When yellowfin tuna are off Chincoteague
Yellowfin tuna fishing out of Chincoteague is a summer offshore fishery, with warm water and long runs. The inlet, ramps and where to read conditions are in our Chincoteague port guide.
Summer offshore
Summer offshore is the season for tuna from this port, as chincoteague.com lists summer offshore fishing. For the wider timing picture, see yellowfin timing across the Northeast (see also the Atlantic Northeast region guide).
Early canyon fish
A canyon fish can show as early as May. That comes from a 2006 local forum post, so it is a possibility rather than something to plan around.
Where Chincoteague boats run for yellowfin
Boats run four named grounds for yellowfin tuna, listed here from the beach outward:
- Parking Lot
- 20-fathom grounds
- Washington Canyon and the 30-fathom lumps inside it
- Norfolk Canyon
Other tuna species share these grounds. Our tuna fishing guides cover them.
Parking Lot
The Parking Lot is 25 miles off the beach and is named as a tuna ground. A big steel barge sits near its center.
20-fathom grounds
The 20-fathom grounds are also named as tuna grounds off Chincoteague, and they belong to the same offshore picture as the Parking Lot.
Washington Canyon and the 30-fathom lumps
Boats run to Washington Canyon and to the 30-fathom lumps inside it, so one run covers both.
Norfolk Canyon
Norfolk Canyon is named for offshore trips from the port. It is the other canyon on the local list.
Named structure near Chincoteague Inlet
The structure below is on the way out or close in. It is not a list of yellowfin spots.
| Name | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Blackfish Bank Reef (subway car patch) | 65 ft | About 5.5 miles offshore |
| Menhaden vessel wrecks (probable) | Within Blackfish Bank Reef | |
| Large unidentified wreck | About 1,200 yards northwest of the reef’s northwest corner | |
| P. J. Hooper wreck | North of the inlet, around the point | |
| Unidentified wreck, north side of channel | On the way out of Chincoteague Inlet toward the state reef | |
| Little Hill |
Lumps, canyon edges and wrecks show on Breakpoint’s Chart Contours layer. Chart layers are not for navigation. Inlet conditions are covered on the port page and in the official forecast.
Blackfish Bank Reef
The subway car patch sits in 65 ft, about 5.5 miles offshore. Probable menhaden vessel wrecks lie within the reef, and a large unidentified wreck lies about 1,200 yards northwest of the reef’s northwest corner.
P. J. Hooper and the channel wreck
The P. J. Hooper wreck lies north of the inlet, around the point. An unidentified wreck sits on the north side of the channel, on the way out of Chincoteague Inlet toward the state reef.
Little Hill
Little Hill is a named ground near Chincoteague.
How yellowfin are fished locally
Two methods cover the season: trolling early and chunking later. For behavior and technique in general, read our yellowfin tuna fishing guide.
Trolling in June
The same forum post puts trolling in June. That fits the local boat setup, since the charter listing shows a center console with outriggers.
Chunking later in the season
Chunking takes over later in the season, according to the same post. Charter listings name both trolling and chunking.
Who fishes for yellowfin out of Chincoteague
Charter listings show who works this fishery from the port.
Reel Freedom Charters
Reel Freedom Charters LLC lists yellowfin tuna. The boat is a 28 ft Triton center console with outriggers, carrying 6 passengers, and the listed methods are trolling and chunking. Details are on the Reel Freedom Charters FishingBooker listing.
FAQ: yellowfin tuna out of Chincoteague
When is yellowfin season out of Chincoteague?
Yellowfin tuna fishing out of Chincoteague is a summer offshore fishery. A 2006 local forum post says canyon fish can show as early as May.
How far is the Parking Lot?
The Parking Lot is 25 miles off the beach.
Where is the steel barge?
The big steel barge sits near the center of the Parking Lot.
Do local boats troll or chunk?
Both. A 2006 local forum post puts trolling in June and chunking later in the season, and charter listings name both methods.
Who runs yellowfin charters from Chincoteague?
Reel Freedom Charters LLC lists yellowfin tuna. It runs a 28 ft Triton center console with outriggers for 6 passengers.
Where are the fishing rules?
Check the Virginia saltwater regulations page and the federal Atlantic tunas rules page before you fish.
