Belle Isle State Park fishing conditions · Virginia

Tomorrow 11 am to Monday 4 amStriped bass

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 63°, close to the 62° striped bass like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Right now: 100 for striped bass, goTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Striped bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

1004 pm
100
100
1007 pm
91
91
9510 pm
95
95Sun
961 am
96
96
964 am
96
100
917 am
91
91
9110 am
95
95
1001 pm
100
100
1004 pm
100
100
1007 pm
100
100
10010 pm
100
100Mon
961 am
96
96

Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Water: 63°F
Wind: 9 mph
Light: Daylight
Sky: Sunny
Air: 59°F
Barometer: Falling
Moon: 5% lit

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Virginia tidal (VMRC) regulations for these waters.

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

100GoTomorrow 11 am to Monday 4 am

Water

63°

40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass's ideal range. Striped bass prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Holds 5–35 ft down.

Keep

19" minimum · 24" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers: 1 fish a day, 19–24", in two seasons, May 16–Jun 15 and Oct 4–Dec 31. Virginia rivers that empty into the Potomac follow PRFC rules. Non-offset circle hooks with bait; no gaffing.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

98GoTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am

Water

63°

50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Bluefish prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 5–50 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia marine waters: no size limit, 5 a day, including on for-hire trips.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct. More on bluefish

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

98GoTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am

Water

63°

50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Spotted seatrout prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–15 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia tidal waters: 14" minimum, 5 a day with no more than 1 over 24". Recreational anglers may not take, catch or possess speckled trout from Apr 1 to Jun 30, 2026 (4VAC20-280-30).

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct. More on spotted seatrout

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

90GoTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am

Water

63°

48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Right in summer flounder's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 10–100 ft down.

Keep

16" minimum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia tidal waters: 16" minimum Jan 1–May 31 and 17.5" Jun 1–Dec 31, 4 a day, open all year. Virginia rivers that empty into the Potomac follow PRFC rules.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Sep. Likes an outgoing tide. More on summer flounder

White perch

Morone americana

90GoTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am

Water

63°

40°50–78° · ideal 65°88°

Why

Right in white perch's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia sets no statewide daily or length limit for white perch, including the tidal rivers below the fall line.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov. Likes an outgoing tide. More on white perch

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

57MarginalTomorrow, 4 pm–6 pm

Water

63°

55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Red drum prefers incoming tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

18" minimum · 26" maximum · 3 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia tidal waters: 18–26" slot, 3 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Nov. More on red drum

The water

Water temperature63°F
Barometer29.94 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today5:02 pm
Sunrise tomorrow6:39 am
MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Virginia DWR has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: VA DWR/VMRC · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A state park on the Rappahannock River in Lancaster County. Striped bass and white perch in the river, with speckled trout, red drum, summer flounder and bluefish in warm months.

WaterChesapeake Bay
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesVirginia tidal (VMRC)
WhereLancaster County · 37.7729, -76.5921

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Smith Point Beach18 mi · VirginiaBest now until Monday 4 am

100Go

Point Lookout State Park24 mi · MarylandBest now until 6 pmSmall Craft Advisory

93Go

Elms Beach Park28 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am

100Go

Solomons Island Fishing Pier39 mi · MarylandBest now until 8 pmSmall Craft Advisory

97Go

Myrtle Point Park39 mi · MarylandBest now until Monday 4 am

100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Belle Isle State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Belle Isle State Park you need a Virginia saltwater recreational fishing license issued by VMRC, or a free Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) registration if otherwise exempt. See the agency's current rules: https://mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/recfish-licensing.shtm

What fish are commonly targeted at Belle Isle State Park?

Belle Isle State Park is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Bluefish, Spotted Seatrout, Red Drum, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Belle Isle State Park?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Belle Isle State Park against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Belle Isle State Park have?

Belle Isle State Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Belle Isle State Park?

Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) saltwater regulations apply at Belle Isle State Park. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Belle Isle State Park tidal water?

Yes. Belle Isle State Park sits on tidal water with a NOAA tide station nearby. Today's high/low timing is in the tide chart on this page.