Sandbridge Beach fishing conditions · Virginia

Tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 amSummer flounder

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 66°, close to the 65° summer flounder like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here

Right now: 100 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.

1004 pm
98
98
987 pm
83
83
8710 pm
87
87Sun
831 am
83
83
834 am
83
87
837 am
83
83
8310 am
87
87
981 pm
98
98
1004 pm
100
98
987 pm
98
98
9810 pm
100
100Mon
981 am
98
98

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

Water: 66°F
Wind: 10 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

100GoTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

66°

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

Red drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

70Worth the tripTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

66°

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. Inside red drum's active range. 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

Striped bass

Morone saxatilis

70Worth the tripTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

66°

40°50–72° · ideal 62°82°

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Inside striped bass's active range. 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

Pomatomus saltatrix

70Worth the tripTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

66°

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

70Worth the tripTomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

Water

66°

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

The water

Water temperature66°F
Seas3.9 ft at the nearest buoy
Barometer29.92 inHg, falling

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

Ocean beach south of Virginia Beach, backed by Back Bay. Red drum in spring and fall, striped bass in winter, bluefish, summer flounder and speckled trout through the warm months.

WaterAtlantic
AccessPier, shore and ramp
RulesVirginia tidal (VMRC)
WhereVirginia Beach · 36.7576, -75.9447

Nearby

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

Rudee Inlet — Virginia Beach5 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 amSmall Craft Advisory

77Worth the trip

False Cape State Park10 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

100Go

First Landing State Park13 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

90Go

Ocean View Beach21 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 4 am

70Worth the trip

Buckroe Beach28 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm to Monday 1 am

90Go

Kiptopeke State Park28 mi · VirginiaBest tomorrow 1 pm–9 pmSmall Craft Advisory

65Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Sandbridge Beach?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Sandbridge Beach 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 Sandbridge Beach?

Sandbridge Beach 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 Sandbridge Beach?

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 Sandbridge Beach 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 Sandbridge Beach have?

Sandbridge Beach has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Sandbridge Beach?

Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) saltwater regulations apply at Sandbridge Beach. 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 Sandbridge Beach tidal water?

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