Chincoteague is a paradise of the outdoors. With its wild horses, sandy beaches, shallow flats, and untouched wildlife reserves, it’s the perfect place to reconnect with nature and get back to the important things in life. Chincoteague fishing charters will let you delve deep into this watery wonderland and head home with a literal boatload of delicious fish.
You could spend a year of your whole life exploring these waters and still only scratch the surface of what the area has to offer. Monster Red and Black Drum lurk in the bays, while “Rockfish” (Striped Bass), Bluefish, Tautog, and “doormat” Flounder fight for space around rocks and wrecks. Head further afield, and you could hook into monster Sharks, Tuna, and even Marlin. With so much going on, your only regret will be having to leave at the end of your trip!
Chincoteague Fishing Spots
Chincoteague Island fishing charters take you to a huge range of habitats, searching for pretty much every species found on the Eastern Seaboard. There’s a lot of ground to cover, and chances are you won’t be able to fit everything into one visit. Don’t worry, once you’ve got a taste of the area’s fishing, you’ll always be back for more. Here are some of the spots you can hit, just to whet your appetite.
Chincoteague Bay
Whether you’re cruising around the bay itself or exploring the many channels and creeks that feed it, Chincoteague Bay fishing offers incredible light tackle action. Flounder, Trout, Red Drum, Bluefish, Croaker, and a variety of smaller Sharks can be caught here. What’s more, it’s within easy kayaking distance of town!
Blackfish Banks
Also known as “the Subway Cars” or “the Boxcars,” these banks hold some of the best Flounder bite in the state. During the heat of summer, you would be hard-pressed not to hit your limit here. And it’s not just Flounder. Triggerfish, Tautog, Black Seabass, Speckled Trout, and Spadefish can all be found swimming around these waters.
26 Mile Hill
Leave the shallow waters behind you and head offshore and you will be very well rewarded. Tuna can be caught out here, as can Wahoo and Mahi-Mahi. This spot is best known for its awesome Shark action, though. Expect Tigers, Makos, Threshers, Duskies, Blacktips, Hammerheads, and more!
The Parking Lot
The Parking Lot is great for a ton of species, but there’s one big, tasty reason anglers make the trip here - Tuna. Bluefin, Yellowfin, and Bigeye Tuna all spend their summers in this spot. Anglers from Virginia’s Atlantic Coast to get in on the action. You really need to empty the freezer before you head out here!
Canyons
Monster Makos and big Bluefin not enough for you? Are you craving some world-class big game action? Washington, Norfolk, and Poor Man’s Canyons are home to some of the top names in deep sea sportfishing, including Blue and White Marlin, Bigeye, Bluefin, and Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, and a ton of Sharks. It may take several hours to get here, but it’s well worth the journey.
Chincoteague Fishing Pier
If all you’re after is a bit of fun and some tasty fish to show for it, you don’t need to look further than the local fishing pier. You can catch a variety of species from the local piers, including Striped Bass, Bluefish, Flounder, Croaker, Black Seabass, Blue Crab, and much, much more. You may not break any records, but you’ll certainly feed the family!
Fishing Techniques
If you want to make the most of Virginia’s fleeting Trophy Striped Bass season, hit the bridges and rocky structure in early May and get ready for the fight of your life! Spinning gear usually works best when targeting Stripers, but you can take your pick of what you use with it. Cut Bunker or Mullet are great, as are lures like Crippled Herring and Calcutta Flashfoil. Let’s be honest, Stripers aren’t known for being fussy!
Head to shallower waters, and you can enjoy awesome light tackle action for trophy Red Drum, using swimbaits, topwater plugs, or live Finger Mullet, Shrimps, and Clams. Speaking of Clams, the Black Drum bite in Chincoteague is out of this world, and nothing brings these brutes in better than fresh shellfish.
Flounder are one of Virginia’s top inshore species, and with good reason. Monster “doormat” Flounder are taken all summer long using top-and-bottom rigs with live Minnows and Squid strips. If you prefer using artificial baits, GULP! lures are the worst kept secret in Flounder fishing. Swimming Mullets, Crabs, Shrimps, whatever you use, hungry Flounder will “gulp” them up before you know it!
The early Tuna bite often focuses on trolling, but by the middle of summer, many boats have switched to chunking. Butterfish and Sardines will create a feeding frenzy to rival anything the Outer Banks can offer. Monster Shark hunts use a similar tactic, chumming the water with oily Bunker, then throwing in live Bluefish to get Makos, Threshers, and other alpha-predators swarming your boat.
Need to Know
You don’t need a fishing license aboard registered Chincoteague fishing charters. If you are fishing on your own, you will need to buy a recreational saltwater fishing license for everyone aged 16-64.