Kiptopeke State Park fishing conditions · Virginia

Tomorrow, 1 pm–9 pmSummer flounder

The bite peaks at 65. Water is 63°, close to the 65° summer flounder like best, and a solunar period lands on the window. Wind builds to 18 mph out of the northwest by tonight at 11:00 pm.

Small Craft Advisory until Sunday 10 am

Log a trip here

Right now: 65 for summer flounder, marginalTap 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.

654 pm
61
61
617 pm
46
38
4210 pm
27
27Sun
281 am
28
43
434 am
43
47
467 am
46
46
4610 am
50
50
611 pm
61
61
654 pm
65
61
617 pm
61
53
5310 pm
57
57Mon
381 am
53
53

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

Water: 63°F
Wind: 14 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.

Summer flounder

Paralichthys dentatus

65MarginalTomorrow, 1 pm–9 pm

Water

63°

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. 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. More on summer flounder

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

45Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

63°

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

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. Likes an incoming tide. More on striped bass

Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

63°

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

Cynoscion nebulosus

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

63°

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

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

33Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

63°

50°60–82° · ideal 72°92°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside sheepshead's active range. Holds 5–40 ft down.

Keep

4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia tidal waters: no size limit, 4 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct. Likes slack water. More on sheepshead

Atlantic spadefish

Chaetodipterus faber

0Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

63°

60°70–82° · ideal 76°92°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below Atlantic spadefish's active range (70–82°F). Holds 15–60 ft down.

Keep

4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia tidal waters: no size limit, 4 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Sep. Likes slack water. More on Atlantic spadefish

Spanish mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus

0Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

63°

55°65–82° · ideal 74°92°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below Spanish mackerel's active range (65–82°F). Holds 5–40 ft down.

Keep

14" minimum · 15 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Virginia tidal waters: 14" minimum (total length), 15 a day, open all year.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Sep. Likes an incoming tide. More on Spanish mackerel

Cobia

Rachycentron canadum

–Not scoredOut of season

Out of seasonOut of season here today. Check the agency before fishing.

Water

63°

58°68–85° · ideal 76°95°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Below cobia's active range (68–85°F). Holds 10–80 ft down.

Keep

43" minimum · 1 a day

Out of season here today. Check the agency before fishing. Virginia tidal waters: 43" minimum, 1 a person or 2 a boat, whichever is less, Jun 15–Sep 20. No gaffing or towing.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Virginia tidal (VMRC)

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Jun–Sep. More on cobia

The water

Water temperature63°F
Seas6.2 ft at the nearest buoy
Barometer29.92 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

Sunset today5:00 pm
Sunrise tomorrow6:35 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

VA Eastern Shore state park at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The famous concrete-ship breakwater creates a unique artificial reef fishery; sheepshead, spadefish, and cobia are regulars on the structure. The lighted pier extends into open Bay water.

Day-use fee. Lighted pier open 24 hr. The concrete ships are visible from shore and define this fishery. Cobia arrive in late spring through summer — sight fishing from the pier is possible.

WaterChesapeake Bay
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesVirginia tidal (VMRC)
WhereNorthampton County · 37.1621, -75.9902

Also a beach: swim conditions and water-quality advisories on itsabeachday.com.

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Questions people ask

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

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

Kiptopeke State Park is listed on this site for 8 commonly-targeted species: Striped Bass, Summer Flounder, Bluefish, Spotted Seatrout, and 4 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 Kiptopeke 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 Kiptopeke 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 Kiptopeke State Park have?

Kiptopeke State Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Day-use fee. Lighted pier open 24 hr. The concrete ships are visible from shore and define this fishery. Cobia arrive in late spring through summer — sight fishing from the pier is possible.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Kiptopeke State Park?

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

Yes. Kiptopeke 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.

Is there parking or an entry fee at Kiptopeke State Park?

Day-use fee. Lighted pier open 24 hr. The concrete ships are visible from shore and define this fishery. Cobia arrive in late spring through summer — sight fishing from the pier is possible.