22 public waters in the Tidewater region — 10 lakes/reservoirs and 12 rivers. Every one is public water fishable on a Virginia licence.
See every public fishing venue in Virginia on the map, with boat ramps, camping, parking and full rules for each one.
New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia — Diascund Creek Reservoir is a 1,055-acre lake, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access): A Tidewater municipal water-supply reservoir (the Newport News, Suffolk 'Nansemond', Norfolk and Virginia Beach lakes, plus the Chickahominy and Diascund system) — Largemouth Bass, Chain Pickerel, Black Crappie, Bluegill, yellow and White Perch, Bowfin, and channel and Blue Catfish. Most require a city launch permit or are electric-motor / car-top only.
In New Kent County, Virginia, Kent Lake is a 128-acre lake, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access). Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In New Kent County, Virginia, Davis Pond is a 67-acre lake, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access). Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
New Kent County, Virginia — Old Forge Pond is a 53-acre lake, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access): Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Goddins Pond, a 50-acre lake in New Kent County, Virginia, managed by State Fish and Wildlife: A VDWR-managed small lake or a Department-leased city/county lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish and Crappie, with Rainbow Trout stocked into a number of them through the cool months (the Community Fishing / urban programme). Managed for easy bank and pier access.
Richardson Millpond (31 acres) sits in New Kent County, Virginia, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access). Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
Cattail Swamp Pond, a 30-acre lake in New Kent County, Virginia, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access): Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
New Kent County, Virginia — Tom Brooks Lake is a 25-acre lake, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access): Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
New Kent County, Virginia — Cooks Millpond is a 21-acre lake, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access): A VDWR-managed small lake or a Department-leased city/county lake — Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish and Crappie, with Rainbow Trout stocked into a number of them through the cool months (the Community Fishing / urban programme). Managed for easy bank and pier access.
In New Kent County, Virginia, Taylor Pond is a 20-acre lake, managed by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (public lake / boating access). Public lakes across the Southeast typically hold largemouth and other black bass species, bream (bluegill and redear/shellcracker sunfish), black and white crappie, and blue, channel and flathead catfish -- species commonly documented across the region's public waters by state wildlife agencies.
In King William, Hanover, New Kent and 1 more county in Virginia, Pamunkey River is a 147 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A tidal Virginia river (the tidal James, Chickahominy, Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Appomattox and lower Rappahannock) — a nationally-known trophy blue-Catfish fishery, Largemouth Bass in the grass and cypress, white and Yellow Perch, Crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin and Gar, plus seasonal Striped Bass and one of the East Coast's better American-Shad runs.
Chickahominy River (128 km) flows through Henrico, Charles City, Hanover and 2 more counties in Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A tidal Virginia river (the tidal James, Chickahominy, Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Appomattox and lower Rappahannock) — a nationally-known trophy blue-Catfish fishery, Largemouth Bass in the grass and cypress, white and Yellow Perch, Crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin and Gar, plus seasonal Striped Bass and one of the East Coast's better American-Shad runs.
In Gloucester, York, King and Queen and 2 more counties in Virginia, York River is a 36 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A tidal Virginia river (the tidal James, Chickahominy, Pamunkey, Mattaponi, Appomattox and lower Rappahannock) — a nationally-known trophy blue-Catfish fishery, Largemouth Bass in the grass and cypress, white and Yellow Perch, Crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin and Gar, plus seasonal Striped Bass and one of the East Coast's better American-Shad runs.
Diascund Creek (14 km) flows through New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Ware Creek runs 10 km through James City and New Kent Counties, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
King William and New Kent Counties, Virginia — Cohoke Mill Creek is a 2 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Beaverdam Creek runs 8 km through New Kent and James City Counties, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
White Oak Swamp River (9 km) flows through Henrico, Charles City and New Kent Counties, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Matadequin Creek runs 8 km through Hanover and New Kent Counties, Virginia, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
New Kent County, Virginia — Schiminoe Creek is a 8 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
King William and New Kent Counties, Virginia — Jacks Creek is a 3 km stream, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water): A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
In New Kent, Hanover and King William Counties, Virginia, Black Creek is a 7 km river or creek, managed by Commonwealth of Virginia (public / navigable water). A Virginia smallmouth river (the upper James, the Shenandoah and its forks, the Maury, Cowpasture, Jackson and Rappahannock) — Smallmouth Bass on the ledges and grass beds, Redbreast Sunfish ('redeyes'), Rock Bass, and a strong Muskellunge fishery on the James and Shenandoah. Classic wade-and-float bronzeback water.
Across its mapped waters, New Kent County holds 21 species on PiscaMaps, including Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Black Crappie, Blue Catfish, Redear Sunfish and Smallmouth Bass.
Ramps, put-ins and species for every water — plus the carp layer no other US app has.
Open the Virginia map Join PiscaMapsOne Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources freshwater fishing licence covers every public water in the state — resident annual about $24, non-resident annual about $47, with 1-day and 5-day short-term options. A separate trout licence (~$24 resident) is required from 1 October to 15 June to fish designated stocked trout waters, plus a ~$5 National Forest permit on national-forest stocked water. Below the fall line, tidal water needs a saltwater licence instead. Virginia residents 65+ can buy a discounted or free licence. Buy at GoOutdoorsVirginia.com.