Kiptopeke State Park, Northampton County, VA
Atlantic Spadefish fishing today
Skip the Atlantic Spadefish trip today.
27/100
Why today scores 27
- 60°F water — Below Atlantic Spadefish's active range (70–82°F)
- incoming tide — Atlantic Spadefish prefers slack tide
- 8 mph wind — Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
Right now at Kiptopeke State Park
- Water temp
- 60°F
- Air temp
- 69°F
- Wind
- 3 to 8 mph NW
- Tide phase
- incoming
- Sunrise / sunset
- 6:20 AM / 7:44 PM
- Moon
- first quarter, 33% illuminated
- Solunar windows today
- 12:40 AM - 1:40 AM · 4:40 AM - 6:40 AM · 9:50 AM - 10:50 AM · 5:10 PM - 7:10 PM
- Forecast
- Sunny
About Atlantic Spadefish
Chaetodipterus faber. Schooling disk-shaped fish at offshore structure — wrecks, reef balls, and the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Famously picky biters; small hook (#1-#2) baited with a sliver of jellyball or clam strip on a dropshot rig over a chum slick is the drill. Hard fighters for their size.
Preferred water temp: 70–82°F (ideal 76°F). Preferred tide: slack.
VA regulations
- Daily creel limit
- 4
Virginia tidal waters: no minimum size, 4 per day. VMRC regulation 4VAC20-970 (effective 2002; creel later tightened). Warm-water-only fishery in practice — fish appear around mid-June and leave by early October.
Source: VA regulations. Last verified: 2026-04-22.