Fishing near me in Virginia Beach : 15 spots within 50 miles
There are 15 mapped fishing venues within 50 miles of Virginia Beach, and the closest, Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, is about 0.7 miles from the city center. The 12 nearest are listed below, ranked by distance, with Virginia license info, the species you can expect, and answers to the questions Virginia Beach anglers ask most.
Top Fishing Spots Near Virginia Beach
The 12 nearest mapped venues within 50 miles of Virginia Beach, nearest first. Click any spot for full venue details, directions, and species.
Closest first
- 1
Virginia Beach Fishing Pier
0.7 mi awayVirginia Beach city
- 2
Little Island Fishing Pier
11 mi awayVirginia Beach city
- 3
Oceanview Fishing Pier
17 mi awayNorfolk city
- 4
Engineers Fishing Pier
21 mi awayHampton city
- 5
James T Wilson Fishing Pier
21 mi awayHampton, 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
- 6
Lake Ballard
23 mi awayPortsmouth city
- 7
King-Lincoln Park Fishing Pier
25 mi awayNewport News city
- 8
Harbour Breeze Fishing Lake
26 mi awaySuffolk city
- 9
Cape Charles Fishing Pier
29 mi awayNorthampton County
- 10
James River Fishing Pier
29 mi awayNewport News city
- 11
Pier 3
30 mi awayNorthampton County
- 12
Pier 2
30 mi awayNorthampton County
Want more options? Browse all Virginia fishing venues or the Virginia fishing near me guide.
Do You Need a Fishing License in Virginia?
The short answer for Virginia Beach anglers, plus where to find the current Virginia prices, exemptions, and free fishing days.
License Info
In most cases, yes: a Virginia license before you cast
Fishing licenses in Virginia are issued by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). Anglers above the state minimum age need a valid license to fish public water around Virginia Beach. Age thresholds, resident and non-resident fees, short-term options, and exemptions all vary by state and change each season, so check the current rules on the DWR site 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 Can You Catch Near Virginia Beach?
The most-recorded species across the 12 venues listed above.
What's Biting
- Catfish
- Trout
The most-recorded species across these venues are catfish, trout. Open GilledIt to see real-time catch reports for any of these species near you.
Keep Exploring Virginia Fishing
More Resources
Fishing Near Me in Virginia Beach: FAQ
There are 15 mapped fishing venues within 50 miles of Virginia Beach, and the closest is Virginia Beach Fishing Pier, about 0.7 miles from the city center. The 12 nearest are listed above, ranked 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 Virginia Beach are free to access once you hold a valid Virginia fishing license, and many states also run free fishing days each year when no license is needed. Dates and rules change, so confirm on the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) 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 Virginia Beach. Licenses are issued by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). Age cut-offs, fees, and exemptions vary by state and change each season, so check the DWR site or our Virginia fishing license guide for current prices, where to buy, and free fishing days before you go.
Across the venues listed above, the most-recorded species are catfish, trout. Species mix varies by venue, so check each spot's page for its confirmed list, or open GilledIt for real-time catch reports around Virginia Beach.
For most waters around Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach this week.
Start logging catches around Virginia Beach
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.