Top fish species at North Branch Chopawamsic Creek

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Check which species have trophy potential in North Branch Chopawamsic Creek

North Branch Chopawamsic Creek fishing reports

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Chain pickerel

length · weight

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Chain pickerel

length · weight

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Striped bass

20 in · 4 lb

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Channel catfish

length · weight

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General info

North Branch Chopawamsic Creek is a stream located in Prince William County, Virginia, United States. It is also intersecting with Stafford County, Virginia. It is most popular for fishing Channel catfish, Chain pickerel, and Striped bass.

Location

38°34′3.9″N 77°25′55.5″W
Directions

When are Striped Bass biting on North Branch Chopawamsic Creek?

Learn what time of year and day to go fishing at North Branch Chopawamsic Creek. Download Fishbrain today to look for new fishing spots, scout new fishing access, or prep for your next trip.

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Fishing regulations at North Branch Chopawamsic Creek, VA

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.

Regulations for top species

Season open: year-round
Channel catfish

Channel catfish

Regulation boundaryVirginia State Waters
Bag limit20

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Restrictions & requirements

VA SCUBA

It is illegal to use SCUBA gear to take or attempt to take fish. (SCUBA = Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus)

VA Noxious Substances

It is unlawful to use lime, dynamite, or any other substances to destroy fish, or to cast or allow noxious matter to pass into watercourses that might destroy fish or fish spawn, or to deposit trash in streams or lakes or along their banks.

VA Trotlines

Trotlines, juglines (noodles), or set poles (limb lines) may be used to take nongame fish and turtles provided they are not baited with live bait (worms are permissible), except on designated stocked trout waters, Department-owned lakes, and within 600 feet of any dam. Live bait other than game fish may be used on trot lines to take catfish in Carroll, Dickenson, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski and Wythe counties, and in the Clinch River in Russell, Scott, and Wise counties. Any person setting or possessing the above equipment shall have it clearly marked by permanent means with his or her name, address, and telephone number, and is required to check all lines and remove all fish and animals caught each day. All trotlines, juglines, or set poles must be removed from public waters when not in use.

Additional information
No statewide length limit.Exceptions to statewide limits:South Holston Reservoir: 20 catfish per day, only 1 catfish per day longer than 34-inches total lengthAll rivers below the fall line: No daily limitBow and Arrow (including crossbows) may be used to take common carp, grass carp, northern snakehead, and gar (fishing license required) during day and night hours, except from waters stocked with trout. Bowfin and catfish may be taken in tidal waters. Spearguns and poisoned arrows are prohibited.Any common carp, grass carp, northern snakehead, goldfish, catfish, longnose gar, or bowfin taken with bow and arrow must be retained and must not be released back into or disposed of into the water. These fishes may not be disposed of on property abutting the body of water of capture.For more information, see Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Edibility
Very good Catch, Clean, Cook Channel Catfish by BlueGabe
Synonyms
Ictalurus punctatus
Season open: year-round
Chain pickerel

Chain pickerel

Regulation boundaryVirginia State Waters
Bag limit5

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Restrictions & requirements

Gigging

Harvest by gigging prohibited.

Snagging

Harvest of this species by snagging (snatch hooking) is prohibited.

Spears

Harvest of this species by "spearing" is prohibited. Spearing includes the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body.

VA SCUBA

It is illegal to use SCUBA gear to take or attempt to take fish. (SCUBA = Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus)

VA Noxious Substances

It is unlawful to use lime, dynamite, or any other substances to destroy fish, or to cast or allow noxious matter to pass into watercourses that might destroy fish or fish spawn, or to deposit trash in streams or lakes or along their banks.

VA Altered Fish

It shall be unlawful for any person, while fishing, to remove the head or tail or otherwise change the appearance of any gamefish (except bluegill sunfish and bream of the sunfish family) having a daily creel or size limit so as to obscure its species or render it impracticable to measure its total original length or count the number of such fish in possession. In addition, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess or transport such altered gamefish while on the water. However, the prohibition against possession and transportation in the previous sentence shall not apply to the preparation of lawfully obtained fish for immediate use as food or any lawful commercial use of such fish.

VA Hook and Line

Fishing in inland waters must be by angling with a hook and line or rod and reel. A hand landing net may be used to land fish legally hooked in all waters. See Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website for exceptions.

Additional information
No length limit. Statewide bag limit = 5 chain pickerel per day. Lake Gaston and Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir: No daily limit
Edibility
Good
Synonyms
Esox niger
Season open: May 16 - April 30
Striped bass

Striped bass

Regulation boundaryVirginia State Waters
Bag limit1

The maximum number of individual fish legally harvested per harvester per day. Bag limits are only for properly licensed anglers actively harvesting the species. People who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for the purpose of bag limits.

Min size28" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish less than the minimum size limit.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Max size31" (Total Length)

No person shall harvest any individual fish greater than the maximum size except as permitted.

Total length means the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.

Restrictions & requirements

NJ No Gaff

It is prohibited for any person to gaff striped bass when fishing recreationally.

Additional information
Regulations provided here are for the Virginia Coastal Season. Buggs Island Lake/Kerr Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River and its tributaries to Leesville Dam and the Dan River and its tributaries to the Union Street Dam (Danville) October 1–May 31: 2 per day in the aggregate (combined) No striped bass or hybridstriped bass less than 20 inches or greater than 26 inchesJune 1–September 30: 4 per day in the aggregate (combined) No length limit Claytor Lake and its tributariesSeptember 16–June 30: 2 per day in the aggregate, no striped bass or hybrid bassless than 20 inchesJuly 1–September 15: 4 per day in the aggregate; no length limit Lake Gaston4 per day in the aggregate (combined)October 1–May 31: No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inchesJune 1–September 30: No length limit Smith Mountain Lake and its tributaries, including the Roanoke River upstream to Niagara Dam 2 per day in the aggregate (combined)November 1–May 31: No striped bass 30 to 40 inchesJune 1–October 31: No length limit Striped bass in the Meherrin, Nottoway, Blackwater (Chowan Drainage), North Landing and Northwest rivers and their tributaries plus Back BayCREEL AND LENGTH LIMIT = No possessionGEOGRAPHIC EXCEPTIONS = None applyCREEL OR LENGTH LIMITS = None apply Anadromous (coastal) striped bass above the fall line in all coastal rivers of the Chesapeake Bay and Crane Lake (City of Suffolk)CREEL AND LENGTH LIMIT = Creel and length limits shall be as set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission for recreational fishing in tidal watersGEOGRAPHIC EXCEPTIONS = None applyCREEL OR LENGTH LIMITS FOR EXCEPTIONS = None apply The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR) maintains a database of wildlife locations, including threatened and endangered species, trout streams, and anadromous fish waters that may contain information not documented in this letter. Their database may be accessed https://services.dwr.virginia.gov/fwis/ or contact Amy Martin at 804-367-2211 or amy.martin@dwr.virginia.gov.
Synonyms
Morone saxatilis
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Local laws and licenses

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Cities nearby

Camp Barrett

3.4 miles away

Montclair

5.8 miles away

Dale City

7.2 miles away

Cherry Hill

7.7 miles away

Aquia Harbour

8.0 miles away

Neabsco

8.4 miles away

Stafford Courthouse

10.3 miles away

Lake Ridge

10.5 miles away

Buckhall

10.9 miles away

Catlett

12.6 miles away

Manassas

12.8 miles away

Manassas Park

14.1 miles away

Lorton

14.7 miles away

Linton Hall

15.1 miles away

Indian Head

15.1 miles away

Bull Run

15.4 miles away

Sudley

15.6 miles away

Newington Forest

15.8 miles away

Potomac Heights

16.1 miles away

Fairfax Station

16.5 miles away

Newington

17.1 miles away

Fredericksburg

18.8 miles away

Fairview Beach

19.5 miles away

Remington

20.5 miles away

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FAQ about North Branch Chopawamsic Creek fishing

📍 Where is the North Branch Chopawamsic Creek located?
the North Branch Chopawamsic Creek is a stream located in Prince William County, Virginia, United States. It is also intersecting with Stafford County, Virginia. Its coordinates are:
38°34′3.9″N 77°25′55.5″W
.
🎣 Where on the North Branch Chopawamsic Creek is it best to fish?
Find the best fishing spots on the North Branch Chopawamsic Creek by looking at where other anglers have caught fish. This can easily be done in the where it is also possible to see big fish potential and how good fishing is right now along with Garmin® depth maps.
🐟 What species are in the North Branch Chopawamsic Creek?
The most common species in the North Branch Chopawamsic Creek are:
📢 What are the latest North Branch Chopawamsic Creek fishing reports?
The latest North Branch Chopawamsic Creek fishing reports are:
🗓️ What species are in season at the North Branch Chopawamsic Creek right now?
According to fishing regulations at the North Branch Chopawamsic Creek, some of the species in season this November include: Striped bass, Spotted seatrout, Blacktip shark, Black sea bass, and Bonnethead shark. For full details on other species — including bag limits, minimum and maximum size limits, and seasonal closures — download the .
🪪 Do I need a fishing license to fish at the North Branch Chopawamsic Creek?

Fishing in Virginia requires a valid state fishing license for anglers. Licenses include resident and non-resident, annual, short-term, and combination options, available online or from licensed agents.

In Virginia, no fishing license is required for anglers under 16 or residents 65 and older. A few other exceptions worth knowing:

  • Free fishing days — most states designate 1–2 weekends a year where anyone can fish without a license

  • Tribal waters — tribal members fishing on tribal land operate under separate tribal regulations

  • Private ponds — landowners fishing their own water typically don't need a license

Non-residents usually pay more for a license than residents. Some species also require an extra stamp or endorsement on top of your base license.

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