Yorktown Beach on the York River.

Photo: Ken Lund — CC BY-SA 2.0 — verified 2026-08-08

York County

Yorktown Beach & Fishing Pier

York River
Yorktown
Fishing pier

A free, ADA-accessible pier on the York River in Historic Yorktown — no fishing license needed from the pier itself, open nearly around the clock.

Fishing pierShorelineSaltwaterFamily-friendly

York County, VA — Facilities

37.227° N 76.479° WNOAA tide station for this water

Parking: limited
Restrooms: None on site
Fee or permit: Not typically
Night access: true

This entry describes a general area and has not been verified against current agency access information.

Getting there

Public parking at Riverwalk Landing, adjacent to the pier. Free to fish from the pier.

Verify current access, hours, fees, closures, and regulations with official sources before you go.

Parking & amenities

Effectively 24 hours (posted as 12:00 AM–11:45 PM daily).

ADA-accessible pier and adjacent grassy picnic area.

Reading the water

Tide stage for this kind of water

Moving water, either direction

Bottom rigs fished straight down beside the pilings on a moving tide is the first trip this guide recommends; slack water is the slow hour.

From: Getting started fishing in Hampton Roads

Exposure

On the York River mouth near the Bay; open to wind and boat wake, with little shelter on the beach.

Wind against tide, and when to turn around

Today here

The full instrument and the week ahead

Acquiring NOAA tide predictions, station 8637689
Requesting the NWS hourly forecast
Computing sunrise, sunset, and civil twilight

NOAA's predicted tide at Yorktown USCG Training Center over today's light, with the hours where the planning factors overlap.

Safety considerations

Noted for this spot

River current and boat traffic near the York River channel.

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 York County

Seasons are each species' own typical presence, from the field guide — in-season first, not a report of what is biting.

Water profile

Water: Yorktown, York River
Kind: Tidal river
Access: Fishing pier, Shoreline
Exposure: On the York River mouth near the Bay
Likely approach: Bottom rigs, float rigs and jigs and lures

Approach reflects the rigs this spot's own record lists — not a report of what is biting.

Plotting chart…

Where it is

The pin marks the NOAA tide station that represents this water, not the exact access point.

See it on the full map

Plan this trip

Predicted tide, daylight, and forecast weather for Yorktown Beach & Fishing Pier.

Open Bite Windows

Rigs that work here

Popping cork rig
Cast out, let it settle, then give the cork a sharp upward pop every 10–15 seconds
High-low (double-drop) bottom rig
Pre-tied high-low rigs from any tackle shop work fine to start
Fish-finder rig (Carolina style)
This is the standard setup for bait-soaking on bottom for flounder or drum
Bucktail jigging rig
Cast up-current, let the jig sink to bottom, then retrieve with a lift-and-drop motion
Sabiki bait-catching rig
Drop it near pilings or wherever small baitfish are showing and jig gently

Packing lists for this water

Pier morning
Any moving tide from late spring through fall; best in the first hours of light.
Family fishing day
A pier or park shoreline with restrooms nearby, on a moving tide in the cooler part of the day.