When bigeye are off Chincoteague
No Chincoteague-specific season window is published, so timing follows the regional pattern for the species. Our bigeye tuna guide covers general timing, biology and depth behavior, and the Atlantic Northeast bigeye guide (see also the Atlantic Northeast region guide) covers how and when bigeye move through the region.
- Species and regional timing: Read both guides for the windows that carry over to this port.
- Your trip: Compare those windows against the SST and Chlorophyll layers before you commit to a run.
The run out of Chincoteague Inlet
Every distance on this page is measured from Chincoteague Inlet, the zero point for the run. Use it to turn each named ground into a waypoint on your own plotter. The Chincoteague port guide covers ramps, marinas and local navigation notes, so this page sticks to the grounds themselves.
You can locate the structure below against the Chart Contours layer. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Leaving the inlet
Two pieces of structure sit along the route out. An unidentified wreck lies on the north side of the channel, on the way out of Chincoteague Inlet toward the state reef. The P. J. Hooper wreck lies north of the inlet, around the point. Both are landmarks on the way out and are not bigeye water.
Blackfish Bank Reef at 5.5 miles
Blackfish Bank Reef sits in 65 ft, about 5.5 miles offshore (FishTalk). It is the first named waypoint on the run.
Grounds and structure
Three named grounds anchor the run out of Chincoteague: Blackfish Bank Reef, the Parking Lot and Little Hill. The table lists every named piece of structure.
| Name | Depth/location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blackfish Bank Reef (subway car patch) | 65 ft, about 5.5 miles offshore (FishTalk) | State reef |
| Blackfish Bank Reef menhaden vessel wrecks | Within Blackfish Bank Reef | Probable |
| 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 | |
| Parking Lot | 25 miles off the beach | |
| Big steel barge | Near the center of the Parking Lot | |
| Little Hill |
Blackfish Bank Reef
The reef breaks down into three pieces, each placed relative to the one before it:
- The subway car patch. This is the base of the reef, in 65 ft.
- The menhaden vessel wrecks. These probable wrecks sit within the reef itself.
- The large unidentified wreck. It lies about 1,200 yards northwest of the reef’s northwest corner.
The Parking Lot
The Parking Lot sits about 25 miles off the beach from Chincoteague, with a big steel barge near its center.
Little Hill
Little Hill is a named ground near Chincoteague.
How bigeye are fished from this port
Local methods are not described for this port, but charter listings include bigeye among their tuna targets. General technique for bigeye and the other tunas is in our tuna fishing guides.
Who fishes them
Anglers without a boat, or planning a first trip, can book a tuna charter out of Chincoteague. Reel Freedom Charters LLC runs a 28 ft Triton center console with outriggers and takes 6 passengers. Its Reel Freedom Charters listing names bigeye among its tuna targets.
FAQ about bigeye tuna fishing out of Chincoteague
How far is the Parking Lot from Chincoteague?
It is about 25 miles off the beach, with a big steel barge near its center.
How far offshore is Blackfish Bank Reef, and how deep?
It sits in 65 ft, about 5.5 miles offshore (FishTalk). Its features include the subway car patch.
What wrecks are near Chincoteague Inlet?
An unidentified wreck lies on the north side of the channel on the way out, and the P. J. Hooper wreck lies north of the inlet, around the point.
Which Chincoteague charter lists bigeye?
Reel Freedom Charters LLC, which runs a 28 ft Triton center console with outriggers and takes 6 passengers.
When are bigeye off Chincoteague?
Timing follows the regional pattern, so read the bigeye tuna guide and the Atlantic Northeast bigeye guide for the windows that apply here.
Where are the bigeye rules for this port?
The Virginia saltwater regulations and the federal Atlantic tuna rules cover them. Check both before you fish.
