Virginia Fishing Water Quality
Find the best fishing spots in Virginia with real-time water quality data
Top Fishing Spots in Virginia
APPOMATTOX RIVER AT MATOACA, VA
WAR BRANCH BELOW TRIB NEAR TENTH LEGION, VA
DIFFICULT RUN ABOVE FOX LAKE NEAR FAIRFAX, VA
S F LITTLE DIFFICULT RUN ABOVE MOUTH NR VIENNA, VA
SNAKEDEN BRANCH ABOVE LAKE AUDUBON AT RESTON, VA
THE GLADE NEAR HOWLAND DRIVE AT RESTON, VA
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER NEAR FREDERICKSBURG, VA
PAMUNKEY RIVER NEAR HANOVER, VA
MATTAPONI RIVER NEAR BEULAHVILLE, VA
JAMES RIVER AT CARTERSVILLE, VA
Virginia Fishing Regulations
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Get Virginia closure alerts
Weekly updates when fishing closures are active or listed for this state.
Alerts arrive as a weekly digest. We'll first send a confirmation email you'll need to click before any alerts start, and you can unsubscribe anytime from any email. See our Privacy Policy.
Fishing Closures
Coverage for VirginiaVerify before fishing
Regulations can change by season, species, and water body.
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
PermanentNo FishingChincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
PermanentNo FishingEastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
PermanentNo FishingFisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge
PermanentNo FishingNansemond National Wildlife Refuge
PermanentNo FishingPlum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge
PermanentNo FishingWallops Island National Wildlife Refuge
PermanentNo FishingWreck Island Natural Area Preserve
PermanentNo FishingCape Charles Coastal Habitat Natural Area Preserve
SpeciesNorth Landing River Natural Area Preserve
SpeciesParkers Marsh Natural Area Preserve
SpeciesWilliam B. Trower Bayshore Natural Area Preserve
SpeciesAssateague Island National Seashore
GearBethel Beach Natural Area Preserve
GearBush Mill Stream Natural Area Preserve
GearChesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - Virginia
GearChincoteague Bay Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Sanctuary
GearChotank Creek Natural Area Preserve
GearCumberland Marsh Natural Area Preserve
GearShowing 20 of 29 closures.
About Fishing in Virginia
Virginia offers diverse fishing opportunities with 610 water quality monitoring stations tracking conditions across the state. Whether you're looking for bass, trout, catfish, or other species, our real-time water quality data helps you find the best fishing spots.
Understanding Water Quality Scores
Our readiness scores (0-100) combine multiple factors including dissolved oxygen levels, pH balance, water temperature, and turbidity. Scores above 75 indicate excellent fishing conditions, while scores between 50-75 suggest good conditions.
Planning Your Fishing Trip
Before heading out, always check local regulations and obtain the required fishing license. Water quality conditions can change rapidly, so we recommend checking scores on the day of your trip for the most accurate information.