Wares Wharf Fishing Times & Tides
The best fishing windows at Wares Wharf are where moving water, low light and the right water temperature overlap. This page puts them on one timeline: NOAA's tide turns, the maximum flood and ebb at Accaceek Point, 0.3 mile southwest of, the nearest NOAA current station (0.5 NM away), the measured water temperature, sunrise and sunset, and the solunar periods — included because anglers ask for them, and labelled as the traditional heuristic they are.
Today’s windows
Tide right now
Water temperature — from Lewisetta, 16.8 NM away
Sun & moon today
Marine forecast — Rappahannock River from Urbanna to Windmill Point
Wares Wharf fishing calendar — next 7 days
| Day | Majors underfoot / overhead | Minors moonrise / moonset | Tides | Sunrise sunset | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Oct 14 | 3:44 am / 4:04 pm | 11:29 am / 8:41 pm | ▲3:53a ▼10:10a ▲4:03p ▼11:08p | 7:15 am 6:32 pm | Waxing crescent 16% |
| Thu Oct 15 | 4:32 am / 4:56 pm | 11:31 am / 11:32 am | ▲4:40a ▼10:49a ▲4:47p ▼11:54p | 7:16 am 6:31 pm | Waxing crescent 24% |
| Fri Oct 16 | 5:24 am / 5:48 pm | 1:14 pm / 10:23 pm | ▲5:28a ▼11:33a ▲5:33p | 7:17 am 6:30 pm | First quarter 32% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 6:12 am / 6:40 pm | 1:57 pm / 11:21 pm | ▼12:42a ▲6:19a ▼12:25p ▲6:24p | 7:18 am 6:28 pm | First quarter 41% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 7:00 am / 7:28 pm | 2:34 pm / — | ▼1:33a ▲7:14a ▼1:24p ▲7:21p | 7:19 am 6:27 pm | First quarter 51% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 7:48 am / 8:16 pm | 3:05 pm / 12:23 am | ▼2:24a ▲8:13a ▼2:25p ▲8:22p | 7:20 am 6:26 pm | First quarter 60% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 8:32 am / 9:00 pm | 3:33 pm / 1:25 am | ▼3:12a ▲9:10a ▼3:25p ▲9:23p | 7:21 am 6:24 pm | Waxing gibbous 69% |
Show the next 53 days
| Day | Majors underfoot / overhead | Minors moonrise / moonset | Tides | Sunrise sunset | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Oct 21 | 9:16 am / 9:44 pm | 3:57 pm / 2:27 am | ▼3:58a ▲10:02a ▼4:22p ▲10:17p | 7:22 am 6:23 pm | Waxing gibbous 78% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 10:00 am / 10:24 pm | 4:21 pm / 3:30 am | ▼4:43a ▲10:46a ▼5:17p ▲11:04p | 7:23 am 6:22 pm | Waxing gibbous 86% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 10:40 am / 11:08 pm | 4:45 pm / 4:33 am | ▼5:27a ▲11:26a ▼6:08p ▲11:48p | 7:24 am 6:20 pm | Waxing gibbous 92% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 11:24 am / — | 5:11 pm / 5:38 am | ▼6:10a ▲12:04p ▼6:57p | 7:25 am 6:19 pm | Full moon 97% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 12:12 pm / — | 5:39 pm / 6:46 am | ▲12:30a ▼6:54a ▲12:42p ▼7:45p | 7:26 am 6:18 pm | Full moon 99% |
| Mon Oct 26 | 1:04 pm / 12:44 am | 6:13 pm / 7:56 am | ▲1:12a ▼7:38a ▲1:22p ▼8:32p | 7:27 am 6:17 pm | Full moon 100% |
| Tue Oct 27 | 2:04 pm / 1:36 am | 6:53 pm / 9:10 am | ▲1:57a ▼8:24a ▲2:05p ▼9:20p | 7:28 am 6:15 pm | Full moon 97% |
| Wed Oct 28 | 3:04 pm / 2:36 am | 7:44 pm / 10:24 am | ▲2:44a ▼9:11a ▲2:53p ▼10:10p | 7:29 am 6:14 pm | Waning gibbous 92% |
| Thu Oct 29 | 4:08 pm / 3:36 am | 8:44 pm / 11:34 am | ▲3:36a ▼10:03a ▲3:45p ▼11:05p | 7:30 am 6:13 pm | Waning gibbous 85% |
| Fri Oct 30 | 5:16 pm / 4:40 am | 9:54 pm / 12:36 pm | ▲4:31a ▼11:00a ▲4:43p | 7:31 am 6:12 pm | Waning gibbous 76% |
| Sat Oct 31 | 6:20 pm / 5:44 am | 11:10 pm / 1:28 pm | ▼12:04a ▲5:31a ▼12:03p ▲5:45p | 7:32 am 6:11 pm | Last quarter 65% |
| Sun Nov 1 | 6:20 pm / 5:44 am | 11:25 pm / 1:10 pm | ▼1:05a ▲5:35a ▼12:12p ▲5:53p | 6:33 am 5:10 pm | Last quarter 53% |
| Mon Nov 2 | 7:12 pm / 6:40 am | — / 1:45 pm | ▼1:06a ▲6:43a ▼1:20p ▲7:04p | 6:34 am 5:09 pm | Last quarter 41% |
| Tue Nov 3 | 8:00 pm / 7:32 am | 12:39 am / 2:14 pm | ▼2:05a ▲7:52a ▼2:26p ▲8:15p | 6:35 am 5:08 pm | Waning crescent 30% |
| Wed Nov 4 | 8:48 pm / 8:16 am | 1:49 am / 2:40 pm | ▼3:00a ▲8:56a ▼3:29p ▲9:17p | 6:36 am 5:07 pm | Waning crescent 20% |
| Thu Nov 5 | 9:32 pm / 9:04 am | 2:57 am / 3:05 pm | ▼3:52a ▲9:50a ▼4:27p ▲10:09p | 6:38 am 5:06 pm | Waning crescent 12% |
| Fri Nov 6 | 10:16 pm / 9:48 am | 4:03 am / 3:30 pm | ▼4:41a ▲10:37a ▼5:21p ▲10:56p | 6:39 am 5:05 pm | Waning crescent 6% |
| Sat Nov 7 | 11:00 pm / 10:32 am | 5:09 am / 3:56 pm | ▼5:27a ▲11:18a ▼6:10p ▲11:38p | 6:40 am 5:04 pm | New moon 2% |
| Sun Nov 8 | 11:48 pm / 11:20 am | 6:13 am / 4:25 pm | ▼6:09a ▲11:57a ▼6:56p | 6:41 am 5:03 pm | New moon 0% |
| Mon Nov 9 | — / 12:08 pm | 7:17 am / 4:58 pm | ▲12:20a ▼6:49a ▲12:35p ▼7:39p | 6:42 am 5:02 pm | New moon 0% |
| Tue Nov 10 | 12:36 am / 1:00 pm | 8:19 am / 5:37 pm | ▲1:02a ▼7:27a ▲1:13p ▼8:19p | 6:43 am 5:01 pm | New moon 2% |
| Wed Nov 11 | 1:24 am / 1:52 pm | 9:17 am / 6:23 pm | ▲1:45a ▼8:04a ▲1:51p ▼8:58p | 6:44 am 5:00 pm | Waxing crescent 6% |
| Thu Nov 12 | 2:16 am / 2:44 pm | 10:09 am / 7:15 pm | ▲2:28a ▼8:41a ▲2:32p ▼9:37p | 6:45 am 4:59 pm | Waxing crescent 11% |
| Fri Nov 13 | 3:08 am / 3:32 pm | 10:55 am / 8:12 pm | ▲3:13a ▼9:20a ▲3:15p ▼10:17p | 6:46 am 4:58 pm | Waxing crescent 18% |
| Sat Nov 14 | 3:56 am / 4:24 pm | 11:33 am / 9:12 pm | ▲3:59a ▼10:03a ▲4:00p ▼10:59p | 6:47 am 4:58 pm | Waxing crescent 25% |
| Sun Nov 15 | 4:44 am / 5:12 pm | 12:06 pm / 10:14 pm | ▲4:45a ▼10:53a ▲4:48p ▼11:44p | 6:48 am 4:57 pm | First quarter 34% |
| Mon Nov 16 | 5:28 am / 5:56 pm | 12:34 pm / 11:16 pm | ▲5:33a ▼11:49a ▲5:39p | 6:49 am 4:56 pm | First quarter 43% |
| Tue Nov 17 | 6:12 am / 6:40 pm | 1:00 pm / — | ▼12:30a ▲6:23a ▼12:49p ▲6:34p | 6:51 am 4:56 pm | First quarter 53% |
| Wed Nov 18 | 6:52 am / 7:20 pm | 12:39 am / 12:18 am | ▼1:17a ▲7:15a ▼1:49p ▲7:33p | 6:52 am 4:55 pm | First quarter 63% |
| Thu Nov 19 | 7:36 am / 8:04 pm | 1:48 pm / 1:20 am | ▼2:04a ▲8:08a ▼2:47p ▲8:31p | 6:53 am 4:54 pm | Waxing gibbous 73% |
| Fri Nov 20 | 8:20 am / 8:48 pm | 2:12 pm / 2:24 am | ▼2:52a ▲8:57a ▼3:44p ▲9:24p | 6:54 am 4:54 pm | Waxing gibbous 82% |
| Sat Nov 21 | 9:04 am / 9:36 pm | 2:39 pm / 3:30 am | ▼3:41a ▲9:43a ▼4:39p ▲10:14p | 6:55 am 4:53 pm | Waxing gibbous 89% |
| Sun Nov 22 | 9:56 am / 10:28 pm | 3:10 pm / 4:39 am | ▼4:31a ▲10:27a ▼5:32p ▲11:01p | 6:56 am 4:53 pm | Waxing gibbous 95% |
| Mon Nov 23 | 10:52 am / 11:24 pm | 3:48 pm / 5:52 am | ▼5:21a ▲11:11a ▼6:23p ▲11:48p | 6:57 am 4:52 pm | Full moon 99% |
| Tue Nov 24 | 11:48 am / — | 4:34 pm / 7:05 am | ▼6:12a ▲11:57a ▼7:13p | 6:58 am 4:52 pm | Full moon 100% |
| Wed Nov 25 | 12:56 pm / 12:24 am | 5:30 pm / 8:17 am | ▲12:36a ▼7:04a ▲12:45p ▼8:03p | 6:59 am 4:51 pm | Full moon 98% |
| Thu Nov 26 | 2:00 pm / 1:28 am | 6:37 pm / 9:23 am | ▲1:27a ▼7:56a ▲1:38p ▼8:55p | 7:00 am 4:51 pm | Waning gibbous 94% |
| Fri Nov 27 | 3:04 pm / 2:32 am | 7:50 pm / 10:19 am | ▲2:21a ▼8:51a ▲2:34p ▼9:48p | 7:01 am 4:51 pm | Waning gibbous 88% |
| Sat Nov 28 | 4:08 pm / 3:32 am | 9:06 pm / 11:05 am | ▲3:19a ▼9:50a ▲3:34p ▼10:44p | 7:02 am 4:50 pm | Waning gibbous 79% |
| Sun Nov 29 | 5:04 pm / 4:28 am | 10:21 pm / 11:43 am | ▲4:19a ▼10:53a ▲4:36p ▼11:41p | 7:03 am 4:50 pm | Last quarter 69% |
| Mon Nov 30 | 5:52 pm / 5:24 am | 11:33 pm / 12:14 pm | ▲5:20a ▼11:59a ▲5:39p | 7:04 am 4:50 pm | Last quarter 57% |
| Tue Dec 1 | 6:40 pm / 6:12 am | — / 12:42 pm | ▼12:39a ▲6:24a ▼1:05p ▲6:45p | 7:05 am 4:49 pm | Last quarter 46% |
| Wed Dec 2 | 7:28 pm / 6:56 am | 12:42 am / 1:07 pm | ▼1:35a ▲7:28a ▼2:09p ▲7:50p | 7:06 am 4:49 pm | Last quarter 35% |
| Thu Dec 3 | 1:40 am / 7:44 am | 1:49 am / 1:32 pm | ▼2:28a ▲8:30a ▼3:11p ▲8:52p | 7:07 am 4:49 pm | Waning crescent 25% |
| Fri Dec 4 | 8:56 pm / 8:28 am | 2:55 am / 1:57 pm | ▼3:20a ▲9:25a ▼4:09p ▲9:47p | 7:08 am 4:49 pm | Waning crescent 17% |
| Sat Dec 5 | 9:44 pm / 9:12 am | 4:01 am / 2:25 pm | ▼4:10a ▲10:13a ▼5:03p ▲10:35p | 7:09 am 4:49 pm | Waning crescent 10% |
| Sun Dec 6 | 10:28 pm / 10:00 am | 5:05 am / 2:57 pm | ▼4:58a ▲10:56a ▼5:52p ▲11:19p | 7:09 am 4:49 pm | Waning crescent 5% |
| Mon Dec 7 | 11:20 pm / 10:52 am | 6:08 am / 3:34 pm | ▼5:43a ▲11:35a ▼6:37p | 7:10 am 4:49 pm | New moon 2% |
| Tue Dec 8 | — / 11:44 am | 7:08 am / 4:18 pm | ▲12:02a ▼6:25a ▲12:12p ▼7:18p | 7:11 am 4:49 pm | New moon 0% |
| Wed Dec 9 | 12:12 am / 12:36 pm | 8:03 am / 5:08 pm | ▲12:43a ▼7:04a ▲12:50p ▼7:56p | 7:12 am 4:49 pm | New moon 1% |
| Thu Dec 10 | 1:00 am / 1:28 pm | 8:51 am / 6:03 pm | ▲1:25a ▼7:42a ▲1:29p ▼8:33p | 7:13 am 4:49 pm | New moon 3% |
| Fri Dec 11 | 1:52 am / 2:16 pm | 9:32 am / 7:03 pm | ▲2:07a ▼8:19a ▲2:08p ▼9:08p | 7:14 am 4:49 pm | Waxing crescent 7% |
| Sat Dec 12 | 2:40 am / 3:04 pm | 10:06 am / 8:04 pm | ▲2:48a ▼8:58a ▲2:49p ▼9:42p | 7:14 am 4:49 pm | Waxing crescent 12% |
Majors are the two hours centred on the moon overhead and underfoot; minors the hour around moonrise and moonset — computed for 37.873, -76.783. Tides are NOAA CO-OPS predictions for station 8635985 (feet above MLLW, local time); table generated 2026-10-14.
What’s biting on the lower Bay and Tangier Sound — season by season
Typical patterns for planning, not a promise. Size, creel and season rules change every year; check the current Maryland or Virginia regulations before you keep anything.
| Species | Season | Water temp | Where and how |
|---|---|---|---|
| Striped bass (rockfish) | Oct–May peak Nov–Jan | 45–60 °F | Ocean-run fish at the Bay mouth and Bridge-Tunnel in winter; spring run up the rivers; resident fish on the CBBT pilings after dark in summer. |
| Cobia | late May–Sep peak Jun–Jul | 70–82 °F | Sight-casting and chumming from the Bay mouth up to Smith Point. |
| Red drum | May–Oct peak Jun, Sep | 65–80 °F | Bull reds on the Eastern Shore shoals (Latimer, Nine Foot) and the CBBT; puppy drum in the creeks and on the flats. |
| Speckled trout | Apr–Jun, Sep–Dec peak Oct–Nov | 55–75 °F | Mobjack Bay, the Poquoson flats, Lynnhaven and Tangier Sound; the biggest fish come in the fall cool-down. |
| Spanish mackerel & bluefish | Jun–Oct peak Jul–Sep | 68–80 °F | Trolling and casting metal on the channel edges and tide rips. |
| Summer flounder | May–Oct peak Jun–Jul | 62–78 °F | The CBBT, Lynnhaven and Oyster; drift the inlets on moving water. |
| Croaker & spot | May–Oct peak Jul–Sep | 65–82 °F | River mouths and Bay bottom on bloodworm and squid. |
| Black drum | Apr–Jun, Oct peak May | 58–72 °F | Big spring fish off Cape Charles and Fisherman Island on clams. |
| Sheepshead | Jun–Sep peak Jul–Aug | 70–82 °F | CBBT pilings and rock piles with fiddler crabs. |
| Tautog | Oct–Dec, Mar–Apr peak Nov, Apr | 48–62 °F | Structure fishing on the CBBT and wrecks when the water is cool. |
| Blue catfish | Year-round peak Mar–Nov | 50–85 °F | The James and Rappahannock, from brackish water well up into the fresh reaches. |
Reading the windows
Moving water first. Bay fish feed when the current runs: the hour either side of high and low water at the station, and the maximum flood and ebb at points, bridges, channel edges and creek mouths. Slack water is for moving the boat, not fishing.
Then light. First light and the last hour before dark out-fish the middle of the day in every season, and in summer they are often the only reliable bite in the shallows.
Temperature sets the cast. The measured water temperature tells you which species are in play (see the season table) and how fast to fish: slow and deep below 55 °F, fast and shallow above 75. In July and August the deep water runs out of oxygen — fish shallower than the oxygen line, not where the chart is deepest.
The moon is a tiebreaker. Solunar majors and minors are a traditional heuristic. We star (★) the ones that line up with a tide turn, a current maximum or dawn and dusk — those are worth planning around; the rest are a reason to fish a little longer.
Wind and structure. A wind blowing onto a point or shoreline stacks bait against it; a wind against the current stands waves up on a channel edge. The chart shows the depths and edges; the forecast above says which way it will blow.
Questions anglers ask
What are the major and minor fishing times?
They come from the solunar theory: feeding is said to peak when the moon is overhead or underfoot (the two-hour 'major' periods) and to pick up around moonrise and moonset (the one-hour 'minors'). It is a traditional heuristic, not a forecast — on the Chesapeake, moving water, light and water temperature matter more. Where a major period lines up with a tide change or dawn, that is the window to be on the water.
Does the tide matter more than the moon?
Yes. Bay fish feed when water moves: the hour either side of high and low water, and the maximum flood and ebb at points, bridges and channel edges. The current predictions on this page show when that happens near the station.
What water temperature is best?
Most Bay species are active between about 55 and 75 °F. Below 50 °F expect a slow winter bite at the Bay mouth; above 80 °F fish shallow, early and late, because the deep water runs low on oxygen in summer.
Where do the times on this page come from?
Tides and currents are NOAA CO-OPS predictions for the named station; water temperature is a live reading from the nearest NOAA sensor; sun and moon times are computed for the station's position. Nothing here is estimated from a weather model.
Are the species seasons official?
No — they are typical patterns for planning. Size, creel and season rules change every year; check the current Maryland or Virginia regulations before you keep anything.