Virginia · United States

Norfolk Virginia Beach fishing forecast

65 Good of 100

Norfolk Virginia Beach is a saltwater fishing spot in Virginia, United States. Anglers here target Striped Bass, Red Drum, Bluefish, Cobia. The most productive months are typically April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November.

Quick answer

Best monthsApril, May, June, July

Top speciesStriped Bass, Red Drum, Bluefish

Score now65/100

Local rulesUnited States — Federal Waters

Today’s verdict

Ranks #276 of 437 spots FishRadar scored worldwide today

Trending down — 6 points below this spot’s 7-day average

Score confidence ±4 points, from 8 live signals

The statistical model disagrees with the physics model here today — treat this score with extra caution.

Helping the score most

Water temperature+24.0Chlorophyll+18.0Waves+9.0

Pressure trend

Pressure stable — fish feeding on their usual rhythm

Next solunar peak

minor 08:02

Current conditions

Sea surface temp	26.3 °C
Wind	19 km/h from ESE
Wave height	0.9 m at 7 s
Current	0.04 m/s toward N
Pressure	1023 hPa
Cloud cover	0%
Chlorophyll	2.81 mg/m³
Salinity	28.7 PSU
Mixed-layer depth	10 m
UV index	0
Wind sea	0.1 m at 2 s
Ground swell	0.5 m at 7 s from ENE
Current shear (surface vs 50 m)	0.04 → 0.00 m/s

Nearest buoy: Cape Henry, VA (147) (24 km): water 26.3 °C, waves 0.9 m

The water here is 3.7 °C warmer than the September average of 22.6 °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 26.7 m, with the thermocline below that.

Tide now: Rising · turns in 322 minTide is an approximate harmonic prediction — confirm with local tide tables.

Updated 1 h ago.

What the score means at Norfolk Virginia Beach

Norfolk Virginia Beach currently scores 65 out of 100 (Good). Water temperature is 26.3 °C. 8 forecast signals are active in this score.

Water temperature +24.0: how close the water is to this species mix’s comfort band
Chlorophyll +18.0: plankton density — the base of the food chain
Waves +9.0: swell energy stirring the water column
Wind +8.0: surface chop, oxygen and bait drift
Thermal front +5.3: temperature edges concentrate bait and predators
Chlorophyll front +4.9: a plankton edge — classic feeding line

What’s biting now

The model expects today: striped-bass, weakfish, bluefish, red-drum, summer-flounder, black-seabass, scup, northern-kingfish

Bite windows

Moon

Waning Crescent · 15% lit

Solunar day rating

50 / 100

Best months for Norfolk Virginia Beach:

Score history at this spot

30 days tracked at this exact location

Best recent day: 2026-09-02, 85/100

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

9 points below the same day last week

About this spot

Water type

Sea

Open coastal saltwater — conditions and safety depend heavily on the live wind, wave, and tide forecast, so check them before you head out.

Access & shore

Fishable from shore · offshore-only

What you can catch

Striped Bass

Morone saxatilis
Red Drum

Sciaenops ocellatus
Bluefish

Pomatomus saltatrix
Cobia

Rachycentron canadum

Best months by species at Norfolk Virginia Beach

Striped BassMorone saxatilis
Red DrumSciaenops ocellatus
BluefishPomatomus saltatrix
CobiaRachycentron canadum

Typical months; local seasons and closures apply.

Local regulations

U.S. federal fisheries authority

United States — Federal Waters

Species	Bag limit	Min size	Open season
Red Drum	1/day	45.7–68.6 cm slot	Jan 1 – Dec 31
Federal waters Gulf of Mexico: 1 fish/day, 18–27" slot. Atlantic federal rules differ.
Striped Bass	1/day	71.1–78.7 cm slot	Jan 1 – Dec 31
Federal Atlantic EEZ: 1 fish, 28–31" slot limit. State waters have separate rules.

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.

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