Virginia Saltwater Holiday Fishing Report

High Hopes Charters last season!

Happy Holidays to all Virginia anglers! As we head into the heart of winter and wrap up another memorable year on the water, there’s still plenty to be excited about as we enter January.

With water temperatures at the Chesapeake Light Tower and offshore wind farm hovering around 50 degrees, the stage is being set for one of the most exciting offshore fisheries Virginia has to offer — the bluefin tuna season, which reopens January 1. As colder water continues to push bait offshore, anglers are closely watching temperature breaks and deep-water structure east of the Virginia Capes. It won’t be long before reports of giant bluefin start circulating, and anticipation is building fast.

January 1st bluefin tuna regulations revert to the default limits, opening up fantastic opportunities to target these incredible fish! For recreational anglers in the HMS Angling category and charter vessels fishing recreationally, you can keep one bluefin tuna measuring 27 to less than 73 inches in curved fork length per vessel per day or trip. Additionally, you’re allowed one impressive trophy bluefin of 73 inches or larger per vessel per year, as long as the regional trophy subquota remains available.

Meanwhile, the General category for commercial fishing kicks off the January period with the default retention limit of one trophy bluefin (73 inches or larger) per vessel per day or trip. Keep in mind that these limits may adjust throughout the year depending on quotas, so staying updated is key to making the most of your time on the water. For the most current details on General category rules, recreational limits, permits, and everything else, head to the official NOAA Fisheries Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) website. Don’t forget: a valid HMS permit is required to target these powerful bluefin tuna.

For citations, the capture minimum is 100 pounds, while release citations require a fish measuring at least 60 inches. Virginia waters are becoming known for producing true giants, highlighted by the current state record bluefin of 708 pounds, landed in 2020 by Jake Hiles. For many offshore anglers, hooking, fighting, and safely releasing a giant bluefin is the ultimate bucket-list achievement — a test of skill, teamwork, and endurance that often ends with an unforgettable, healthy release at boatside.

Closer to home, striped bass (rockfish) fishing remains solid in the Chesapeake Bay, but anglers should keep in mind that the Bay’s striped bass season closes on December 31. Fish are still being caught in the Bay, rivers, channels, and around structure, especially during low-light periods as bass continue their late-fall movement. Soft plastics, bucktails, and live bait have all been productive, making now the time to capitalize on the final days of the open season.

Once the season closes, catch-and-release fishing for striped bass remains allowed, giving anglers the opportunity to stay on the water while helping protect the resource. Using circle hooks with bait, minimizing fight times, handling fish gently, and keeping them in the water as much as possible all go a long way toward ensuring healthy releases and a strong fishery moving forward.

As the year winds down, VBSF wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Thank you to all the anglers who made 2025 another great year on the water — and here’s wishing all VBSF anglers tight lines, calm seas, and unforgettable catches in 2026.