Southern Branch Elizabeth River Fishing Map & Spots (VA/NC)

Hatch outlook

Willow fly (summer mayfly)Active window

Typical here: Apr 1 – Oct 31 · recurring broods all summer — the heart of it is June–July, famously around July 4th on the Tennessee River lakes; any one hatch lasts days to ~3 weeks

dunhatches at dusk — clouds of bugs just before dark, continuing into the night — after hatching they fly to shoreline foliage — trees near lighted docks get covered; the feeding zone is the water under bug-loaded overhanging bushes and willows
spinnerthe following days: mating, egg drop and spent flies falling from the overhangs — the bream bite under the bushes runs as long as the bugs do

A two-level event: bream stack under the bug trees, and the big bass stack under the bream. Fish the same bushes twice — small for bream, big for the bass just outside them.

Crickets or small poppers under a float tight to the bug-covered bushes for bream; beetle spins and hair jigs just under the surface; for the bass, run a bluegill-pattern topwater or squarebill down the outside edge of the overhangs.

The event happens over under and just outside overhanging willows and bushes on steep banks; trees near lighted docks after dark

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Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours here are interpolated from real agency depth surveys (state DNR / USACE). Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Southern Branch Elizabeth River

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Southern Branch Elizabeth River on the board.

Fishing Southern Branch Elizabeth River: what the data says

12 km of the Southern Branch Elizabeth River navigation corridor, with channel depths from USACE hydrographic survey. The river tops out around 60 ft. The depth chart is built from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the humps, channels and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:

On the chart, Southern Branch Elizabeth River draws 2,959 acres inside 20.2 miles of shoreline. With a shoreline index of 2.7, this water is all arms and coves — edge habitat well beyond its acreage. 29% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft) — cover, weeds and forage water. Figure 7.9 mi of water from one end to the other, 2.2 mi at the beam. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Elizabeth River, 7 mi north of here.

Striped Bass fishing at Southern Branch Elizabeth River

Come spring, look for striped bass tight to the bank in 5 to 20 ft. Expect a summer slide to 25 to 60 ft, then a winter hold in 20 to 50 ft. Start at Outside-bend hole (mile 2.6). It's a creek channel holding about 27 ft of water and rates prime come winter. Prime time lands in early morning and the evening. A flutter spoon (deep) or an umbrella rig (trolled) is the honest summer answer here.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	5 to 20 ft	dawn & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) (10 ft)	Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn)
Summer	25 to 60 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 9.1) (51 ft)	Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled)
Fall	10 to 35 ft	dawn & dusk	Channel bar / point (mile 7.2) (42 ft)	Topwater walker, Jerkbait
Winter	20 to 50 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 2.6) (27 ft)	Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon

Blue Catfish fishing at Southern Branch Elizabeth River

Early season blue catfish use the shallows, holding in 5 to 25 ft. Summer is a 10 to 40 ft game here, winter a 20 to 50 ft one. The chart's best answer is Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) — creek channel, 10 ft, prime for spring. Best bite is early morning and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	5 to 25 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) (10 ft)
Summer	10 to 40 ft	dawn & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) (10 ft)
Fall	15 to 45 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 2.6) (27 ft)
Winter	20 to 50 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 2.6) (27 ft)

Flathead Catfish fishing at Southern Branch Elizabeth River

Spring puts flathead catfish in skinny water — 5 to 20 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 20 to 45 ft. Summer flathead catfish concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5), a prime-rated creek channel around 10 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around after dark and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	5 to 20 ft	night & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) (10 ft)
Summer	8 to 30 ft	night & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) (10 ft)
Fall	10 to 35 ft	night & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) (10 ft)
Winter	20 to 45 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 2.6) (27 ft)

Channel Catfish fishing at Southern Branch Elizabeth River

The spring pattern is a shallow one: channel catfish in 3 to 12 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 25 ft, wintering in 20 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5), a creek channel in the 10 ft range, prime in summer. Time it for after dark and the evening.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at
Spring	3 to 12 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) (10 ft)
Summer	8 to 25 ft	night & dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) (10 ft)
Fall	10 to 30 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) (10 ft)
Winter	20 to 40 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 2.6) (27 ft)

White Perch fishing at Southern Branch Elizabeth River

In spring, white perch run shallow here, mostly 4 to 15 ft. Midsummer fish sit out in 15 to 40 ft before dropping to 20 to 50 ft for winter. Spring white perch concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5), a good-rated creek channel around 10 ft. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. You won't need more than a small spinner rig drifted or a 1/8 oz jigging spoon most summer days.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	4 to 15 ft	dusk	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) (10 ft)	Small jig + curly tail, Inline spinner (silver)
Summer	15 to 40 ft	dawn	open water	Small spinner rig drifted, 1/8 oz jigging spoon
Fall	15 to 45 ft	midday	Current seam (mile 9.1) (51 ft)	Jigging spoon (small), Blade bait
Winter	20 to 50 ft	dusk	Current seam (mile 9.1) (51 ft)	Small rattle spoon, Tungsten + spikes

Longnose Gar fishing at Southern Branch Elizabeth River

Spring puts longnose gar in skinny water — 2 to 10 ft is the zone. As the season builds they drop to 1 to 12 ft, wintering in 10 to 25 ft. Fall longnose gar concentrate at Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5), a prime-rated creek channel around 10 ft. Warm-month bites cluster around midday and the evening. A rope lure or a small white spinner covers the summer program.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 10 ft	midday	open water	Rope lure (hookless nylon), Inline spinner (slow)
Summer	1 to 12 ft	midday & dusk	open water	Rope lure, Small white spinner
Fall	4 to 15 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) (10 ft)	Rope lure, Small jerkbait (pause-heavy)
Winter	10 to 25 ft	midday	Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5) (10 ft)

Notable structure

Count 5 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Current seam (mile 9.1), sits near 51 ft.

Current seam (mile 9.1): current seam, around 51 ft
Channel bar / point (mile 7.2): point, around 42 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 4.8): creek channel, around 35 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 2.6): creek channel, around 27 ft
Outside-bend hole (mile 0.5): creek channel, around 10 ft

Southern Branch Elizabeth River fishing regulations

Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Virginia waters are set by the Virginia DWR — and special regulations can apply to Southern Branch Elizabeth River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Virginia fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Southern Branch Elizabeth River?

Southern Branch Elizabeth River is about 60 ft (18 m) deep at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real state fisheries GPS surveys, so the contours reflect measured depths.

What fish are in Southern Branch Elizabeth River?

Anglers target striped bass, blue catfish, flathead catfish, channel catfish, white perch, longnose gar on Southern Branch Elizabeth River. This isn't a survey of the water — none is published for it — but an informed estimate from the species common to the region, narrowed by this water's depth, size and each species' range.

Where is the best fishing spot on Southern Branch Elizabeth River?

Outside-bend hole (mile 2.6) is the top-rated area: a creek channel in about 27 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in winter. Scroll up to the map for the complete spot list by species and season.

When is the best time to fish Southern Branch Elizabeth River?

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.

What are the fishing regulations for Southern Branch Elizabeth River?

Fishing on Southern Branch Elizabeth River is regulated by the Virginia DWR. Check the official Virginia regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.

Nearby waters

Elizabeth River 7 mi · North Landing River 20 mi · Back Bay 23 mi, VA · Mobjack Bay 37 mi, VA · Currituck Sound 37 mi, NC/VA · North River 39 mi, NC/VA · Roanoke River 75 mi, NC · Little Wicomico River 76 mi, VA/MD/DE · Lake Chesdin 80 mi, VA · Lake Mattamuskeet 88 mi, NC · Lake Nottoway 97 mi, VA · Lake Gaston 99 mi, NC/VA

See how Southern Branch Elizabeth River stacks up: best channel catfish lakes in Virginia · best striped bass lakes in Virginia · best flathead catfish lakes in Virginia · best blue catfish lakes in Virginia

Browse all Virginia fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: state fisheries survey programs. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.