It’s a fishing day

False Cape State Park fishing conditions · Virginia

Tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 amSummer flounder

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 64°, close to the 65° summer flounder like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 92 for summer flounder, goTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Summer flounder, 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.

  1. 924 pm
  2. 88
  3. 88
  4. 887 pm
  5. 83
  6. 83
  7. 8710 pm
  8. 87
  9. 87Sun
  10. 831 am
  11. 83
  12. 83
  13. 834 am
  14. 83
  15. 87
  16. 837 am
  17. 83
  18. 83
  19. 8310 am
  20. 87
  21. 87
  22. 981 pm
  23. 98
  24. 98
  25. 1004 pm
  26. 100
  27. 98
  28. 987 pm
  29. 98
  30. 98
  31. 9810 pm
  32. 100
  33. 100Mon
  34. 981 am
  35. 98
  36. 98
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
64°F

Summer flounder range 58–75°

Wind
15 mph

From the northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 5:01 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
59°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Steady

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

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.

Summer Flounder

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

100GoTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

64°
48°58–75° · ideal 65°85°

Why

Right in summer flounder's ideal range. Summer flounder prefers outgoing tide. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. 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. Federal waters follow NOAA Fisheries rules.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Sep. More on summer flounder

Striped Bass

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

82Worth the tripTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

64°
40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Right in striped bass'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 5–35 ft down.

Keep

28" minimum · 31" maximum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia coastal waters (the ocean out to 3 miles and the seaside of the Eastern Shore and Virginia Beach): 1 fish a day, 28–31", open Jan 1–Mar 31 and May 16–Dec 31. Federal waters beyond 3 miles are closed. 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. Likes an incoming tide. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

70Worth the tripTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

64°
50°60–80° · ideal 70°90°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside bluefish's active range. 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. Likes an incoming tide. More on bluefish

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

70Worth the tripTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

64°
50°60–85° · ideal 72°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside spotted seatrout's active range. 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. Likes an incoming tide. More on spotted seatrout

Red Drum

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

29Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

64°
55°65–85° · ideal 75°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below red drum's active range (65–85°F). 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. Likes an incoming tide. More on red drum

The water

  • Water temperature64°F
  • Seas3.9 ft at the nearest buoy
  • Barometer29.93 inHg, steady

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today5:01 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:34 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:40 am–6:40 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

Undeveloped barrier beach between Back Bay and the ocean, reached on foot, by bike or by boat. Red drum in spring and fall, striped bass in winter, bluefish, summer flounder and speckled trout through the warm months.

Nearby

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

Sandbridge Beach10 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am
100Go
Rudee Inlet — Virginia Beach15 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory
77Worth the trip
First Landing State Park23 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am
90Go
Ocean View Beach30 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am
70Worth the trip
Buckroe Beach37 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am
90Go
Anderson Park37 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 11 am to Monday 4 am
100Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at False Cape State Park?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at False Cape 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 False Cape State Park?

False Cape State Park is listed on this site for 5 commonly-targeted species: Red Drum, Striped Bass, Bluefish, Summer Flounder, and 1 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 False Cape 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 False Cape 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 False Cape State Park have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at False Cape State Park?

Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) saltwater regulations apply at False Cape 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 False Cape State Park tidal water?

Yes. False Cape 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.