Fishing near me in Richmond : 8 spots within 25 miles
There are 8 mapped fishing venues within 25 miles of Richmond, and the closest, James River, is about 1.1 miles from the city center. Below they're ranked by distance, with Virginia license info, the species you can expect, and answers to the questions Richmond anglers ask most.
Closest first
Top Fishing Spots Near Richmond
Every mapped venue within 25 miles of Richmond, nearest first. Click any spot for full venue details, directions, and species.
- 1
James River
1.1 mi awayRichmond city
- 2
James River
1.8 mi awayRichmond city
- 3
James River
3.5 mi awayHenrico County
- 4
James River
3.5 mi awayRichmond city
- 5
James River
6.2 mi awayRichmond city
- 6
Fishing Spot
6.3 mi awayRichmond city
- 7
Echo Lake Park Fishing Spot
11 mi awayHenrico County
- 8
Mount Bernard Lake
25 mi awayGoochland County
Want more options? Browse all Virginia fishing venues or the Virginia fishing near me guide.
License Info
Do You Need a Fishing License in Virginia?
The short answer for Richmond anglers, plus where to find the current Virginia prices, exemptions, and free fishing days.
In most cases, yes: a Virginia license before you cast
Anglers above the state minimum age need a valid Virginia fishing license to fish public water around Richmond. Age thresholds, resident and non-resident fees, short-term options, and exemptions all vary by state and change each season, so treat any specific number you read elsewhere with caution and check the current rules before you buy.
The linked guide is updated for 2026 with current resident, non-resident, and short-term fees, where to buy online and in person, and this year's free fishing days.
What's Biting
What Can You Catch Near Richmond?
We're still building species records for the venues around Richmond. Log your catches on GilledIt to help map what's biting where.
Richmond anglers commonly target bass, catfish, and panfish. Open GilledIt to see real-time catch reports for any of these species near you.
More Resources
Keep Exploring Virginia Fishing
Fishing Near Me in Richmond: FAQ
There are 8 mapped fishing venues within 25 miles of Richmond, and the closest is James River, about 1.1 miles from the city center. The list above ranks them by distance: city-park ponds, reservoirs, and public-access water. Open GilledIt to see live catch reports near your exact location.
Often, yes. Many city-park ponds and public reservoirs around Richmond are free to access once you hold a valid Virginia fishing license, and most states also run free fishing days each year when no license is needed. Dates and rules change, so confirm on the Virginia fish and wildlife website or in our Virginia license guide.
In most cases, yes: anglers above the state's minimum age need a valid Virginia fishing license to fish public water around Richmond. Age cut-offs, fees, and exemptions vary by state and change each season, so check our Virginia fishing license guide for current prices, where to buy, and free fishing days before you go.
Our species records for these venues are still growing, but Virginia waters typically hold bass, catfish, and panfish. Open GilledIt for real-time catch reports around Richmond, and log your own to help map what's biting.
For most waters around Richmond, spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the most productive windows: fish feed hard around the spawn and again before winter. Early morning and the last hour of light are the best daily bites in summer. Check the GilledIt community feed for what's working near Richmond this week.
Start logging catches around Richmond
GilledIt is the social fishing app for American anglers. Log catches with photos, auto-tagged weather, pressure, moon and tide data. Free at launch on iOS and Android.