Striped bass fishing out of Chincoteague is a spring and fall fishery in the bay and the surf, with the back bay bridges coming on in late fall. This is a port briefing covering where boats run, the named structure, how the fish are worked locally, and who fishes for them. For ramps, the inlet and conditions, see the Chincoteague port page. For biology and general behavior, see the striped bass species guide.
When striped bass are around Chincoteague
The windows are spring and fall, this port’s slice of the coastwide migration covered in the Atlantic Northeast striped bass guide (see also the Atlantic Northeast fishing guide). Both runs play out in the bay and the surf, and the back bay bridges come on late.
| Window | Water |
|---|---|
| Spring | Chincoteague Bay and the surf |
| Fall | Chincoteague Bay and the surf |
| Late fall | Back bay, around the bridges |
Spring and fall in the bay and surf
Striped bass are a spring and fall fish here, in Chincoteague Bay and in the surf. Plan around those two windows.
Late fall on the back bay
In late fall, boats work the back bay around the bridges. Swim shads are the local method there, covered below.
Where boats run and the grounds that hold fish
The water runs from the bay channels out through Chincoteague Inlet to structure at 5.5 and 25 miles. Chart layers are not for navigation.
| Ground | Depth or position | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Unidentified wreck, north side of the channel | On the way out of Chincoteague Inlet toward the state reef | |
| P. J. Hooper wreck | North of the inlet, around the point | |
| 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 NW of the reef’s NW corner | |
| Parking Lot | Big steel barge near the center | 25 miles off the beach |
Chincoteague Bay channels and bridges
Boats work the Chincoteague Bay channels and bridges in spring and fall. Fly anglers throw Clousers here, and the bridges are also the late-fall target on the back bay.
The inlet and the surf
The surf and inlet areas fish in spring and fall, with bunker and eels as the baits.
Blackfish Bank Reef
Virginia’s Blackfish Bank Reef page puts the reef in 65 ft, about 5.5 miles offshore. The subway car patch and the probable menhaden vessel wrecks are inside it. This is the state reef, and the unidentified wreck on the channel side sits on the way out to it.
Wrecks near the reef and inlet
In run order, nearest first:
- Unidentified wreck, north side of the channel. On the way out of Chincoteague Inlet toward the state reef.
- P. J. Hooper wreck. North of the inlet, around the point.
- Large unidentified wreck. About 1,200 yards northwest of the reef’s northwest corner. Blackfish Bank and nearby wrecks covers the subway car patch and this wreck.
The Parking Lot and Little Hill
The Parking Lot sits 25 miles off the beach, with a big steel barge near its center, which makes it a much longer run than the bay and the bridges. Little Hill is the other named ground.
How striped bass are fished out of Chincoteague
Each method belongs to a particular piece of water.
Clousers on the fly in the bay
Clouser minnows are the local fly method in Chincoteague Bay, in the channels and around the bridges.
Swim shads on the back bay
Swim shads are the back bay method, matching the late-fall bridge pattern.
Bunker and eels in the surf and inlet
Bunker and eels are the baits for the surf and inlet areas.
Who fishes striped bass out of Chincoteague
Two local charters list striped bass:
- Captain Tim’s Chincoteague Bay Adventures, Capt. Tim Walch. 22 ft boat, per Captain Tim’s FishingBooker listing.
- Wonderfull 1, Capt. Wayne Lewis. 32 ft boat. See the Wonderfull 1 charter page.
FAQ about striped bass fishing out of Chincoteague
When are striped bass around Chincoteague?
Striped bass are a spring and fall fish in Chincoteague Bay and the surf. In late fall, boats also work the back bay around the bridges.
How far out is Blackfish Bank Reef?
Blackfish Bank Reef sits in 65 ft about 5.5 miles offshore. It holds a subway car patch and probable menhaden vessel wrecks, with a large wreck about 1,200 yards northwest of its northwest corner.
What is the Parking Lot?
The Parking Lot is a ground 25 miles off the beach, with a big steel barge near its center.
What methods are used for striped bass fishing out of Chincoteague?
Locals fish Clouser minnows on the fly in the bay, swim shads on the back bay, and bunker and eels in the surf and inlet.
Which Chincoteague charters list striped bass?
Capt. Tim Walch’s Captain Tim’s Chincoteague Bay Adventures runs a 22 ft boat. Capt. Wayne Lewis runs the 32 ft Wonderfull 1.
What else lives on the reef and wrecks?
The coastal and offshore gamefish guides cover the other species worked on the reef, the wrecks and the Parking Lot.
