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Fishing Mobjack Bay: what the data says
21,320-acre bay near Gloucester. The water tops out around 27 ft. The depth chart is built from real NOAA hydrographic survey soundings (depths referenced to low tide), so the channels, holes and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Below is the species-by-species picture, pulled from the same data the map uses.
Striped Bass fishing at Mobjack Bay
In spring, striped bass run shallow here, mostly 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 8 to 27 ft in summer and finish the year down in 8 to 27 ft. The spot to know is East River inflow, a inflow / creek mouth in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a flutter spoon (deep) or a umbrella rig (trolled) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 8 to 27 ft | dawn & dusk | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 8 to 27 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 8 to 27 ft | midday | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Red Drum (Redfish) fishing at Mobjack Bay
In spring, red drum (redfish) run shallow here, mostly 1 to 8 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 2 to 12 ft, and winter fish settle into 3 to 15 ft. The spot to know is East River inflow, a inflow / creek mouth in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for red drum (redfish) in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A weedless gold spoon or a paddletail swimbait covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 8 ft | dawn & dusk | Gold weedless spoon, Paddletail on 1/4 oz jighead |
| Summer | 2 to 12 ft | dawn & dusk | Weedless gold spoon, Paddletail swimbait |
| Fall | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & midday | 1/2 oz spoon (schools), Big paddletail |
| Winter | 3 to 15 ft | midday & dawn | Scented soft plastic on 1/8 oz head, Slow-rolled paddletail |
Spotted Seatrout fishing at Mobjack Bay
Start shallow in spring: spotted seatrout sit in 2 to 10 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 4 to 15 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 20 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Shallow bay flat: a weed flat around 2 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. A popping cork + shrimp or a 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (deep grass edge) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 10 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Suspending twitchbait |
| Summer | 4 to 15 ft | dawn | Popping cork + shrimp, 1/4 oz jighead + paddletail (deep grass edge) |
| Fall | 3 to 12 ft | dawn | Popping cork rig, Soft plastic jerkbait |
| Winter | 5 to 20 ft | midday & dusk | Suspending twitchbait (long pauses), Scented plastic crawled on bottom |
Summer Flounder (Fluke) fishing at Mobjack Bay
Start shallow in spring: summer flounder (fluke) sit in 5 to 25 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 6 to 27 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 27 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Old creek channel: a creek channel around 19 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in midday and early morning. A bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed) or a gulp grub on jighead covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Bucktail + Gulp swimming mullet, Hi-lo rig + squid strip |
| Summer | 6 to 27 ft | midday & dawn | Bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed), Gulp grub on jighead |
| Fall | 7 to 27 ft | midday | Heavier bucktail on the lumps, Big Gulp 6" grub |
| Winter | 8 to 27 ft | midday | Slow bottom rig + strip |
Bluefish fishing at Mobjack Bay
Start shallow in spring: bluefish sit in 3 to 20 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 5 to 27 ft, and by winter most fish are in 8 to 27 ft. East River inflow is the standout, a inflow / creek mouth at roughly 15 ft, rated prime for fall bluefish. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 27 ft | dawn & dusk | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 8 to 27 ft | midday | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 26 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 20 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 19 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 19 ft
- Shallow feeding flat: feeding flat, around 19 ft
- East River inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 15 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 11 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
- Marina / dock area: dock line, around 5 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 4 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 2 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Mobjack Bay?
Mobjack Bay is about 27 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real NOAA hydrographic surveys (charted soundings referenced to low tide), so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Mobjack Bay?
Anglers target striped bass, red drum (redfish), spotted seatrout, summer flounder (fluke), bluefish on Mobjack Bay.
Where is the best fishing spot on Mobjack Bay?
East River inflow is the top-rated area: a inflow / creek mouth in about 15 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Mobjack Bay?
For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Back Bay · Lake Nottoway · Rappahannock River · James River · Lake Orange · Lake Gordon
Browse all Virginia fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.