The Lynnhaven River and Lynnhaven Inlet system is a tidal estuary on the south side of the lower Chesapeake Bay, just inside Cape Henry. It’s a mix of open river, deep channels, oyster bars, grass flats, marsh creeks, and skinny backwaters — all packed into a relatively small footprint within the city of Virginia Beach.
That structure diversity is what makes the Lynnhaven so productive. In a single morning we can fish a grass edge for puppy drum, work a deep dock for sheepshead, drift the channel for flounder, and pole into a backwater for speckled trout.
The Lynnhaven also acts as a feeder to the lower Chesapeake Bay. Fish that move into the Bay from the ocean — cobia, bull drum, sheepshead — often stage in or around the Lynnhaven Inlet before pushing further in. That gives our trips a strategic advantage most oceanfront-launching charters don’t have.
Skinny-water grass flats and marsh creeks that hold puppy drum and trout in the warmer months. The Southern Cross’s modified V hull lets us get back into water bigger boats can’t reach.
The mouth of the system, where the river meets the Chesapeake Bay. A high-traffic feeding area for predators, especially during tide changes. Strong producer for striped bass in the cooler months.
Sheepshead and tautog hold tight to structure throughout the river system. We work them with the trolling motor on spot lock.
Flounder country. Drift fishing with bait in the right tide is hard to beat.
A productive zone where the Lynnhaven opens into the Bay. Mixed bag fishing depending on season.
For anglers who want a focused trip in the Lynnhaven without venturing into the Bay, we run a dedicated Lynnhaven Inlet Puppy Drum & Trout charter:
This is our most popular half-day trip and one of the best ways to experience the Lynnhaven if you’ve never fished it. Light tackle, scenic water, steady action.
We offer trips for every angler, from quick four-hour runs to full eight-hour days in the Chesapeake Bay. Most customers prefer the 6-hour or 8-hour trips.
Speckled trout warm up first, followed by puppy drum and the early sheepshead push. Flounder start to show in late spring.
Peak season. Cobia move through the Bay just outside the inlet. Flounder, sheepshead, and bluefish all biting hard. Best variety of the year.
Trophy trout time. Puppy drum strong. Striped bass appear as water cools. Underrated season, fewer crowds, better fishing.
Peak season for tuna fishing. Quieter time but a real one for hardcore anglers.
Ready to see why people keep coming back? Call Captain Tom directly or send us an email and we’ll find a date that works.
