Chincoteague Inlet fishing today
- Best time tomorrow 4:20–6:20 pm good day · 7/10
- Tide now 2.4 ft ↑ rising · high 10:18 pm (3.0 ft)
- Waves · water 3.0 ft · 62 °F slight · 6.4 s from the east
- Wind · air 6 mph · 58 °F from the ENE, gusts 12 · overcast
- Sun 7:23 am–6:07 pm 10 h 44 min of daylight
- Moon 91% · 7:47 pm waning gibbous · rises at 7:47 pm
- Coefficient 86 average coefficient · spring tides Oct 26–28
- Major solunar period 1:36–3:36 am today's activity: medium
Today in Chincoteague Inlet there are high tides at 10:03 am (3.9 ft) and 10:18 pm (3.0 ft) and low tides at 3:24 am and 4:21 pm. Tide coefficient 86. Right now the tide is rising toward the high tide at 10:18 pm. The sun rises at 7:23 am and sets at 6:07 pm: 10 h 44 min of daylight. The moon is 91% illuminated (waning gibbous) and rises at 7:47 pm. Major solunar periods run from 1:36 am to 3:36 am and from 2:08 pm to 4:08 pm. The next spring tides arrive from October 26 to 28. The sea is slight, with 3.0 ft waves. There's a light breeze from the east-northeast (6 mph). Overcast, 58 °F.
Fishing in Chincoteague Inlet today
Best time to fish
Solunar activity today: medium- Low tide at 4:21 pm
- Major period 2:08–4:08 pm
- Steady pressure (30.36 inHg), light onshore wind (8 mph) and some swell (3.0 ft waves) to stir the water
- Waning gibbous: a bit more activity than at the quarters
- Highest tide coefficient today: 86 (average tides)
Your day at a glance
The best window, 3:20 pm to 4:10 pm, combines the 4:21 pm low tide, a major period, a light onshore breeze and some swell. Also worth a try from 2:20 am to 3:40 am, with the 3:24 am low tide, a major period and some swell, though with rising pressure. Also worth a try from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, with the 10:03 am high tide, moonset and some swell, though with rising pressure.
Species with the most records nearby: summer flounder, longfin inshore squid, weakfish and spot. October is one of the months when these are seen most: weakfish and bluefish. What you can catch
About Chincoteague InletThe inlet
3.8 mi from Chincoteague. Tides, weather and sun in Chincoteague →
Currents in an inlet can be very strong on the incoming and outgoing tide: take care fishing from the jetties.
Data from OpenStreetMap and Wikidata: some may be missing or out of date. Check the rules and hours on site. Wikipedia · Fix on OpenStreetMap
Beach day in Chincoteague Inlet
Is it a beach day?
- Mostly sunny
- Cross-shore breeze (10 mph)
- UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen
- Low tide at 4:21 pm: more sand
- Feels like 66 °F: a bit cool
- Swim with care: 3.3 ft waves every 7 s
Today, hour by hour
- Swimming Use care · 3.3 ft
3.3 ft waves every 7 s: swim with care and stay where you can stand. Low rip current risk. Always follow the lifeguard's flags.
- Water 62 °F
Cold: ease in slowly.
- Sun & sunscreen UV 4 · SPF 30
Max UV 4 (moderate): SPF 30 sunscreen, reapplied every 2 hours.
- Wind 10 mph
Cross-shore breeze (10 mph).
- Tide & sand 3:24 am
Low tide at 3:24 am and 4:21 pm: that's when there's the most sand. High tide at 10:03 am and 10:18 pm.
We don't have data on jellyfish, sargassum or beach closures: ask the lifeguard or check with the local beach authority. How it works · The next 7 days
Beaches near Chincoteague Inlet
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Wallops Beach 3.7 mi · SW
- Parking
Water quality: check the official beach advisories for Virginia (Virginia Department of Health).
Named beaches within 6.2 mi, nearest first. Amenities from OpenStreetMap: some may be missing or out of date. View on OpenStreetMap · Add or fix on OpenStreetMap
Beaches and amenities: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Webcams near Chincoteague Inlet
Webcams provided by windy.com — add a webcam
Tides in Chincoteague Inlet
Today's high and low tides
- ▼ Low tide 3:24 am 0.0 ft
- ▲ High tide 10:03 am 3.9 ft · coef. 86
- ▼ Low tide 4:21 pm 0.3 ft
- ▲ Next high tide 10:18 pm 3.0 ft · coef. 84
↑ Rising The tide is rising. 2 h 4 min to high tide at 10:18 pm.
Tide coefficient 86 for the 10:03 am high tide and 84 for the 10:18 pm high tide. Average coefficient. The water rises and falls 3.9 ft between the highest high and the lowest low: a large range for this place. 70 is an average tide here; 90 and above means spring tides; below 45, neap tides. What is the tide coefficient?
2026 extremes: the highest tide of the year is on October 28 (3.9 ft) and the lowest, on February 2 (-0.6 ft).
Semidiurnal: two high and two low tides a day, of similar height.
Heights above mean lower low water (MLLW), the zero of US nautical charts. Astronomical prediction: wind and air pressure can raise or lower the water by a few inches, and more in a storm. Not for navigation. MLLW
Tide coefficient and range in October
The biggest tides of the month came from October 26 to 28 (coefficient 87, 3.9 ft range). The smallest, from October 18 to 19 (coefficient 43, 2.0 ft).
Tide and solunar table · this week
| Day | Sun | Tide 1 | Tide 2 | Tide 3 | Tide 4 | Coef. | Moon | Major periods | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today, Wed 28 | 7:23 am · 6:07 pm | Low tide 3:24 am · 0.0 ft | High tide 10:03 am · 3.9 ft | Low tide 4:21 pm · 0.3 ft | High tide 10:18 pm · 3.0 ft | Coef. 86 | 91% | Major periods 1:36 am · 2:08 pm | Medium |
| Thu 29 | 7:24 am · 6:06 pm | Low tide 4:13 am · 0.1 ft | High tide 10:56 am · 3.8 ft | Low tide 5:17 pm · 0.4 ft | High tide 11:12 pm · 3.0 ft | Coef. 81 | 84% | Major periods 2:40 am · 3:13 pm | Medium |
| Fri 30 | 7:25 am · 6:05 pm | Low tide 5:09 am · 0.2 ft | High tide 11:53 am · 3.7 ft | Low tide 6:20 pm · 0.5 ft | — | Coef. 76 | 74% | Major periods 3:45 am · 4:17 pm | Medium |
| Sat 31 | 7:26 am · 6:04 pm | High tide 12:09 am · 2.9 ft | Low tide 6:15 am · 0.3 ft | High tide 12:53 pm · 3.6 ft | Low tide 7:23 pm · 0.6 ft | Coef. 73 | 63% | Major periods 4:47 am · 5:17 pm | Medium |
| Sun 1 | 6:27 am · 5:03 pm | High tide 1:11 am · 2.9 ft | Low tide 6:26 am · 0.4 ft | High tide 12:56 pm · 3.4 ft | Low tide 7:22 pm · 0.6 ft | Coef. 68 | Last quarter | Major periods 4:45 am · 5:12 pm | Medium |
| Mon 2 | 6:28 am · 5:02 pm | High tide 1:17 am · 2.9 ft | Low tide 7:32 am · 0.4 ft | High tide 2:02 pm · 3.3 ft | Low tide 8:18 pm · 0.6 ft | Coef. 66 | 41% | Major periods 5:38 am · 6:03 pm | Medium |
| Tue 3 | 6:29 am · 5:01 pm | High tide 2:26 am · 3.0 ft | Low tide 8:37 am · 0.4 ft | High tide 3:07 pm · 3.2 ft | Low tide 9:12 pm · 0.5 ft | Coef. 69 | 30% | Major periods 6:27 am · 6:50 pm | Medium |
▲ high tide · ▼ low tide · heights above MLLW. Major periods: start time; they last 2 hours. Activity: based on the moon phase and the solunar periods.
Where this tide comes from
Tides from the Southern Chincoteague Island station (NOAA), 1.2 mi from Chincoteague Inlet. Times and heights are its predictions.
Station data attribution: Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)
The sea at Chincoteague Inlet
Sea stateSea state: slight
The waves you may find
- Most commonMost common1.5 ft
- Significant3.0 ft
- Highest expectedHighest6.1 ft
One wave in seven is higher than the significant height, and about 3 times a day one reaches 6.1 ft. Before heading out, expect waves of up to 6.1 ft.
Wind on the coast and offshore
Cross-shore wind. The coast faces southeast and the wind blows along the shore: drift and current run parallel to the beach.
Wave height, next 7 daysWaves, next 7 days
Waves stay much the same all week. The biggest waves arrive on Wednesday 28: 3.4 ft with a period of 7 s, from the east (slight).
Water temperature
Water temperature →Water temperature changes how fish behave: in very cold or very warm water they feed less. The water warms over the next few days: about 62.5 °F by Tuesday 3.
Water colder than normal for late October (−1.4 °F).
Satellite: NASA MUR (JPL MUR MEaSUREs, PO.DAAC), doi:10.5067/GHGMR-4FJ04. Sources and licenses
Water temperature →Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 8:15 pm (local time).
Nearest marine station
This is a real measurement of the sea, not a forecast. Data from station WAHV2, NOAA National Data Buoy Center (public domain).
Surf in Chincoteague Inlet today
Surf today
Fair- 1.9–3.0 ft surf at the shore, a fun size for most surfers
- 2.4 ft swell at 8 s from the east-southeast, short: weak, messy waves
- Light cross-shore wind (5 mph)
- Rising tide (high tide at 10:03 am)
- Light: First light 6:56 am · sunrise 7:23 am · sunset 6:07 pm · last light 6:34 pm
- Tide: low 3:24 am (0.0 ft), high 10:03 am (3.9 ft), low 4:21 pm (0.3 ft) and high 10:18 pm (3.0 ft). Every break has its own tide: some work at low tide and others at high tide. The tide doesn’t change the score here.
- Water at 61.3 °F: a 4/3 fullsuit.
- Energy: 61 kJ · Low power
Today’s surf at a glance
The best window, 7:00 am to 11:00 am, has a good size, though with a short-period swell. 6:00 pm to 6:34 pm can also work, with a good size, though with a short-period swell.
An estimate for this stretch of coast, not for a specific break: every beach or reef works its own way (its tide, bottom and angle). Check it when you get there.
Follow the flags and the lifeguards, and don’t paddle out if the surf is above your level: this score is a guide, not a substitute for what you see when you get there.
Diving in Chincoteague Inlet today
Diving and snorkeling today
Likely visibility: good- Slack water around high tide (10:03 am): little current from 9:40 am to 10:30 am
- 2.3 ft swell at 8 s from the east-southeast: some surge on the bottom
- Light offshore wind (9 mph)
- 0.1 mph current toward the east, weak (model)
- Sun high: more light underwater
- Slack water today: low tide 3:24 am (3:00–3:40 am), high tide 10:03 am (9:40–10:30 am), low tide 4:21 pm (4:00–4:40 pm) and high tide 10:18 pm (9:50–10:40 pm)
- Likely visibility: good. Swell (up to 2.8 ft at 8 s) over the last few days has stirred up the water. Based on the last 24 hours of data.
- Water at 61.3 °F: a 7 mm wetsuit, with hood and booties.
- Snorkeling: doable, with some waves or wind.
- Night dive: dark from 6:34 pm. Waning gibbous (91%), rising at 7:47 pm: a bright night.
Your diving day at a glance
The best window, 9:10 am to 11:00 am, combines slack water at high tide, light wind, weak current and the sun high. Also good from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm, with slack water at low tide, light wind and weak current.
Slack water comes from the tide: in inlets, channels and between islands the water can keep running for an hour or two after. Ask the local dive shop.
Never dive alone and check with the local dive shop: this rating is a guide, not a substitute for a professional.
Dive sites, wrecks and dive shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
Within 12 mi. Some may be missing or closed; marine reserves usually need a permit. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Wreck and reef positions are approximate and not for navigation; a wreck’s depth runs from the top of the hull to the seabed.
Sites: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Artificial reefs: NOAA and BOEM (MarineCadastre.gov), a U.S. Government work.
Weather in Chincoteague Inlet
Now in Chincoteague Inlet
- Low / high
- 56 / 67 °F
- Rain
- 0.00 in · 0%
- Clouds
- 80%
- Humidity
- 87%
- Dew pointDew point
- 55 °F
- Visibility
- 9.3 mi
- UV indexUV
- 0 · low
- Air qualityAir
- Good · 48
- Saharan dust
- No
Pressure and fishing
- ↗ RisingRising Anglers say fish bite less for a while
- → SteadySteady Anglers expect normal activity
- ↘ FallingFalling · now Anglers say fish feed more before the change
Falling now (−0.03 inHg in 3 hours). Over the next 48 hours: −0.14 inHg. Falling pressure: anglers say fish feed more before the change. Fast changes, either way, tend to affect fishing.
Today, hour by hourHour by hour
Bars: mean wind. Dashed line: gusts. Arrows point where the wind blows to.
| Time | 12:00 am | 3:00 am | 6:00 am | 9:00 am | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 6:00 pm | 9:00 pm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | Clear | Clear | Clear | Clear sky | Clear sky | Partly cloudy | Overcast | Overcast |
| Temperature | 56° | 56° | 58° | 61° | 65° | 67° | 62° | 58° |
| Wind (mph) | 7 NE | 8 NE | 7 ENE | 5 NNE | 10 ENE | 9 ENE | 5 ENE | 5 ENE |
| Gusts | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 |
| Waves | 3.4 ft | 3.3 ft | 3.4 ft | 3.3 ft | 3.0 ft | 3.0 ft | 3.0 ft | 3.0 ft |
| Rain | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in | 0.00 in |
- 9:00 pm 58° 5 ENE 3.0 ft
- 12:00 am 58° 5 ENE 3.0 ft
- 3:00 am 57° 5 ENE 2.8 ft
- 6:00 am 57° 6 ENE 2.6 ft
- 9:00 am 61° 3 NE 2.5 ft
- 12:00 pm 67° 2 SSE 2.4 ft
- 3:00 pm 67° 6 SE 2.3 ft
- 6:00 pm 63° 4 S 2.3 ft
Next 14 daysComing days
| Day | Sky | Low / high | Max wind | Max wave | High tides |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today · 28 | 56 / 67 °F | 10 mph ENE | 3.4 ft | 10:03 am · 10:18 pm | |
| Thu 29 | 56 / 67 °F | 6 mph ESE | 3.0 ft | 10:56 am · 11:12 pm | |
| Fri 30 | 56 / 72 °F | 10 mph WNW | 2.6 ft | 11:53 am | |
| Sat 31 | 48 / 60 °F | 11 mph NNE | 3.2 ft | 12:09 am · 12:53 pm | |
| Sun 1 | 52 / 63 °F | 8 mph E | 2.2 ft | 1:11 am · 12:56 pm | |
| Mon 2 | 56 / 65 °F | 7 mph ESE | 1.6 ft | 1:17 am · 2:02 pm | |
| Tue 3 | 58 / 66 °F | 13 mph ENE | 1.6 ft | 2:26 am · 3:07 pm | |
| Wed 4 | 59 / 67 °F | 13 mph E | 2.7 ft | 3:31 am · 4:04 pm | |
| Thu 5 | 59 / 66 °F | 15 mph E | 4.8 ft | 4:26 am · 4:51 pm | |
| Fri 6 | 56 / 65 °F | 13 mph NE | 7.4 ft | 5:14 am · 5:33 pm | |
| Sat 7 | 52 / 62 °F | 13 mph NW | 3.9 ft | 5:57 am · 6:14 pm | |
| Sun 8 | 47 / 60 °F | 12 mph NNW | 3.1 ft | 6:39 am · 6:55 pm | |
| Mon 9 | 43 / 59 °F | 9 mph N | 3.1 ft | 7:22 am · 7:36 pm | |
| Tue 10 | 42 / 63 °F | 6 mph NNE | 2.6 ft | 8:03 am · 8:17 pm |
- Thu 29 Partly cloudy 56° / 67° 3.0 ft
- Fri 30 Clear sky 56° / 72° 2.6 ft
- Sat 31 Overcast 48° / 60° 3.2 ft
- Sun 1 Overcast 52° / 63° 2.2 ft
- Mon 2 Overcast 56° / 65° 1.6 ft
- Tue 3 Overcast 58° / 66° 1.6 ft
- Wed 4 Clear sky 59° / 67° 2.7 ft
Each day comes from the best model covering this spot: regional ones first (HRRR and NBM in the U.S., AROME, ICON-EU), then ECMWF; day 16, NOAA GFS. Waves: Météo-France up to day 10, then ECMWF WAM, coarser and further offshore. High tides: our own tide calculation.
- The models They agree · high confidence for the next few days. See the models →
- Outlook Next few weeks, compared with normal: a bit warmer, a bit wetter and a near-normal sea. See the outlook →
- Normal Today, warmer than normal for late October (+2.4 °F; normal high: 65 °F). Climate by month →
Forecast from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) with models from ECMWF, NOAA, Météo-France, DWD, Copernicus Marine and CAMS. Updated at 8:15 pm (local time).
The sun in Chincoteague Inlet
Sunrise and sunset
- First light 6:25 am
- Full dark 7:05 pm
- Civil dawn 6:56 am
- Civil dusk 6:34 pm
- Solar noon 12:45 pm (39° high)
- Daylight 10 h 44 min (−2 min)
- Evening golden hour 5:31 pm
- Full dark 7:05 pm
Golden hour and the day-night map
Today the sun is 92,354,745 mi away and looks 32′ 11″ across.
The moon in Chincoteague Inlet
Moon phase and position
Today the moon is 226,429 mi away and looks 32′ 47″ across.
Solunar periods
Today's activity: medium- 1:36–3:36 am Major · the moon passes overhead · high activity
- 2:08–4:08 pm Major · the moon passes underfoot · high activity
- 9:57–10:57 am Minor · moonset · medium activity
- 7:17–8:17 pm Minor · moonrise · medium activity
According to solunar theory, fish feed more when the moon passes overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 h) and when it rises or sets (minor periods, 1 h). It works best around new and full moon.
Upcoming moon phases
2026 moon calendar →- Last quarter Sun, Nov 1 · 3:29 pmNov 1 in 4 days
- New moon Mon, Nov 9 · 2:03 amNov 9 in 12 days
- First quarter Tue, Nov 17 · 6:48 amNov 17 in 20 days
- Full moon Tue, Nov 24 · 9:54 amNov 24 in 27 days
Perigee on October 28, 226,426 mi away, coinciding with the spring tides from October 26 to 28: they will be stronger than usual.
Where to fish in Chincoteague Inlet
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Ruins 2.0 mi
- Boat ramp 1.3 mi
- Boat ramp 1.8 mi
- Boat ramp 2.3 mi
- Boat ramp 2.8 mi
- Boat ramp 3.7 mi
- Boat ramp 3.8 mi
- Boat ramp 5.1 mi
- Curtis Merritt Harbor 1.3 mi
- Captain Bob's Marina 1.8 mi
- Coast Guard Basin 3.6 mi
- Captain Steve's Bait and Tackle 4.3 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps.
Water depth
Very shallowVery shallow and flat: 1.9 mi from shore the water is still only about 16 ft deep.
From the shoreline out to sea, heading southeast.
How far from shore
- 16 ft deep1.7 mi
- 33 ft deepnot within 1.9 mi
- 66 ft deepnot within 1.9 mi
- 164 ft deepnot within 1.9 mi
For fishing, swimming and diving
- Shore fishing. Shallow, gradual bottom (16 ft at 1.7 mi): cast far from the beach and fish the high tide, when there is more water close in.
- Swimming. A very gentle way in with plenty of shallow water, good for kids. At low tide the water can be far out.
- Diving. Shallow: the water doesn't reach 33 ft within 1.9 mi. For deeper dives, take a boat farther out.
There is land ahead (an island, a headland or the far shore) 1.9 mi out.
Source: NOAA U.S. Coastal Relief Model (public domain), cells of about 300 ft; depth below mean sea level. For reference only: not for navigation or anchoring.
Nearest lighthouse
Assateague Light 3.6 mi northeast
- Light
- 2 white flashes every 5 s · Fl(2) W 5s
- Range
- 19 nautical miles (22 mi)
- Light height
- 154 ft above sea level
- Tower height
- 141 ft
Other lighthouses nearby: Killock Shoal Light (3.8 mi northeast).
Data from Wikidata. For reference only: not for navigation. Wikipedia · Wikidata · Sources and licenses
Tides near Chincoteague InletTides nearby
- Chincoteague3.8 mi
- Captains Cove7.3 mi
- Greenbackville8.9 mi
- Modest Town9.7 mi
- Metompkin13 mi
- Sanford14 mi
- Lee Mont16 mi
- Saxis17 mi
- Bayside19 mi
- Deep Creek20 mi
Chincoteague Inlet at a glance
- Inlet. Coordinates: 37.885° N, 75.412° W.
- It is 78 mi northeast of Virginia Beach, the main place in Virginia. The sun rises 1 min earlier and sets 4 min earlier than in Virginia Beach.
- 3.8 mi from Chincoteague.
- The nearest tide station, Southern Chincoteague Island, is 1.3 mi to the north.
- Its coast faces southeast.
- Beaches and harbors nearby: Wallops Beach (3.7 mi).
Questions about Chincoteague InletQuestions
Where is Chincoteague Inlet?
An inlet 3.8 mi from Chincoteague, in Virginia (United States). The coast faces southeast.
Can you fish at Chincoteague Inlet?
OpenStreetMap doesn't say whether fishing is allowed. Check the rules on site and the local fishing license: they can change.
What time is high tide today in Chincoteague Inlet?
Today in Chincoteague Inlet there are high tides at 10:03 am (3.9 ft) and 10:18 pm (3.0 ft) and low tides at 3:24 am and 4:21 pm. Tide coefficient 86.
What time is sunset today in Chincoteague Inlet?
At 6:07 pm. There is light until the end of civil twilight, at 6:34 pm.
What time is sunrise tomorrow in Chincoteague Inlet?
At 7:24 am. First light comes at 6:26 am.
What phase is the moon today?
Waning gibbous, 91% illuminated. New moon on Mon, Nov 9 · 2:03 am.
When are the next spring tides?
From October 26 to 28, together with the lunar perigee: they will be stronger than usual.
What are today's solunar periods?
Major 1:36–3:36 am, Minor 9:57–10:57 am, Major 2:08–4:08 pm, Minor 7:17–8:17 pm. Today's activity is medium.
What's the weather like today in Chincoteague Inlet?
Overcast, from 56 °F to 67 °F, with a light breeze from the east-northeast (6 mph) and a 0% chance of rain.
How is the sea today in Chincoteague Inlet?
Slight (Douglas 3): 3.0 ft waves with a period of 6.4 s from the east. The water is 61.9 °F.
When is the best time to visit Chincoteague Inlet?
The best time to visit Chincoteague Inlet is from May to September: highs of 72 °F to 85 °F, about 11 rainy days a month and 7 hours of sunshine a day.
Can I use this data for navigation?
No. These are predictions for fishing and leisure; for navigation, use the official publications.
Where this data comes from
Tide: NOAA station Southern Chincoteague Island (public domain), via Slackwater database. Sun and moon: our own calculation with astronomy-engine. Places: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Coastline: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).