What is the best time of day to fish in Virginia Beach?

The most reliable windows are the low-light hours around sunrise and sunset. Today in Virginia Beach, sunrise is about 6:08 AM and sunset about 8:15 PM, so the dawn and dusk windows either side of those are your best bets — especially on an overcast day or a moving tide.

Does the moon affect fishing in Virginia Beach?

Yes. The strongest solunar feeding periods and biggest tides come around the new and full moons. The moon is currently a Full Moon (99% illuminated). For the precise solunar major/minor times and tides for your exact spot, use the MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner.

Best Time to Fish in Virginia Beach

Virginia · Wednesday, July 29

🌅

6:08 AM

Sunrise

🌇

8:15 PM

Sunset

🌙

99%

Moon

Today's best windows in Virginia Beach

🌅 Dawn — 5:38 AM to 7:08 AM

The first light window is the most reliable bite of the day for most species — fish move shallow to feed before the sun gets high.

🌇 Dusk — 6:45 PM to 8:45 PM

The last couple hours of light are the second prime window, especially as water cools and bait moves.

🌙 Moon — Full Moon (99% lit)

A bright moon means more overnight feeding, which can slow the midday bite — lean on the dawn and dusk windows. Solunar activity is strongest around the new and full moons.

Sunrise, sunset, and moon phase are computed for Virginia Beach (Virginia); times shown in local time. Best-window ranges are guidance, not guarantees — weather and tides matter too.

Get the precise solunar + tide forecast for your spot

Dawn and dusk are the reliable daily answer, but the exact solunar major/minor periods and the tides for the specific water you're fishing shift day to day. The MyFishingBuds AI Trip Planner pulls live NOAA, USGS, and solunar data to score the best times for your exact Virginia Beach spot.

See the AI Trip Planner →

Best season to fish Virginia Beach

Striped bass fishing peaks in the cooler months, with the trophy migratory rockfish showing up in late fall and early winter as they move down the coast. Cobia arrive in the bay in summer (roughly June through August) and are sight-cast from the bow on calm days — a signature Virginia Beach fishery. Flounder and speckled trout fish the warm months around the inlets and the CBBT, and red drum run the bay and surf, with big bull reds in spring and fall. Offshore canyon fishing for tuna and mahi peaks in summer. Winter tautog fishing around the CBBT and wrecks fills the cold months.

Striped Bass (Rockfish)CobiaRed DrumFlounderSpeckled TroutTautog

Find a fishing buddy in Virginia Beach →How to read the best fishing times →AI Trip Planner →

Plan your next Virginia Beach trip

Free profile, no credit card. Find a buddy, get a live conditions plan, and fish safer.

Get Started Free →