Belmont Bay Fishing near Woodbridge, Virginia

• Overview

  You will find Belmont Bay in Fairfax County, Virginia. The setting is mixed woodland on every side. About 1,340 acres, so local knowledge or a boat saves a lot of walking. It is the biggest water on our Fairfax County list. Woodbridge sits 2.4 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Alexandria is 14 miles off. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Belmont Bay

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Being tidal, the water moves twice a day, and the fishing moves with it. The channel is where water moves, and fish follow it. Flats either side fish on the drop as bait is pushed off them. Across Fairfax County, recorded fish include blueback herring, alewife and bluegill. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Belmont Bay the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 78°F and January near 35°F. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Belmont Bay.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. The car has to stay half a mile away, which shapes how much tackle you bring. There is a pier recorded roughly half a mile away. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. Mason Neck State Park takes in this water; protected-area rules will apply. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. For a change of water, Massey Creek is 1.2 miles distant. Where Belmont Bay is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.