Fishing Near Me in Virginia 2026 , Best Spots, License Info & Local Lakes
Smith Mountain Lake stripers, James River smallmouth, and tidal Rappahannock. We've catalogued 59 fishing venues in Virginia, public lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and access points. Below are the top 10 spots, state license info, what's biting, and answers to every fishing-near-me question for Virginia.
Top 10 Fishing Spots in Virginia
The most useful fishing venues across Virginia, picked for solid descriptions, on-site facilities, and confirmed species data. Click any spot for full venue details.
Virginia Top 10
- 1
James T Wilson Fishing Pier
Hampton, Hampton city
James T. Wilson Fishing Pier (formerly Buckroe Fishing Pier) in Hampton, Virginia holds catfish and trout, with bait, a bar and parking for customers.
- catfish
- trout
- 2
Weasel Junction Catfish Pond
Roanoke County
Weasel Junction Catfish Pond is a well-kept fishing pond in Roanoke County, Virginia, suited to experienced anglers, novices, beginners and family outings, holding catfish.
- catfish
- 3
Wilkins Lake
Winchester city
Wilkins Lake is a stillwater in Winchester, Virginia, inside the independent city at the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley. Its in-town position makes it a handy local option rather than a destination water. No species list, fees or facilities are recorded for the lake, so check current City of Winchester and Virginia DWR guidance before fishing, and carry a Virginia freshwater license.
- 4
Accessible Fishing Deck
Bridgewater town, Rockingham County
- 5
Boy Scout Lake
Augusta County
- 6
Cape Charles Fishing Pier
Northampton County
- 7
Carillon Pond
Luray town, Page County
- 8
Clemmons Lake
Lynchburg city
- 9
Codham Bay Pier
Surry County
- 10
Cypress Shores Lake
Gloucester County
See all 59 fishing venues in Virginia in our full directory.
Fishing License Info for Virginia
Everything you need to know about getting legal to fish in Virginia, who needs a license, what it costs, where to buy, and the annual free-fishing days.
License Info
Virginia fishing license, the short version
Almost every adult angler fishing public waters in Virginia needs a valid state fishing license, issued by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). Resident, non-resident, short-term, senior, and youth options are available at different prices. Saltwater anglers may also need a separate saltwater license or angler registration. Always check the latest official prices and exemptions on the DWR site before you buy.
Prices and rules change each season. The linked Virginia guide is updated for 2026 with current resident, non-resident, and short-term fees, plus where to buy online and in person.
What Can You Catch in Virginia?
The most-recorded species across our Virginia venue data. Click any species to open the GilledIt species guide.
What's Biting
- Catfish
- Trout
The most-recorded species across our Virginia venue data are Catfish, Trout. Open GilledIt to see real-time catch reports for any of these species near you.
Fishing by City in Virginia
Dedicated guides for Virginia's biggest cities: the closest mapped venues, distances in miles, and what's biting near each one.
City guides
More cities across the country on the US city fishing guides hub.
Keep Exploring Virginia Fishing
More Resources
Fishing Near Me in Virginia: FAQ
Virginia has 59 fishing venues in the GilledIt directory, including James T Wilson Fishing Pier and other public lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and access points. Browse the full Virginia list on the Virginia pond directory or open GilledIt to see live catch reports near your location.
Yes. Almost every angler fishing public waters in Virginia needs a valid state fishing license issued by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR); the age it kicks in varies by state, most commonly 16 but ranging from 14 to 18. Resident, non-resident, short-term, senior, and youth options are available. See our Virginia fishing license guide for the exact age rule, the latest 2026 prices, where to buy, and free fishing days.
Among the best-documented venues in our Virginia directory is James T Wilson Fishing Pier. Smith Mountain Lake stripers, James River smallmouth, and tidal Rappahannock. The "best" lake depends on the species you're after, see the top 10 list above for our pick of the most useful venues across the state.
Many states run free fishing days each year when anglers can fish public waters without a license (bag, size, and season rules still apply). Many city-park ponds and public reservoirs are also free to access with a state license. Confirm Virginia's current dates and rules on the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) website.
For most Virginia waters, spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) are the most productive months, bass spawn in spring, walleye and pike run in early spring, and nearly every species feeds heavily in fall before winter. Summer is peak topwater bass action and the best window for inshore saltwater along the coast. Check the GilledIt community feed for live catch reports in Virginia this week.
Start logging catches in Virginia
GilledIt is the social fishing app for American anglers. Log catches with photos, auto-tagged weather, pressure and moon data. Free on iOS and Android.