SHARKS (All species except smooth and spiny dog sharks)*
[Shark]
Inshore & Offshore
Minimum Size Limit: 54 inches fork length **
Possession Limit: 1 per vessel ***
A non-boat assisted shore angler is entitled to a vessel possession limit
Season Closed May 15 - July 15
(Includes Blacktip, Bull, Great Hammerhead, Lemon, Nurse, Scalloped Hammerhead, Smooth Hammerhead, Spinner, and Tiger Shark)
Federal waters, beyond the Three Mile Limit governed by different regulations set by the Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council.
*Recreationally Prohibited Species – It is illegal to take, catch or possess any shark from the “Recreationally Prohibited Species” list, as defined in Regulation 4 VAC 20-490-10 et seq., including but not limited to the following species commonly encountered in Virginia: Atlantic Angel, Dusky, Sand Tiger, Sandbar, White, and Bigeye Thresher Sharks. No size or possession limits apply to Dog Sharks.
**All sharks (All species except Spiny Dog Sharks) must be landed with head and fins attached; hammerhead sharks must be 78 inches fork length (FL) or greater, no minimum size applies to Atlantic Sharpnose, Bonnethead, Blacknose, and Finetooth Sharks.
***Female Mako must be 83 inches fork length or greater, male Mako must be 71 inches fork length or greater.
****Possession limit for Atlantic Sharpnose and Bonnethead Sharks is 1 per person.
Sharks may only be taken by handline or rod and reel; Spearing and bowfishing illegal.
Capture Citation: RELEASE ONLY
Release Citation: 72 IN.
- Inshore Fishing Trips
- Chesapeake Bay Fishing Trips
TUNA (YELLOWFIN, BIGEYE)
[Big Eye Tuna]
Offshore
Capture Citation: 70 Lbs
Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE
Info: Managed by NMFS - http://www.hmspermits.gov/
State Record: Bigeye Tuna, 311 lbs, 2013, Vic Gaspeny
Yellowfin Tuna, 203 lbs 12 oz, 1981, Bruce C Gottwald, Jr.
KING MACKEREL
Inshore & Offshore
Regulation 4 VAC 20-540-10 et seq.
Minimum Size Limit: 27 IN.
Possession Limit: 3 per person
Capture Citation: 20 Lbs
Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE
State Record: 63 lbs 1 oz, 2007, Susan M. Smith
SPANISH MACKEREL
Inshore
Regulation 4 VAC 20-540-10 et seq.
Minimum Size Limit: 14 IN.
Possession Limit: 15 per person
Capture Citation: 4 Lbs
Release Citation: 26 IN.
State Record: 9 lbs 13 oz, 1993, Everett Cameron
AMBERJACK
Offshore
Regulation 4 VAC 20-510-10 et seq.
Minimum Size Limit: 32 IN.
Possession Limit: 2 per person
Capture Citation: RELEASE ONLY
Release Citation: 50 IN.
State Record: 118 lbs, 1986, Mark J. Roberts
Virginia Beach Fishing Charter Rudee Inlet
Knot Tell'n Fishing Charters
RED DRUM (CHANNEL BASS, REDFISH)
Inshore
Regulation 4 VAC 20-1400-10 et seq.
Minimum Size Limit: Min 18 IN. to Max 26 IN.
Possession Limit: 3 per person
Capture Citation: RELEASE ONLY
Release Citation: 46 IN.
State Record: 85 lbs 4 oz, 1981, Herman Moore
.
Virginia Beach Charter Fishing is an excellent way to spend your vacation in Va. Beach. Inshore & Offshore Fishing in Virginia offers many options of fish species to target and several options in trip times or prices to fit your schedule & Budget. We Also Fish In Many Of the Fishing Tournaments In Virginia, Maryland & North Carolina Including Tuna & Marlin Fishing Tournaments & Have Also Won & Placed In Several. If You Are interested In Possibly Booking A Tournament. Please Contact Us Directly @ 757-409-5526
Offshore - Swordfish, Sailfish, White Marlin & Blue Marlin are all Spectacular catches & will earn you a nice trophy provided by the state of Virginia
GROUPERS
Offshore
Regulation 4 VAC 20-1120-10 et seq.
Minimum Size Limit: None
Possession Limit: 1 per person
State Record: Snowy Grouper, 70 lbs 7 oz, 2011, Roger C. Burnley
Best Time To Fish - Yellowfin/Bigeye Tuna May 15th - July 15th, Mahi Mahi June 15th - Aug. 31st, Wahoo July - Oct., White/Blue Marlin July - Sept., Swordfish Sept. - Nov., Tilefish May - Oct., Seabass May 15th - Feb., Cobia June - Sept., Red Drum May - Sept., Spanish Mackerel June 15th - Sept., King Mackerel Aug. - Oct., Spadefish June - July, Bluefish June - Aug., Ribbonfish June - Aug., Bluefin Tuna Feb - March, Striper/Rockfish Nov - Jan., Tautog/Blackfish March - April
VIRGINIA BEACH INSHORE & OFFSHORE FISHING CHARTERS
Blueline Tilefish - Regulation 4 VAC 20-1120-10 et seq.
Offshore
Minimum Size Limit: None
Possession Limit: * see below
Season: May 1 through Oct 31
Capture Citation: 10 Lbs
Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE
State Record: 23 lbs 5 oz, 2009, Michael Akins
Three (3) fish per person on a recreational vessel; five (5) fish per person on a USCG uninspected for-hire vessel; seven (7) fish per person on a USCG inspected for hire vessel.
TILEFISH, GOLDEN
Regulation 4 VAC 20-1120-10 et seq.
Minimum Size Limit: None
Possession Limit: 8 Golden Tilefish per person
Capture Citation: 30 LBS
Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE
State Record: 56 lbs 8 oz, 2008, Aaron Sledd
Are You Ready to Catch Some Fish?
Deep Sea Fishing - The waters around Virginia Beach is a haven for deep sea & Offshore fishing anglers. In fact, it provides the best saltwater Inshore & offshore fishing of all the Mid-Atlantic. You can choose to fish in the Chesapeake Bay, around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Complex, in tidal creeks and rivers, over shallow flats, or in deep channels. Or Choose To chase that "fish of a lifetime" in the deep blue Offshore waters of the Norfolk Canyon.
The Chesapeake Bay also has numerous wrecks and other forms of bottom structure, which are great places to catch fish.
Some Anglers might prefer to set their sights on inshore fishing just off the beaches. The third type of Virginia Beach fishing is offshore Fishing, which includes deep sea or drop fishing over and around wrecks and scattered debris.
The Chesapeake Light Tower, thirteen miles offshore, is another amazing fishery. If you want to fish really deep water, there are the Norfolk Canyon and the famous Gulf Stream.
[Great fishing can be done just about year round from Virginia Beach]
When fishing in the winter, it’s all about the rockfish, Bluefin Tuna, Seabass & Tautog.
As the stripers begin to head for the ocean, other species emerge from their winter haze and begin searching for a meal. Among the different fish that begin being landing in the early spring include flounder, sea bass, and tautog.
By the middle of the spring season, the black drum move into the Chesapeake Bay, with most being found in the Bay’s northern region. As the water warms, the drum will find a home at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Complex. Some of these fish are real brutes! Although the big ones aren’t good to eat, they’re a lot of fun to catch.
At the end of April or the beginning of May, reds are available, including some hefty individuals. Redfish are often landed at night, and they’re great table fare. Anglers can usually catch the reds until the middle of May Cobia, Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, King Mackerel & false Albacore Start to show up & stay til nearly October.
In late spring, huge schools of Atlantic spadefish can be found in the Bay and at the Chesapeake Light Tower. These beautiful fish can be tricky to catch because of their small mouths, but they put up an admirable battle once hooked. Because of their sheer numbers, spadefish are great targets for beginners. Starting about May, Along with the Yellowfin Tuna, Mako sharks show up offshore. These are very exciting fish to tangle with. They’ll often jump, leap, and tail-walk like a billfish.
[Early Summer Deep Sea Fishing in Virginia Beach]
In Summer, the Amberjack, cobia, and king Mackerel show up. Fish for them around the Chesapeake Light Tower and around bottom structure like man made reefs and wrecks. In the Summer, panfish like croaker and whiting are easy to catch.
Tuna usually show up in mid-May and can be found offshore of the coast of Virginia Beach near underwater canyons and deep trenches.
Late summer inshore is a great time to catch tautog, triggerfish, and sea bass. These fish species love underwater structure, so fish for them around towers and wrecks.
In the late summer & Fall is some of the most exciting fishing of all offshore. With Tuna& Mahi Mahi still in the mix most boats are targeting the beautiful Blue Marlin, White Marlin & Wahoo That appear in the deep blue warm waters of late summer. Wow! That’s an entire year of great fishing off the shores of Virginia Beach
Are you Ready For Some Deep Sea Sportfishing in Virginia Beach? Book your charter today!!
COBIA
Inshore
Regulation 4 VAC 20-510-10 et seq.
Minimum Size Limit: 40 inches total length, one per vessel >50 inches total length
Possession Limit: 1 per person, 2 Per Vessel; whichever is more restrictive
Season: June 15 through Sept 15
Capture Citation: 55 Lbs
Release Citation: 50 IN.
State Record: 109 lbs, 2006, Joseph F. Berberich, II
Recreational cobia regulations are as follows: 40-inch, total length, minimum size limit; 1-fish daily possession limit or 2-fish-daily vessel limit, whichever is more restrictive; only one fish per vessel per day may be greater than 50 inches in total length; an open season of June 15 through September 15; and gaffing is prohibited.
- Middle Ground Fishing Trips
- Coastal Cruises/Dolphin Watching
Virginia Beach Fishing Charters
Wahoo - Capture Citation: 35 Lbs
Offshore
Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE
Info: Managed by SAFMC - http://www.safmc.net/
State Record: 122 lbs 1 oz, 2012, Susan Nelson
Favorite Species To Fish For In Virginia Beach
- Shark Fishing Trips
- Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties
BLACK SEA BASS (SEA BASS)
Middle Grounds & Offshore
Regulation 4 VAC 20-950-10 et seq.
Regulations for black sea bass caught in federal waters are subject to change. Please refer to NMFS for regulations in federal waters.
Minimum Size Limit: 13
Possession Limit: 15
Season: May 15 through December 11
Capture Citation: 5 Lbs
Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE
State Record: 10 lbs 4 oz, 2000, Allen P. Paschall
SPADEFISH
Inshore
Regulation 4 VAC 20-970-10 et seq.
Minimum Size Limit: None
Possession Limit: 4 per person
Capture Citation: 8 Lbs
Release Citation: 22 IN.
State Record: 14 lbs 14 oz, 2009, Roland E. Murphy
- Offshore Fishing Trips
DOLPHIN
[Mahi Mahi]
Offshore
Capture Citation: 25 Lbs
Release Citation: NOT ELIGIBLE
Info: SAFMC Dolphin Regulations; Federal Dolphin Regulations
State Record: 71 lbs 8 oz, 1991, Don Dorey