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Fishing in Chesapeake, VA

Virginia, United States

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Want trophy-size catches? These Chesapeake spots deliver

Top fish species in Chesapeake

Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
Red drum
Red drum
Spotted seatrout
Spotted seatrout
Bluegill
Bluegill
Black crappie
Black crappie

Latest Chesapeake fishing reports

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Bluegill

Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal

10 in · 1 lb

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Spot croaker

Mill Creek

length · weight

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Yellow perch

length · weight

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Great white shark

Indian Lakes Foundation

157 in · 1000 lb

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Flier

length · weight

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Bluegill

Kings Lake

length · weight

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Yellow perch

Indian Lakes Foundation

8 in · 3 oz

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Longnose gar

Lake Prince

length · weight

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Atlantic cutlassfish

Small Boat Harbor

26 in · 6 oz

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Atlantic cutlassfish

Small Boat Harbor

25 in · 6 oz

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About Chesapeake fishing

Check out the best fishing spots in and around Chesapeake, Virginia. Anglers using Fishbrain have logged: 22,644 catches for Largemouth bass, 4,438 catches for Red drum, and 3,560 catches for Spotted seatrout.

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Fishing regulations in Chesapeake

Disclaimer: Always check local fishing regulations, water access rights and land ownership before fishing, regardless of any catches logged in that area by the Fishbrain community. Fishbrain has mapped millions of acres of government-owned land across the USA to help you identify potential fishing access, but you are responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements.

Fishing regulations in Virginia can change throughout the year. Make sure to check this page before fishing for the most up to date rules and regulations for the current season. Local regulations govern when you can fish, the max size of the fish you can keep, how many fish you can keep, and more.

Below you will see fishing regulations for catching Largemouth bass as of August 1st, 2026. To view regulations for a different fish species, please click on your preferred species in the drop-down.

Largemouth bass

Seasons

Open

Bag limit

5

Aggregate

5
Restrictions & requirements
Additional information
No statewide length limit. Statewide regulations are shown above.Exceptions - LAKESBriery Creek Lake: No largemouth or smallmouth bass 16 to 24 inches, only 1 per day longer than 24-inches total lengthBuggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir: Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14-inches total lengthClaytor Lake: No smallmouth less than 14-inches total lengthFlannagan Reservoir: No largemouth bass less than 12-inches; no smallmouth bass less than 15-inches total lengthLake Gaston: Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14-inches total lengthLeesville Reservoir: Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14-inches total lengthLake Moomaw: No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 12-inches total lengthPhilpott Reservoir: No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 12-inches total lengthQuantico Marine Base waters: No largemouth or smallmouth bass 12 to 15-inches total lengthSmith Mt. Lake and its tributaries below Niagara Dam: Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14-inches total lengthSouth Holston Reservoir: No smallmouth less than 15-inches total lengthExceptions - RIVERS Clinch River–within the boundaries of Scott, Wise, Russell or Tazewell counties: No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20-inches, only 1 per day longer than 20-inches total lengthDan River and tributaries downstream from the Union Street Dam, Danville: Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14-inches total lengthJames River–Confluence of the Jackson and Cowpasture rivers (Botetourt Cty) downstream to the 14th St. Bridge in Richmond: No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22-inches, only 1 per day longer than 22-inches total lengthLevisa Fork River–within the boundaries Buchanan County: No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20-inches, only 1 per day longer than 20-inches total lengthNew River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) downstream to the VA-WV state line and its tributaries Little River downstream from Little River Dam in Montgomery County, Big Walker Creek from the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge downstream to the New River and Wolf Creek from the Narrows Dam downstream to the New River in Giles County. (Not includING Claytor Lake which is delineated as the upper end of the island at Allisonia downstream to the dam.): No largemouth or smallmouth bass 14 to 22-inches, only 1 per day longer than 22-inches total lengthNorth Fork Holston River–Rt. 91 Bridge upstream of Saltville, Va. downstream to the VA-TN state line: No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 20-inches, only 1 per day longer than 20-inches total lengthPotomac River – Virginia tidal tributaries above Rt. 301 bridge: No largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 15-inches total length from March 1 through June 15Staunton (Roanoke) River–and its tributaries below Difficult Creek, Charlotte County: Only 2 of 5 largemouth or smallmouth bass less than 14-inches total lengthNorth Fork, South Fork and Mainstem Shenandoah River: No largemouth or smallmouth bass 11 to 14-inches total lengthStaunton River–Leesville Dam (Campbell County) downstream to the mouth of Difficult Creek, Charlotte County: No smallmouth bass less than 20-inches, only 1 per day longer than 20-inches total lengthFor additional information, see Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Largemouth Bass by BlueGabe
Synonyms

Micropterus nigricans

Regulations for

36°40′40.1″N 76°18′8.6″W
Regulations in the map
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FAQ about Chesapeake fishing

🎣 Where to fish in Chesapeake, Virginia?
🐟 What fish can you catch in Chesapeake?
Most commonly caught species around Chesapeake, VA:
📢 What are the latest Chesapeake fishing reports?
The latest Chesapeake, VA fishing reports are:
📅 What is the best time to go fishing in Chesapeake?
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Other cities near Chesapeake

Portsmouth

12.0 miles away

Moyock

13.3 miles away

Virginia Beach

14.8 miles away

Norfolk

15.2 miles away

South Mills

16.6 miles away

Suffolk

18.7 miles away

Carrollton

21.8 miles away

Sunbury

23.5 miles away

Benns Church

23.7 miles away

Windsor

25.9 miles away

Hampton

26.3 miles away

Elizabeth City

26.7 miles away

Carrsville

29.7 miles away

Coinjock

29.8 miles away

Gatesville

31.4 miles away

Poquoson

31.5 miles away

Newport News

31.8 miles away

Camptown

32.9 miles away

Winfall

33.4 miles away

Rushmere

34.6 miles away

Southampton Meadows

35.3 miles away

Hertford

35.5 miles away

Ivor

36.5 miles away

Arrowhead Beach

38.3 miles away