Virginia · United States

James River VA fishing forecast

69 Good of 100

James River VA is a freshwater fishing spot in Virginia, United States. Anglers here target Blue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass. The most productive months are typically March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October.

Quick answer

Best monthsMarch, April, May, June

Top speciesBlue Catfish, Channel Catfish, Smallmouth Bass

Score now69/100

Local rulesUnited States — Federal Waters

Today’s verdict

Ranks #220 of 408 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

Trending down — 3 points below this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±7 points, from 7 live signals

Helping the score most

Water temperature+15.0Waves+15.0Wind+8.8

Pressure trend

Pressure data unavailable

Best window today

05:00 · Light wind (0 km/h) and calm seas

Next solunar peak

dawn 11:14

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	20.9 °C
Wind	18 km/h from E, gusting 34 km/h
Pressure	1024 hPa
Cloud cover	100%
Chlorophyll	13.33 mg/m³
Salinity	0.0 PSU
Mixed-layer depth	7 m
UV index	0
Precipitation (24h)	0.7 mm
Wind sea	0.0 m
Ground swell	0.0 m at 0 s

The water here is 0.3 °C warmer than the October average of 20.6 °C. Warmer-than-normal water pushes cool-water species deeper and brings warm-water species in earlier than the calendar suggests. The water is mixed to about 45.0 m, so surface temperature carries well down the water column.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at James River VA

James River VA currently scores 69 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 20.9 °C. 7 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +15.0: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Waves +15.0: swell energy stirring the water column
Wind +8.8: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Barometric pressure +4.4: falling pressure often triggers feeding
Moon phase +3.0: lunar feeding rhythm
Pre-storm bite +2.4: the classic feed before heavy weather

What’s biting now

The model expects today: smallmouth-bass, shortnose-gar, bowfin, crappie, bluegill, chain-pickerel, white-crappie, green-sunfish

Bite windows

Moon

New Moon · 0% lit

Solunar day rating

70 / 100

Best months for James River VA:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-09-25, 75/100

20 day(s) at 70+ in the tracked period

3 points below the same day last week

About this spot

Water type

River · Freshwater

Rivers are flow-driven. Fish the seams, eddies, and structure where current breaks, where fish hold to conserve energy and ambush bait.

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · estuary

What you can catch

Blue Catfish

Ictalurus furcatus
Channel Catfish

Ictalurus punctatus
Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

Best months by species at James River VA

Blue CatfishIctalurus furcatus
Channel CatfishIctalurus punctatus
Smallmouth BassMicropterus dolomieu

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

U.S. federal fisheries authority

United States — Federal Waters

Licensing:

saltwater-recreational — residents Federal Recreational Fishing License may be required in addition to state license when fishing federal (EEZ) waters., non-residents Same as residents. Many states require their own license even in federal waters.

Some rules may have changed since our last verification — always confirm with the authority before you fish.

FishRadar regulations are summaries only. Federal and state waters rules overlap — always verify current federal and state agency rules before fishing.