Norfolk
Ocean View Fishing Pier
- Chesapeake Bay
- Ocean View
- Fishing pier
Classic pier fishing — spot and croaker thick in late summer, stripers as it cools.
- Parking
- paid
- Restrooms
- None on site
- Fee or permit
- Likely
- Night access
- false
Getting there
Pier fishing fee applies.
Verify current access, hours, fees, closures, and regulations with official sources before you go.
Parking & amenities
- Pier hours vary by season — check with the pier operator before visiting.
Paved pier deck with rail access along its length.
Reading the water
Tide stage for this kind of water
Moving water, either direction
From: Getting started fishing in Hampton RoadsExposure
Open Chesapeake Bay exposure — a north or northeast wind builds chop straight onto the pier.
Wind against tide, and when to turn aroundToday here
The full instrument and the week ahead- Acquiring NOAA tide predictions, station 8638610
- Requesting the NWS hourly forecast
- Computing sunrise, sunset, and civil twilight
Safety considerations
Noted for this spot
- Rail gets crowded during runs — watch for cast lines nearby.
General to fishing pier and shoreline access
- Overhead casts on a crowded rail — look behind you and to both sides before every cast. Casting safely
- Piers are among the most exposed places in a thunderstorm; leave at the first thunder, not the first rain. Lightning safety on piers and open water
- Landing a heavy fish from the rail needs a drop net; a lifted line breaks or the fish falls. Gear — pier & surf equipment
- Riprap and oyster shell are sharp, slick, and uneven; wear footwear with grip and keep hands out of the shell. Casting safely
- Boat and ship wake arrives without warning on the rivers and the Bay front — stand back from the edge when traffic passes. Kayak and boating safety basics
Species documented here
All species in Norfolk
Other water nearby
Similar spots in this part of the coast
Photo Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0 (representative)
ShorelineKayak launchElizabeth River — Downtown Norfolk
Urban stripers around the piers and bridge pilings, best on the spring and fall runs.
2 speciesAccessible features
Photo Patrick Bloodgood / U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, Public domain
ShorelineBeachWilloughby Spit shoreline
Narrow Bay-front spit near major structure — walkable shoreline with surprising depth close to the beach.
4 speciesFamily-friendly
Photo Fort Monroe Garrison Photographer / U.S. Army, Public domain
Fishing pierShorelineFort Monroe — Fishing Piers
Historic Old Point Comfort at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Engineer Wharf is the well-known pier here, but it's currently closed for repairs — the nearby Finger Pier is open in the meantime.
2 speciesFamily-friendly
