Chincoteague Bay is the largest body of water within Maryland's Coastal Bays system, covering approximately 72.6 square miles or 46,483 acres. This expansive, shallow bay is a polyhaline estuary, meaning it maintains a consistently high salinity level, which supports a robust inshore saltwater fishery. The bay's waters are bordered by both Worcester County, Maryland, and Accomack County, Virginia, offering extensive opportunities for recreational angling from both shore and boat. Its protected waters provide a haven from ocean swells, making it a popular destination for family fishing trips, crabbing, and targeting a variety of popular sportfish throughout the year.
Learn what type of fish are at Chincoteague Bay and what's needed to catch them.
Micropogonias undulatus
Scomber scombrus
Chaetodipterus faber
Pogonias cromis
Centropristis striata
Pomatomus saltatrix
Rachycentron canadum
Mycteroperca microlepis
Balistes capriscus
Elops saurus
Selene vomer
Lutjanus griseus
Menticirrhus saxatilis
Sphoeroides maculatus
Trachinotus falcatus
Orthopristis chrysoptera
Lagodon rhomboides
Sciaenops ocellatus
Carcharhinus plumbeus
Mycteroperca phenax
Stenotomus chrysops
Archosargus probatocephalus
Paralichthys lethostigma
Menticirrhus americanus
Squalus acanthias
Leiostomus xanthurus
Cynoscion nebulosus
Morone saxatilis
Paralichthys dentatus
Tautoga onitis
Cynoscion regalis
Learn how to get on Chincoteague Bay. Uncover great fishing access points, boat ramps, and all the facilities you need for an unforgettable day on the water. Some locations shown may border or include private property. Always check property boundaries and applicable regulations before visiting. onWater's Public & Private Land layer can help you plan your access with confidence.
See public and private land boundaries along the water, turn on private parcels with owner details to know where permission is required, and find land-trust parcels that offer permitted fishing access.
What you need to float or boat Chincoteague Bay, and when to apply.
Assateague bayside campsites
Registration · Overnight trips · Required year-round
Paddlers camping at Assateague's bayside canoe-in sites need a backcountry permit, bought in person at the Maryland ranger station.
Checked Nov 4, 2026 with Assateague Island National Seashore
When using any type of watercraft to access a body of water, it is important to follow all federal, state, and local rules and regulations. These rules and regulations include boat permitting and licensing, invasive species inspections and stamps, life jacket and PFD rules, motor size and horsepower restrictions, noise limitations, restrictions on personal watercraft, and many more. Visit the web link below for the most current rules and regulations for this body of water.
Virginia uses a freshwater-saltwater demarcation line on tidal waters to determine which licence and which agency's rules apply. Saltwater regulations are set by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, while the Department of Wildlife Resources handles freshwater rules; some tidal rivers have joint or overlapping zones. The DWR freshwater regulations page maps the demarcation lines so you can confirm which rules cover your exact spot.
Once you fish beyond Virginia's state waters, NOAA Fisheries and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council set the rules for species such as summer flounder, black sea bass, and scup. For-hire vessels fishing federal waters need a Greater Atlantic Region Charter/Party Permit, and any vessel targeting tuna, billfish, swordfish, or sharks must carry a federal Atlantic Highly Migratory Species permit. Private recreational anglers targeting certain offshore species, including tilefish, also need a free federal permit and must file electronic trip reports.
Most anglers 16 and older need a Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing License, issued by the Department of Wildlife Resources. Anglers who are exempt from the paid licence, such as those fishing from a licensed charter or headboat, must still register with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission's free Fisherman Identification Program. Additional exemptions exist for certain private-property situations; see the VMRC licensing page for the full list.
Size and bag limits apply per species and can change throughout the year for Virginia's saltwater fisheries. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission sets and maintains the current rules, covering popular species such as striped bass, flounder, red drum, and cobia. Check the VMRC recreational fishing page for the current season-by-season table before you head out.
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission oversees recreational shellfish harvesting for oysters, clams, and crabs in state waters, and posts emergency closures when water-quality conditions require them. Areas can close due to rainfall-driven bacterial contamination, biotoxins, or other public-health concerns, and those closures can change quickly. Check the VMRC website for current closure notices and consumption advisories before harvesting any shellfish.
The onWater Fish app keeps this water's access points, species and conditions in your pocket, with the tools you use once you're there.
Download the map around Chincoteague Bay to use it offline when coverage drops.
Keep a private fishing journal for Chincoteague Bay to find where and when fish are biting for you.
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On open water, wind and tide matter as much as the weather. See the best times to fish Chincoteague Bay and check the marine forecast before you launch.
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onWater Fish gives you everything you need to plan smarter, fish better, and own every trip from first cast to last.
