Is anyone here familiar with Virginia Beach?

NickR

NickR

Well-known member
Looks like I’ll be spending a week there in May. Will be doing mostly family stuff but also will have some time to myself. My online research has uncovered the Atlantic Wildfowl Museum and a couple National Wildlife Refuges.

My highest objective would be to catch an edible fish (or several) off a pier or the beach. I’m thinking about bringing an Abu Garcia 5600 or 6500 and buying a cheaper rod when I get there. I’ve just started reading up on the subject and unfortunately wasted close to an hour reading about “heavers” before realizing that’s probably not a casting style for tourists.

Thanks for any recommendations on duck, fish, or normal tourism ideas!
 
Several years back I fished Lynnhaven Inlet quite a bit. Decent for puppy drum, flounder, and other inshore species and generally not too crowded. Bucktail jigs and squid will get you on fish. Good luck!
 
drifting for flounder is prime time then. Little bit of everything there at that time of year in the bays and surf.
 
If you can make it to the Outer Banks the Whale Head Club is a must see. Several places on the Eastern Shore and you cross the Chesapeake Bay. Let me know when the time gets closer I will take you to the Whale Head Club. It will be a full day. It is also a possibility that I can take you fishing. Sonny Williams
 
Nick,
I too have family in and around Virginia Beach. While visiting them I've made several trips to the local fishing piers with mixed results, mostly due to my lack of knowledge on surf and pier fishing. This was many many years ago and research options are much more available now. Read up on how the flow of the tides affects the fish and what is available to fish for, where, and how, during the changing tide. My ignorance in this respect was my greatest handicap. Although, sometimes you just have to go when you can, not when the fishing may be best. ( at least you can use that as an excuse for limited success [blush])

You will be fine with your choice of reels. Filling it up with a braid will give you more line capacity than choosing mono. 80 lbs braid will handle most fish you will encounter and handle casting up to about 2-3 ounce sinkers or spoons. Line for leaders can be purchased when you get there as well as the proper terminal tackle. A rod can either be purchased or rented for the day. A kids wagon, garden cart or wheeled cooler is a big in getting your gear from the parking lot to the end of the pier. Maybe you can borrow something for that from your family.

Good luck and have fun.
 
I grew up in VA Beach and hunted and fished it a lot. Pier fishing can be good and you do not need a salt water license there as the pier license covers you. Sadly the Lynnhaven Pier just shut down. It was a local landmark and was owned by a friend of mine.

There is a the VA Beach pier at 15th and Atlantic. You can catch a variety of fish there. I always used a spinning reel to fish piers. Most of what I caught could be managed with light tackle.

You can also get a party boat charter for a half-day or full day. You can get these with tackle provided. It is wall to wall anglers and sometimes a lot of anglers start getting sea sick depending on conditions. Party boats carry a fishing license for all aboard so you do not need a license.

You can also surf cast along the ocean front or on the bay. You just need a salt water license for this. A non-resident can get a 10 day license for ten bucks so you can go wet a line about any where. Just stop in a tackle store for bait and a fishing report and some local advice and you will probably tie into something. Or you might be told "You should have been here yesterday!"
 
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Sadly the Lynnhaven Pier just shut down....

Wow. That's a bummer. Was hoping to take my boys there this summer. Still, lots of good fishing in the area.
 
Thanks for all the advice thus far! I was a little apprehensive about the trip to start with but between my wife’s plans so far and the encouraging words here I think it’ll be a great time.

Bucktails and squid... that seems within my ability. How big for the bucktails- ounce or two? Jigs not spinners, right?

Sonny, I’ll drop you a line as it approaches. Thanks much!
 
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