ready for an unforgettable adventure because today we&rsquo;re heading down to the Old Dominion to check out the Virginia Beach fishing scene. We&rsquo;ll go over top spots, seasonality, ways to go fishing, and show you some impressive catches from FishingBooker customers. You might be thinking,\r\n\r\n&ldquo;why out of all the places on the East Coast should I choose Virginia Beach as my next fishing destination?&rdquo; Well for one, the city sits at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, which is the country&rsquo;s largest and arguably most important inshore fishery.\r\n\r\nIt&rsquo;s also one of the most productive Striped Bass fisheries in the US. Locally referred to as Rockfish, the best time to target them in Virginia Beach is spring and fall. Just keep in mind that they&rsquo;re highly regulated in Virginia&rsquo;s waters and seasonal closures vary year to year. Restrictions also differ depending on whether you&rsquo;re fishing in the bay versus out in the Ocean, so it&rsquo;s super important to check with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources before planning your trip.\r\n\r\nIf you&rsquo;re already sticking to inshore waters, you&rsquo;ll also want to keep an eye out for Redfish. They&rsquo;re typically caught in the warmer months of the year, roughly from May through October, with the peak season being in late summer and early fall. And if you&rsquo;re testing your trolling skills in either inshore or nearshore waters, a fun fish to find on the end of your line is Spanish Mackerel. Their peak season falls during the summer months, roughly between June and September, and they provide a great fight for both novice and expert anglers, making them the ideal summer charter fishing target.\r\n\r\nAnother fishing staple in Virginia Beach is Cobia. Due to their size, power, and fighting ability, they&rsquo;re a more common target among skilled fishermen. The best time to go after them is from late spring through early fall, with peak months falling between June and August. And if you&rsquo;re looking to go the extra mile, hop on a charter boat to explore the deeper waters of the Atlantic.\r\n\r\nVirginia Beach is one of the top locations along the East Coast for targeting White Marlin. The best time to land one is typically during the late summer and early fall months. Catching a Marlin is a thrilling experience but it&#039;s important to note that they are highly skilled predators, so landing one requires a combination of the right gear, technique, and sometimes a bit of luck. This is why we recommend downloading the FishingBooker app or visiting us online to browse the best fishing charters in Virginia Beach.\r\n\r\nAnd while you&rsquo;re already in deeper waters, why not add the likes of Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Tuna, and many other pelagic species to your list!\r\n\r\nNow that you have a better idea of what species you can catch while fishing in Virginia Beach, let&rsquo;s find out where to find them. You can access incredible fishing locations without ever setting foot off land. One of the area&rsquo;s top shore fishing spots is Rudee Inlet, where you can hook into a solid number of Speckled Trout, Redfish, and Striped Bass.\r\n\r\nAnother is Chic&rsquo;s Beach, where you can cast around the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and come up with many of the same species, even including Sharks. Fishing from structures is super advantageous too. There are several excellent fishing piers in town, including both Lynnhaven and Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, where you can reach your bag limit on many of the inshore species we just mentioned. If you&rsquo;re heading out on a smaller boat or kayak, then Lynnhaven Bay, Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge are your go-to places.\r\n\r\nLynnhaven Bay&rsquo;s sprawling marshes provide an excellent habitat for Trout and smaller Redfish, while Chesapeake Bay Bridge will give you a wider range of species, from Spadefish to even Cobia. And last but not least, if you&rsquo;re heading out on an offshore charter boat, you&rsquo;re gonna want to hit the Chesapeake Light Tower, Triangle Wrecks, and Norfolk Canyon. The last mentioned, being an excellent area to hook into White and Blue Marlin, various Tuna species, and many other\r\n\r\npelagics. This leads us to our next question, what are some of the various ways to go about fishing in Virginia Beach?\r\n\r\nWell, we sort of already touched on this just a moment ago &ndash; the main ways being from shore, pier, kayak, or boat. If you&rsquo;ve got your own gear, shore fishing can be a productive way to catch fish on a budget. Spend a few hours relaxing on the beach and head home with some fresh fillets at the end of the day. Fishing on a kayak or a paddle board opens up a whole range of spots that you just can&rsquo;t hit from shore.\r\n\r\nIt also lets you escape the crowds when the beach gets busy. Renting kayaks and paddleboards is pretty straightforward in Virginia Beach. If you&rsquo;re not sure which one you should get, our blog article on paddle boards vs kayaks might help. While all these options are excellent for experienced anglers, a charter boat is perhaps the best way to guarantee fish in the bucket, especially if you&rsquo;re a beginner.\r\n\r\nYou&rsquo;ll have the captain&rsquo;s expertise and state-of-the-art equipment at your disposal, be able to reach more remote spots, and use a wider range of techniques to catch fish. As mentioned earlier, you can download our app or head to FishingBooker.com to find the perfect Virginia Beach fishing charter for you. Before you set\r\n\r\nout on your adventure, there are just a few more things we need to cover.\r\n\r\nFirst and foremost, everyone over the age of 16 will need to buy a fishing license, unless you&#039;re fishing on a charter boat. Your captain&rsquo;s license will cover everyone on board, which saves you the hassle of having to get one. On the other hand, if you&rsquo;re fishing on your own, you&rsquo;ll need to obtain a fishing license. You can check out our full blog article for more detailed information about them and to purchase one online, just visit Gooutdoorsvirginia.com.\r\n\r\nIt&rsquo;s also very important to pay attention to size and bag limits, as well as open and closed seasons for specific species. For example, Striped Bass fishing in the Chesapeake Bay differs from that in the Atlantic Ocean, based on things like migrational patterns, spawning, and other factors. Another species we&rsquo;ve talked about that has seasonal closures throughout the year is Cobia. Keep in mind that these dates may vary year to year, so it&rsquo;s important to always stay up to date and check the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website before you head out.\r\n\r\nLuckily, if you&rsquo;re fishing on a charter boat, it&rsquo;s your captain&rsquo;s job to know all of this information so that you don&rsquo;t have to worry about it yourself. And\r\n\r\nthat&rsquo;s it! When you&rsquo;re finally ready to check out Virginia Beach for yourself, download the FishingBooker app or visit us online. You&rsquo;ll be able browse and compare fishing charters, read customers reviews, and book your trip in just a few taps.\r\n\r\nSo, what are you waiting for? Head over to the app store or go to FishingBooker.com to experience fishing in Virginia Beach today!<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/wistia-player><p><\/p><p>In this article, we&rsquo;ll break down the ins and outs of fishing in Virginia Beach. Learn about the area&rsquo;s top game fish. Find out where to catch them, and how to do it. You can also get info on local fishing tournaments, regulations, and much, much more. It&rsquo;s your complete guide to wetting a line in VA Beach.<\/p><h2 id=\"what-makes-virginia-beach-special\">What Makes Virginia Beach Special?<\/h2><p>You may be thinking, &ldquo;There are a lot of places to go fishing on the East Coast, what makes Virginia Beach special?&rdquo; Well, quite a lot, actually.<\/p><p>For starters, it sits on the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, the country&rsquo;s largest and most important inshore fishery. The bay is most famous for producing <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/chesapeakebay.noaa.gov\/fish-facts\/striped-bass\" target=\"_blank\">80&ndash;90% of the world&rsquo;s Striped Bass<\/a>. That&rsquo;s just one of hundreds of fish that you can find here, all of which swim within kayaking distance of downtown VA beach as they migrate in and out of the bay.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151617\/Chesapeake-Bay-Bridge-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of Chesapeake Bay Bridge, with the bridge running across the middle of the image into the horizon as it's getting dark\" class=\"wp-image-10949\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151617\/Chesapeake-Bay-Bridge-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151617\/Chesapeake-Bay-Bridge-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151617\/Chesapeake-Bay-Bridge-768x538.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Millions of fish pass under this bridge each year.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p>Virginia Beach is also the meeting place of the Eastern Seaboard. It&rsquo;s where warm water fish like Redfish and Cobia meet northern species like Tautog and Stripers. An incredible variety of game fish visit over the course of the year. In fact, it seems like fish enjoy vacationing here as much as people do.<\/p><p>Lastly, there&rsquo;s Virginia Beach&rsquo;s deep sea scene. Long ago, ancient rivers cut scars into the edge of the continental shelf. These underwater canyons are now the hunting ground of huge Tuna, Marlin, Swordfish, and Sharks. Closer to town, Mahi Mahi and Sailfish patrol structure that also holds huge Seabass, Tilefish, and Grouper. In short, VA Beach has it all.<\/p><h2 id=\"best-fish-to-catch-in-virginia-beach\">Best Fish to Catch in Virginia Beach<\/h2><p>You have so many options here that it can be tough to know where to start. Even limiting yourself to the shallows, you have a dozen game fish to choose between. Head father out, and a whole new cast of characters will take your baits. Then there&rsquo;s the city&rsquo;s freshwater bite. To keep things simple, here are a few species that you absolutely have to target while you&rsquo;re in town.<\/p><h3 id=\"striped-bass\">Striped Bass<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151619\/Virginia-Beach-Striped-Bass-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"Two anglers holding a Striped Bass on a boat with the sum behind them on a cloudy, cold day\" class=\"wp-image-10943\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151619\/Virginia-Beach-Striped-Bass-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151619\/Virginia-Beach-Striped-Bass-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151619\/Virginia-Beach-Striped-Bass-768x538.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151619\/Virginia-Beach-Striped-Bass.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Striped Bass are the superstars of the Virginia Beach winter fishing scene. When most species move south, big &#8220;Rockfish&#8221; come out of the Chesapeake Bay and line the coast all around town. These are the real trophies, with 40 or even 50 lb fish among them. Enough to warm you up on a cold winter&rsquo;s morning.<\/p><p>Sadly, Striped Bass numbers have taken a beating over the years. Because of this, Virginia <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/2019-striped-bass-fishing-season-closures\/\">canceled<\/a> its trophy Striper season in 2019. The good news is that you can still catch as many fish as you like. You just need to release the big ones. Sounds like a small price to pay for protecting these awesome fighters.<\/p><h3 id=\"cobia\">Cobia<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151625\/Virginia-Beach-Cobia-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"A view from the flybridge of two female anglers holding a Cobia each at the back of a charter boat\" class=\"wp-image-10935\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151625\/Virginia-Beach-Cobia-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151625\/Virginia-Beach-Cobia-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151625\/Virginia-Beach-Cobia-768x538.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>If there&rsquo;s one day that&rsquo;s locked into the Virginia Beach calendar, it&rsquo;s the Cobia opener. As soon as June rolls around, everybody with a boat or a kayak heads out for a slice of the action. Cobia offer plenty of that. Even small &ldquo;rats&rdquo; put up a decent fight. Bigger fish will pull you clean out of the boat if you&rsquo;re not careful.<\/p><p>Cobia go hand in hand with another, less exciting catch: Rays. If you hook a Ray, get a second line in the water quick &ndash; chances are there&rsquo;s a Cobia nearby. They hide in the Ray&rsquo;s shadow to sneak up on prey. It almost makes up for all the broken lines and lost lures from Rays stuck to the seafloor.<\/p><div class='featured-charters-container' data-trigger='featured-charters' data-destination-id='1619' data-destination-title='Virginia Beach' data-perpage='4' data-currency='USD'data-filter-field='fishFilter'data-filter-value='cobia'data-headline='Top Cobia Fishing Charters in Virginia Beach'data-add-type='m'><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h3 id=\"flounder\">Flounder<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151617\/Virginia-Beach-Flounder-Fishing-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"Two men and a woman holding a Flounder each on a fishing boat out of Virginia Beach\" class=\"wp-image-10948\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151617\/Virginia-Beach-Flounder-Fishing-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151617\/Virginia-Beach-Flounder-Fishing-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151617\/Virginia-Beach-Flounder-Fishing-768x538.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Flounder are the perfect species for family fishing trips. They put up a fun fight but are still easy enough to catch. They get pretty big without being too much to handle. What&rsquo;s more, they&rsquo;re delicious. No wonder they&rsquo;re one of the most popular inshore targets in Virginia Beach!<\/p><p>The largest and most common Flounder species in Virginia Beach is&nbsp;Summer Flounder. Also known as Fluke, these guys can reach five pounds easy &ndash; more than enough for a fishy feast. Despite their name, the best time to catch Summer Flounder is actually the fall. This is when the big &ldquo;doormat&rdquo; Flounder take to the shallows.<\/p><h3 id=\"crab\">Crab<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151624\/Virginia-Beach-Crabbing-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"A mid-rift shot of a man in a white shirt and gloves holding two Blue Crabs, with the focus on the Crabs\" class=\"wp-image-10937\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151624\/Virginia-Beach-Crabbing-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151624\/Virginia-Beach-Crabbing-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151624\/Virginia-Beach-Crabbing-768x538.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Looking for a low-effort way to maximize your catch on your fishing trip. Drop a pot at the start of the day, then check it whenever you get a moment. By the time you&rsquo;re done fishing, you&rsquo;ll have a bushel of delicious Blue Crab to add to your haul. You can even use couple as bait for big Redfish to work your way up the food chain.<\/p><p>The best part about crabbing in Virginia Beach is how darned good Blue Crab taste. The second best part is that you don&rsquo;t need a license. You can drop a pot and haul in enough Crab for a shellfish feast absolutely license-free. This makes it the ideal backup in case you get skunked with the fishing itself.<\/p><h3 id=\"tuna\">Tuna<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151619\/Virginia-Beach-Tuna-Fishing-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"A group of anglers posing with four Tuna and a Mahi Mahi standing in front of a sign saying &quot;Rudee's Inlet Station Marina&quot; after fishing in Virginia Beach\" class=\"wp-image-10944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151619\/Virginia-Beach-Tuna-Fishing-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151619\/Virginia-Beach-Tuna-Fishing-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151619\/Virginia-Beach-Tuna-Fishing-768x538.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>&ldquo;What about <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/technique\/big_game_fishing\/us\/VA\/Virginia-Beach?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=10934\">Virginia Beach&rsquo;s deep sea fishing<\/a>?&rdquo; You ask. Don&rsquo;t worry, we haven&rsquo;t forgotten the bluewaters. If anything, we saved the best for last. The Tuna fishing Virginia Beach has access to is out of this world. The seas offshore are home to several species of big, tasty Tuna. They&rsquo;re around all summer and even into the fall.<\/p><p>The main target on Tuna trips is Yellowfin. These guys are every bit as wild as they look. They grow big, fight hard, and taste fantastic. You can also catch Bluefin, Bigeye, and Albacore Tuna out of VA Beach. Bluefin and Bigeye stocks aren&rsquo;t doing too well, so we&rsquo;d recommend releasing them if possible. Luckily, Yellowfin and Albacore are both as plentiful as they are delicious.<\/p><h3 id=\"marlin\">Marlin<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151620\/Virginia-Beach-Marlin-1024x717.jpeg\" alt=\"A woman and a man in vests holding a large Striped Marlin caught on a Virginia Beach fishing charter\" class=\"wp-image-10941\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151620\/Virginia-Beach-Marlin-1024x717.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151620\/Virginia-Beach-Marlin-300x210.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151620\/Virginia-Beach-Marlin-768x538.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151620\/Virginia-Beach-Marlin.jpeg 1976w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>The ambitious anglers among you may already have Marlin in your sights. If you&rsquo;re one of them, Virginia Beach has a serious treat in store for you. Both Blue and White Marlin roam the remote waters around the canyons. Blues over 500 pounds are caught here each year, and even the Whites hit triple digits every so often.<\/p><p>The stars of the show are the Marlin, but you can combine them with a bunch of other species. Think fresh Swordfish steaks or a freezer full of Mahi Mahi and Wahoo. And don&rsquo;t forget the Tuna. Whatever you do, you&rsquo;re unlikely to head home empty-handed. That&rsquo;s lucky, because nothing builds up an appetite like wrestling monster Marlin.<\/p><div class='reviews-fetcher-container' data-destination-id='1619' data-destination-title='Virginia Beach' data-category-title='' data-category='' data-category-id='' data-trigger='reviews-fetcher' data-viewport-event='view_reviews_fetcher' data-action='In viewport' data-viewport-category='Reviews' data-label=''>\n                    <h3>What anglers said about fishing in Virginia Beach<\/h3>\n                <\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 id=\"how-to-go-fishing-in-virginia-beach\">How to Go Fishing in Virginia Beach<\/h2><p>So you know the <em>what<\/em> of Virginia Beach fishing. Now it&rsquo;s time for the <em>how<\/em>. The main ways people fish around here are from shore and aboard <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/destinations\/location\/us\/VA\/virginia-beach?utm_source=fishingbooker&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=post_content_link&amp;utm_term=10934\">fishing charters<\/a>. You can also split the difference and head out on a kayak. Here&rsquo;s a short summary of the pros and cons of each style of fishing.<\/p><h3 id=\"from-shore\">From Shore<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151618\/Virginia-Beach-Surf-Fishing-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"A closeup of three fishing rods set up on a beach, with a group of surf fishers in the distance\" class=\"wp-image-10945\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151618\/Virginia-Beach-Surf-Fishing-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151618\/Virginia-Beach-Surf-Fishing-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151618\/Virginia-Beach-Surf-Fishing-768x538.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>If you&rsquo;ve got the gear, shore fishing can be a productive way to catch fish on a budget. Spend a few hours relaxing on the beach with the family and head home with some fresh fillets to show for it. Chances are you won&rsquo;t land any monsters. But if you&rsquo;re not in a hurry and just want to catch some fish, this is an easy way to do it.<\/p><p>That&rsquo;s not to say that the bite&rsquo;s bad. You can catch some amazing fish from shore in Virginia Beach. Cast into the surf for Sharks and Drum. Fish around pilings and bridges for Croaker and Flounder. Head to a fishing pier, and you can find Spanish Mackerel, Sheepshead, and even Cobia. Don&rsquo;t forget your Crab pots if you&rsquo;re pier fishing.<\/p><h3 id=\"on-a-kayak-or-paddle-board\">On a Kayak or Paddle Board<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151624\/Virginia-Beach-Kayak-Fishing-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"Two kayak anglers launching into the sea, with more fishing kayaks in the water ahead of them, as seen from the beach\" class=\"wp-image-10936\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151624\/Virginia-Beach-Kayak-Fishing-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151624\/Virginia-Beach-Kayak-Fishing-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151624\/Virginia-Beach-Kayak-Fishing-768x538.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Fishing on a kayak or a paddle board opens up a whole range of spots that you just can&rsquo;t hit from shore. It also lets you escape the crowds when the beach gets busy. Renting kayaks and paddle boards is easy in Virginia Beach. If you&rsquo;re not sure which one you should use, don&rsquo;t worry. We&rsquo;ve got a whole article on <a href=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker.com\/blog\/paddle-board-vs-kayak-fishing\/\">paddle boards vs kayaks<\/a>.<\/p><p>So what can you catch? For starters, all the species you&rsquo;d find fishing from shore. The difference is that you can get out to where the big fish live. On top of that, you&rsquo;ll also find Spadefish, Stripers, Cobia, and much more around deeper pilings and islands. If you&rsquo;re skilled enough, you can even venture out in search of bottom fish like Seabass and Tautog.<\/p><h3 id=\"on-a-boat\">On a Boat<\/h3><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151620\/Virginia-Beach-Charter-Boats-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"A view from above of a marina in Virginia Beach full of large charter fishing boats\" class=\"wp-image-10942\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151620\/Virginia-Beach-Charter-Boats-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151620\/Virginia-Beach-Charter-Boats-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151620\/Virginia-Beach-Charter-Boats-768x538.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">There are plenty of charter boats to choose from in VA Beach.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><p>Fishing on a boat is the absolute best way to catch big fish. It&rsquo;s as simple as that. You can reach remote spots, follow the fish, and use a wider range of techniques to catch them. And of course, you&rsquo;ll have Virginia Beach&rsquo;s full range of species in your sights. If you don&rsquo;t own a boat, you have two main options besides piracy: private fishing charters or shared party boats.<\/p><p>Private charters give you the most flexibility and the biggest catch. The captain will take you to the best spots around and will be on hand to help you throughout the trip. You&rsquo;ll also get quality tackle and bait to fish with. On party boats, you&rsquo;ll be given a rod and bait but less help from the crew. They&rsquo;re a good budget option, though, and can actually be cheaper than renting a kayak.<\/p><div class='featured-charters-container' data-trigger='featured-charters' data-destination-id='1619' data-destination-title='Virginia Beach' data-perpage='4' data-currency='USD'data-filter-field=''data-filter-value=''data-headline='Top Fishing Charters in Virginia Beach'data-add-type='m'><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 id=\"virginia-beach-fishing-spots\">Virginia Beach Fishing Spots<\/h2><p>There are several main fishing areas around Virginia Beach. Some can be fished from shore or easily reached in a kayak. Others require a boat, and sometimes several hours of travel time. We&rsquo;re not going to ruin anybody&rsquo;s secret honey holes by posting them online. Instead, here&rsquo;s a list of the most popular spots in VA Beach and what you can catch there.<\/p><h3 id=\"shore-fishing-spots\">Shore Fishing Spots<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151616\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing-Pier-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"A view of Virginia Beach Fishing Pier at sunrise from the beach, with waves crashing in\" class=\"wp-image-10950\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151616\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing-Pier-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151616\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing-Pier-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151616\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing-Pier-768x538.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rudee Inlet:<\/strong> A classic shore fishing spot just a stone&rsquo;s throw from many Oceanfront hotels. It can get pretty crowded, but it&rsquo;s still a good place to fish. Cast from the rocks banking the inlet for Flounder, Spot, Croaker, and Drum.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chic&rsquo;s Beach:<\/strong> Chic Beach has something for every angler. Enjoy some of the best surf fishing in Virginia Beach. Cast around the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Either way, expect Sharks, Rays, Drum, Trout, and much more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fishing Piers:<\/strong> Spanish Mackerel, Red and Black Drum, and even Cobia show up around the piers. Virginia Beach Fishing Pier is the most convenient. Farther away, Sandbridge Pier has just as many fish with fewer people.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul><h3 id=\"kayak-fishing-spots\">Kayak Fishing Spots<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151615\/Virginia-Beach-Kayak-Fishing-Spots-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"An aerial view of Lesner Bridge and Lynnhaven Bay, with islands and the mainland in view in the background on a sunny day\" class=\"wp-image-10951\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151615\/Virginia-Beach-Kayak-Fishing-Spots-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151615\/Virginia-Beach-Kayak-Fishing-Spots-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151615\/Virginia-Beach-Kayak-Fishing-Spots-768x538.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lynnhaven Bay:<\/strong> These sprawling marshes are just a short hop from town, but they feel a million miles away. They hold Flounder, Speckled Trout, and &ldquo;Puppy&rdquo; Drum. Fish the bay itself or work the pilings around Lesner Bridge in the inlet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chesapeake Bay Bridge:<\/strong> The bridge is fun from shore, but it&rsquo;s even better from a kayak. As well as your full range of inshore species, experienced &lsquo;yakers can fish deeper spots for Spadefish, Cobia, Sheepshead, Stripers, and more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge<\/strong>: Looking for some freshwater fun? These sheltered waters hold everything from Bluegill and Crappie to Bass, Catfish, and even Gar. It&rsquo;s also a great place to escape the infamous Resort City crowds.<\/li>\n<\/ul><h3 id=\"boat-fishing-spots\">Boat Fishing Spots<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"976\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151618\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing-Tournaments.jpg\" alt=\"A charter boat returning to port flying Marlin flags, with the harbor wall visible in the background\" class=\"wp-image-10946\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151618\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing-Tournaments.jpg 976w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151618\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing-Tournaments-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151618\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing-Tournaments-768x537.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 976px) 100vw, 976px\" \/><\/figure><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Chesapeake Light Tower:<\/strong> This much-loved nearshore spot is synonymous with big Spadefish. Less famous but just as fun are the Bluefish and Bonito that hunt around the tower. You might even hook an Amberjack if you&rsquo;re lucky.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Triangle Wrecks:<\/strong> And artificial reef 30 miles offshore, centered around a 500&#8242; liberty ship. It holds Bluefish, Seabass, and Flounder, as well as Amberjack in summer. You can catch bigger fish farther out, but it&rsquo;s a good place to fill the boat without a long journey.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Norfolk Canyon:<\/strong> It&rsquo;s a 70-mile run to get to Norfolk Canyon, but your efforts will be rewarded with Tuna, Marlin, Swordfish, and Sharks. Need a break from the big game? Try deep dropping for monster Grouper and Tilefish.<\/li>\n<\/ul><h2 id=\"when-to-go-fishing-in-virginia-beach\">When to Go Fishing in Virginia Beach<\/h2><p>Virginia Beach is a year-round angling hotspot. So if you&#8217;re wondering when to visit, think first of the kind of fish you&#8217;d like to catch. If you&#8217;re keen on reeling in some of the offshore game fish, it&#8217;s best that you visit in summer. It&#8217;s when you&#8217;ll get to catch Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Marlin, and more while fishing in the deep seas.<\/p><p>Inshore, there are several species that you can catch throughout the year. Striped Bass, for example are always present along the coastal fishing grounds, while Tautog regularly stalk the reefs. For the best Redfish bite, visit in spring or fall, as that&#8217;s when the biggest ones are caught. <\/p><h3 id=\"fishing-tournaments-in-virginia-beach\">Fishing Tournaments in Virginia Beach<\/h3><p>Virginia Beach has plenty of fishing tournaments for anglers looking for a challenge. The biggest offshore event is the <a href=\"https:\/\/vbbt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Virginia Beach Billfish Tournament<\/a>. It&rsquo;s been going since 2003 and now sees hundreds of anglers fight for over half a million dollars in prizes. Needless to say, only the best stand a chance of winning.<\/p><p>If that sounds a little extreme for you, try the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.odualumni.org\/s\/resources\/templates\/blank.aspx?sid=1672&amp;gid=2&amp;pgid=2432\" target=\"_blank\">Monarch Cobia Classic<\/a>, a charity event run by Old Dominion University. There&rsquo;s also the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/mrc.virginia.gov\/vswft\/index.shtm\" target=\"_blank\">Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament<\/a>. In this season-long competition, any citation-size fish can be reported to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Report enough and you&#8217;ll get an award at the end.<\/p><h2 id=\"virginia-fishing-regulations\">Virginia Fishing Regulations<\/h2><p>You&rsquo;re almost ready to hit the water. Before you go, there are a couple of things to be aware of to make sure you&rsquo;re fishing by the book. If you&rsquo;re on a fishing charter, you don&rsquo;t really have to worry about any of this. But if you&rsquo;re heading out on your own, it&rsquo;s best to read up before you go.<\/p><h3 id=\"virginia-beach-surf-fishing-rules\">Virginia Beach Surf Fishing Rules<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151621\/Virginia-Beach-Shore-Fishing-Rules-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"A jetty at Rudee Inlet, Virginia Beach as seen from the beach at sunset on a sunny day\" class=\"wp-image-10940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151621\/Virginia-Beach-Shore-Fishing-Rules-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151621\/Virginia-Beach-Shore-Fishing-Rules-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151621\/Virginia-Beach-Shore-Fishing-Rules-768x538.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>You&rsquo;re allowed to fish pretty much anywhere in Virginia Beach, as long as you have a license. Areas where fishing isn&rsquo;t allowed will be clearly marked. Even though you can technically fish wherever you want, it&rsquo;s polite to stay away from areas where lifeguards patrol. These tend to be the busiest parts of the beach, anyway.<\/p><h3 id=\"getting-a-fishing-license\">Getting a Fishing License<\/h3><p>You need to buy a fishing license to fish in either salt or freshwater in Virginia. The exceptions to this are if you&rsquo;re fishing on a licensed charter or party boat, or if you&rsquo;re on a fishing pier. On top of that, you don&rsquo;t need a license to go crabbing. The license-free limit is one bushel of hard crabs and two dozen peeler crabs per person per day.<\/p>    <h2 id=\"virginia-beach-fishing-faqs\">Virginia Beach Fishing FAQs<\/h2>\n<div id=\"fbgb-faq-69f4a5d669003\" class=\"fbgb-faq-block aligncenter fbgb-faq-style-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-container\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"0\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69f4a5d669003-item-0\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">Can you fish on Virginia Beach?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69f4a5d669003-item-0\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes, you can fish directly from the shoreline on <\/span><b>Virginia Beach<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, and surf fishing is popular all year. Anglers commonly target <\/span><b>Red Drum, Croaker, Spot, Bluefish, and Pompano<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> using cut bait or shrimp in the surf. The long sandy coastline makes it easy to find productive spots, especially near inlets and piers. Just keep an eye out for any signs indicating where you should <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">not<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> fish.<\/span><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"1\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69f4a5d669003-item-1\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">Do you need a fishing license in Virginia Beach?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69f4a5d669003-item-1\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yes, <\/span><b>anyone<\/b> <b>16 or above needs a valid Virginia fishing license<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, whether you plan on casting a line in tidal waters or freshwater rivers. If you\u2019re fishing on a licensed charter boat, the vessel usually covers your license requirements for the day.<\/span><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"2\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69f4a5d669003-item-2\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">Where can you fish in Virginia Beach?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69f4a5d669003-item-2\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some of the most productive fishing spots around Virginia Beach include <\/span><b>Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven Bay, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel area, and the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. These locations give you access to moving tides, structure, and bait fish, which draw in Striped Bass, Flounder, Cobia, and Red Drum.<\/span><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-item \" data-faq-item=\"3\">\n                <div class=\"fbgb-faq-question\" \n                     role=\"button\" \n                     tabindex=\"0\" \n                     aria-expanded=\"false\"\n                     aria-controls=\"fbgb-faq-69f4a5d669003-item-3\">\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-question-text\">What fish can you catch from shore in Virginia Beach?<\/span>\n                    <span class=\"fbgb-faq-icon\">\n                        <svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M6.5 12.4L12 8l5.5 4.4-.9 1.2L12 10l-4.5 3.6-1-1.2z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/div>\n                <div id=\"fbgb-faq-69f4a5d669003-item-3\" \n                     class=\"fbgb-faq-answer \"\n                     aria-hidden=\"true\">\n                    <div class=\"fbgb-faq-answer-content\">\n                        <p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shore fishing in Virginia Beach will land you a range of Atlantic coastal species, such as <\/span><b>Red Drum, Croaker, Spot, Bluefish, Flounder, and Pompano<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. It\u2019s especially productive during warmer months when bait fish move close to shore. For bigger fish, cast near inlets, sandbars, and pier structures.<\/span><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    \n    <\/div>\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Can you fish on Virginia Beach?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, you can fish directly from the shoreline on Virginia Beach, and surf fishing is popular all year. Anglers commonly target Red Drum, Croaker, Spot, Bluefish, and Pompano using cut bait or shrimp in the surf. The long sandy coastline makes it easy to find productive spots, especially near inlets and piers. Just keep an eye out for any signs indicating where you should not fish.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Do you need a fishing license in Virginia Beach?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Yes, anyone 16 or above needs a valid Virginia fishing license, whether you plan on casting a line in tidal waters or freshwater rivers. If you&rsquo;re fishing on a licensed charter boat, the vessel usually covers your license requirements for the day.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Where can you fish in Virginia Beach?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Some of the most productive fishing spots around Virginia Beach include Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven Bay, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel area, and the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier. These locations give you access to moving tides, structure, and bait fish, which draw in Striped Bass, Flounder, Cobia, and Red Drum.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What fish can you catch from shore in Virginia Beach?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Shore fishing in Virginia Beach will land you a range of Atlantic coastal species, such as Red Drum, Croaker, Spot, Bluefish, Flounder, and Pompano. It&rsquo;s especially productive during warmer months when bait fish move close to shore. For bigger fish, cast near inlets, sandbars, and pier structures.\"}}]}<\/script><h2 id=\"fishing-in-virginia-beach-the-perfect-angling-vacation\">Fishing in Virginia Beach: The Perfect Angling Vacation<\/h2><figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"717\" src=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151623\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing-1024x717.jpg\" alt=\"A view along the Oceanfront of Virginia Beach, VA, with tire tracks in the sand and beachfront buildings in sight on the right-hand side of the image\" class=\"wp-image-10938\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151623\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing-1024x717.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151623\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151623\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing-768x538.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fishingbooker-prod-blog-backup.s3.amazonaws.com\/blog\/media\/2019\/11\/14151623\/Virginia-Beach-Fishing.jpg 2036w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Virginia Beach is one of the most popular vacation spots on the East Coast. It&rsquo;s called &ldquo;Resort City&rdquo; for a reason. If there&rsquo;s one thing that can make this beautiful coastal spot even better, it&rsquo;s VA Beach&rsquo;s endless mix of game fish. Whether you&rsquo;re a complete beginner, a family with young kids, or a hardcore record-chaser, you&rsquo;re in for a real treat when you wet a line here.<\/p><p><em>Have you ever fished in Virginia Beach? Where did you go and what did you catch? Did you fish any of the spots on our list? Drop us your tips and stories in the comments below!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For most people, Virginia Beach means sand, sun, sea, and surfing. &ldquo;Resort City&rdquo; is one of the East Coast&rsquo;s top vacation spots, with almost 20 million visitors each year. What many of them don&rsquo;t realize is that Virginia Beach fishing is out of this world. Huge Cobia, doormat Flounder, monster Marlin &ndash; the city&rsquo;s surrounded [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":11979,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1472],"tags":[358,356,585,359,400,586,764],"class_list":["post-10934","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-where-to-fish","tag-beginners-advice","tag-big-game-fishing","tag-chesapeake-bay","tag-fishing-without-a-boat","tag-tournaments","tag-virginia","tag-virginia-beach"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Virginia Beach Fishing: The Complete Guide (Updated 2022)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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