Fishing spots

Find your water.

24 public places to fish across Hampton Roads — piers, beaches, launches, and shorelines, each with access notes, documented species, and a verified photo where we have one.

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7 fishing spots

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Pins are approximate access points, not precise fishing spots — several show the NOAA tide station that represents that water. A numbered pin covers more than one spot.

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Photo BrandlandUSA, Public domain (representative)
ShorelineKayak launch
Virginia BeachLynnhaven Inlet
36.91° N 76.09° W
Lynnhaven Inlet — Boat Ramp & Beach Facility
The historic Lynnhaven Fishing Pier closed in 2017 and was sold — today's public access is the city's Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility, plus some bank fishing along the beach and riprap.
3 speciesAccessible features
Photo Patrick Nouhailler, CC BY-SA 2.0 (representative)
Boat ramp
Virginia BeachBay-mouth bridge structure
37.03° N 76.08° W
Bay-mouth bridge structure (boat)
Miles of pilings, rubble, and channel edges at the Bay mouth — the region's premier structure fishery, boat access only.
6 species
No verified photo yet36.82° N 76.29° W
ShorelinePark
PortsmouthTidal river
36.82° N 76.29° W
Portsmouth city park shoreline
Urban tidal-river access with parking, restrooms, and level ground — a practical after-work or with-kids option.
4 speciesFamily-friendlyAccessible featuresRestrooms
Photo David R. Bains, CC BY-SA 4.0 (representative)
ShorelineBoat ramp
James City CountyChickahominy River
37.28° N 76.87° W
Chickahominy riverfront access
Tidal freshwater river with ramps, wide flats, and cypress shoreline — a strong bridge between fresh and brackish fishing.
3 speciesFamily-friendlyAccessible featuresRestrooms
Photo Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0 (representative)
ShorelineKayak launch
NorfolkDowntown Norfolk
36.85° N 76.30° W
Elizabeth River — Downtown Norfolk
Urban stripers around the piers and bridge pilings, best on the spring and fall runs.
2 speciesAccessible features
Photo OmegaFallon, CC BY 4.0
ShorelineKayak launch
James City CountyYork River
37.45° N 76.71° W
York River State Park
Marsh-lined shoreline with easy kayak launch and steady summer bottom fishing.
3 speciesFamily-friendlyAccessible features
Photo Calstanhope, CC BY-SA 4.0
ShorelineKayak launch
SuffolkBennett's Creek
36.85° N 76.48° W
Bennett's Creek Park — Nansemond River
A free, 56.8-acre city park with three boat ramps and an ADA-accessible crabbing/fishing pier on Bennett's Creek, a Nansemond River tributary — a shaded bend past the second bridge holds fish through the July heat when everywhere else goes dead.
2 speciesFamily-friendlyAccessible features

This is an editorial directory of representative public access, described by city, access type, and landmark. Nothing here implies a precise legal access boundary — confirm hours, fees, permits, and closures with the managing agency linked on each spot.

Lynnhaven Inlet — Boat Ramp & Beach Facility

Bay-mouth bridge structure (boat)

Portsmouth city park shoreline

Chickahominy riverfront access

Elizabeth River — Downtown Norfolk

York River State Park

Bennett's Creek Park — Nansemond River