Looking for a special outdoor family activity that pairs excitement and relaxation without breaking the budget? Visit a Virginia Beach fishing pier. Virginia Beach boasts four fishing piers, each with its own unique atmosphere and view. As each pier is already licensed, no fishing licenses are required. Just show up and be prepared to have fun!
A Pier for Everyone!
The Sea Gull Pier on the southernmost rock island of the Chespeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is located three and a half miles out in the Chesapeake Bay. While fishing here, the family can enjoy the newly renovated on-site restaurant and watch recreational boats, massive freighters, and impressive U.S. Navy ships stream in and out of the bay. To the delight of pier anglers, there is also an ever-changing variety of fish swimming past the CBBT each season as they enter and leave the world-famous Chesapeake Bay.
The Lynnhaven Fishing Pier,located just east of Lynnhaven Inlet, is the longest wooden pier on the East Coast and is noted for a strong late summer and fall run of Norfolk spot. Family owned and operated since 1956, this pier is a great place to view spectacular bay sunsets and the beautiful night lights of the CBBT. While the pier is fully open, storm reconstruction should be completed by September restoring the pier to its original full length.
At the oceanfront, the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier is easily accessible at 15 Street in the heart of the resort strip.This pier features a season-long variety of saltwater fish including bluefish, flounder and croaker. Even larger ocean inhabitants make periodic visits, and the antics of the local dolphin population provide seasonal entertainment. Squadrons of pelicans are frequent visitors to this surf zone.
The southernmost pier in Virginia Beach is Little Island or Sandbridge Pier. Interestingly enough, this shortest of Virginia Beach piers is noted for catches of some of the largest fish including king mackerel in summer and red drum in fall and spring. The adjacent park features a family picnic area and free kayak/canoe launch area into protected waters.
Peering at the Details:
Virginia Beach Fishing Pier
Location: 1415 Atlantic Ave. (15th St. and Atlantic Ave.)
Size: 750 feet
Phone: (757) 428-2333
Admission: $8 adults, $4 under 12
Parking: $2 weekdays, $4 weekends
Open: 24 hours a day, Memorial Day – Sept. 30
8 a.m. – 8 p.m. April 1 – Memorial Day and October 1 – November 1
Amenities: bait and tackle sales, restrooms, restaurant, fish cleaning station, snack bar, wheelchair accessible, lights, certified fish weigh station.
Sea Gull Fishing Pier
Location: southernmost island of CBBT
Size: 625 feet
Phone: (757) 318-4818
Admission: Free after you pay $12 tunnel toll
Parking: Free
Open: 24 hours a day, year round
Amenities: restaurant (6 a.m.-10 p.m. summer, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. winter), gift shop, restrooms, fish cleaning station, certified fish weigh station, wheelchair accessible, bait sales and tackle rental, lights.
Lynnhaven Fishing Pier
Location: 2350 Starfish Road
Size: Eventual restored size to be 1480 feet with “T” or diamond on end
Phone: (757) 481-7071
Admission: $8 (12 & older), $6 (6 to 11), Free – 5 and under, Tues & Wed: buy one-get one free days (4 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Parking: Free
Open: 24 hours a day, May 1 through late October
Amenities: bait sales, cart and rod/reel rental, fish cleaning station, restrooms, snack bar, pier net, restaurant adjacent, lights, wheelchair accessible.
Little Island Pier
Location: 3820 S. Sandpiper Rd.
Size: 400 feet
Phone: (757) 426-7200
Admission: $7, 9 and under free
Parking: $5 non-resident, $3 resident
Open: April 15 – October 31, 5:30 a.m. – 10:40 p.m.
November 1 – March 31 (Free), 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Amenities: Snack bar 7 a.m. to dark, adjacent park has vending machines with bait and snacks, restrooms, pier net, wheelchair accessible (Note: there is a fairly steep approach ramp)
So there you have it; four distinctly different piers, each with a unique view and atmosphere. For a special day’s enjoyment of the bay or oceanfront on the planks above the water, why not pack up the family and head out to a Virginia Beach pier. You won’t regret your decision. Be sure to say hello if you see me out there fishing next to you!
Note: The captain’s regular fishing reports will resume with the September 15th post
