Virginia · Mid-Atlantic / Virginia Eastern Shore · Shore
Approximately 18.7 miles away
Predicted Tides
Predicted
Near high tide
Next low tide
Sep 5, 2026, 9:43 AM
In 5 hr 53 min
0.5 ft MLLW
Previous
High · Sep 5, 2026, 3:37 AM · 2.1 ft MLLW
Following
High · Sep 5, 2026, 4:22 PM · 2.8 ft MLLW
Tide station at destination
Lynnhaven Inlet · NOAA 8638888
Predicted Tidal Current
Predicted
No representative tidal-current prediction station is configured for this destination.
Tidal-current timing can differ from high and low tide timing.
Fishery Profile
Fishery Overview
Lynnhaven Inlet tributary and Bay-mouth fishery
A lower-Chesapeake tributary inlet fishery at Lynnhaven Inlet / Lesner Bridge. The city boat ramp and beach facility on Crab Creek, plus shore access under the bridge toward Ocean Park Beach, serve spotted seatrout, striped bass, and summer flounder. This is not Rudee Inlet and not the CBBT islands.
Fishery type
Tributary inlet
Fishing modes
Shore
Inshore boat
Habitat and structure
Lynnhaven Inlet / Lesner Bridge corridor and current seams · Crab Creek ramp basin and marsh edges inside the inlet · Ocean Park Beach walkway under the Lesner Bridge on the Chesapeake Bay
Static seasonal guidance · Last reviewed Aug 16, 2026
Not a live bite forecast.
Fishery Targets
VMRC names Lynnhaven Inlet for speckled trout and places striped bass and summer flounder in the lower-Bay / tributary class that includes this inlet. This profile does not encode month windows because available evidence is occurrence-level, not a destination fishing calendar, and does not treat listed targets as typical every-month fishing quality. Harvest seasons are not biological calendars. Seasonal notes, where present, describe typical presence, not a legal harvest season.
This reflects typical biological/fishery timing, not a legal open season. Check current regulations before fishing.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency and editorial sources. About fish illustrations
Spotted seatrout
Primary
Cynoscion nebulosus
Currently in a typical seasonal window
Typical seasonal window: MAY — JUNE; SEPTEMBER — NOVEMBER
VMRC Angler's Guide names Lynnhaven Inlet among fall speckled trout locations. Exact-destination occurrence; qualitative spring/fall language is not converted to month endpoints.
Striped bass
SecondaryRegulations vary annually
Morone saxatilis
Typical seasonal opportunity: SPRING AND FALL
VMRC places striped bass in all coastal inshore and Chesapeake Bay tidal waters, including Bay tributary rivers. Lynnhaven is that class. Harvest dates are not encoded as windows.
Summer flounder
Secondary
Paralichthys dentatus
Currently in a typical seasonal window
Typical seasonal window: JULY — OCTOBER
VMRC lists lower Chesapeake Bay among flounder waters; Lynnhaven is a Bay-mouth tributary inlet in that system. Occurrence-level only.
Typical Seasonal Targets
Spotted seatrout — MAY — JUNE; SEPTEMBER — NOVEMBER
Striped bass — SPRING AND FALL
Summer flounder — JULY — OCTOBER
Seasonal presence is general guidance and does not indicate current fish activity.
How to Fish Lynnhaven Inlet
Typical September approaches include inlet and marsh-edge casting and inlet-channel flounder presentations for Spotted seatrout and Summer flounder.
Inlet and marsh-edge casting
Cast paddle tails, bucktails, and swimming plugs along inlet current, bridge abutments, and marsh edges for seatrout and striped bass.
Best for
Spotted seatrout
Modes
Shore
Inshore boat
Setup
Lynnhaven Inlet casting setup
Inlet-channel flounder presentations
Drift or hop fluke bucktails on inlet-channel sand for summer flounder.
Best for
Summer flounder
Modes
Shore
Inshore boat
Setup
Lynnhaven flounder setup
Common Tackle Setups
Lynnhaven Inlet casting setup
Shore or boat spinning tackle for seatrout and striped bass in the inlet.
Rod
Medium spinning rod
Reel
Spinning reel with a reliable drag
Main line
Braided main line
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
Terminal tackle
Jig heads matched to inlet current
Presentation
VMRC: fall method at Lynnhaven Inlet is casting artificial lures; This profile does not score a trip window
Used for
Inlet and marsh-edge casting
Lynnhaven flounder setup
Bottom-oriented tackle for inlet-channel flounder.
Rod
Medium spinning rod
Reel
Spinning reel
Main line
Braided main line
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
Terminal tackle
Fluke bucktails or jig heads to tick bottom
Presentation
Drift channel edges rather than fishing only slack pockets
Used for
Inlet-channel flounder presentations
Typical September Lures and Flies
Common lure and fly families associated with this month’s techniques.
Hop, swim, or drift depending on depth and current speed
Surface popper
Lure
Spotted seatrout
Surface · Twitch, pause
Use short pops rather than constant noise in clear or pressured water
Minnow-style swimming plug
Lure
Spotted seatrout
Shallow to midwater · Steady, twitch, pause
Cast across seams and let the plug track with the current
Soft-plastic paddle tail
Lure
Spotted seatrout
Shallow, Midwater, Variable · Steady, twitch, jig
Swim steadily through seams or hop lightly near bottom transitions
Soft-plastic jig head
Lure
Summer flounder
Midwater, Bottom, Variable · Jig, slow, drift
Keep intermittent bottom contact around structure and soft edges
Fluke bucktail presentation
Lure
Summer flounder
Bottom to shallow · Drift, jig, slow
Maintain intermittent bottom contact across edges and transitions
General seasonal guidance, not a live recommendation, product endorsement, or guarantee of success.
Access, Safety and Regulations
Access
Public boat and shore access is the City of Virginia Beach Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility at 3576 Piedmont Circle, with four launch lanes, a kayak launch, trailer parking, restrooms, and a walkway under the Lesner Bridge to Ocean Park Beach on the Chesapeake Bay. VMRC's recreational-access page states the facility offers access for both shore and boat anglers. Parking meters are enforced seasonally; trailer lots can fill. Confirm current fees, lot status, and bridge/beach postings before you go.
Primary hazards
Strong inlet current, boat traffic, and a filling trailer lot with neighborhood access restrictions are the primary hazards. This profile does not change recommendation or rating scoring.
Fishery considerations
Currents and waves are unsupported. This profile does not score tides or change the coastal rating.
Wind against the inlet can steepen the throat and Bay-side beach.
Regulations
Size limits, seasons, and possession rules change. Verify the current official regulations before fishing.
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
