Fish guide
Atlantic Spadefish
Chaetodipterus faber. Also called Spadefish, Spades.
Showing the fish for Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay mouth, VA.
Season in Virginia Beach
Peak months: Jun.
VSWFT spadefish citations in Virginia Beach and Bay-mouth areas: May 7, June 91, July 1 (2024 to 2025): the June peak is sharp. Spadefish stay through summer on structure (Florida Museum, NCDMF), so July to September charted S though citations stop. (Our inference)
Season by region
| Myrtle Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
|---|---|
| Delmarva | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Virginia Beach | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Southern NC | JFMAMJJASOND |
| Charleston | JFMAMJJASOND |
Where to find them
CBBT structure, nearshore wrecks and Bay-mouth reefs in June by boat; clam on small hooks.
Schools around pier pilings, buoys, wrecks and reefs, from the bottom to the surface.
What to look for
Schools of disc-shaped, black-barred fish circling pilings; jellyballs drifting by.
Bait
Pieces of cannonball jellyfish (jellyballs), Fresh peeled shrimp, Clam. Small hook (No. 1 to 4 or a 1/0 light wire) on a short fluorocarbon leader with little or no weight; chum with jellyballs.
Leader
About 5 ft of fluorocarbon on 20 lb braid.
Common mistakes
- Hooks too big for their small mouths
- Fishing cut fish instead of jellyball or shrimp
Landing
Strong fighters that run for the pilings; keep them out of the structure and use a pier net.
Handling
- Spiny first dorsal fin
Hold the body firmly; smooth the dorsal spines down.
Keep or release
Edible. Check VMRC rules.
Recipes for atlantic spadefish
Typical: 12 to 18 in. Large: 5 to 7 lb. SC record 14 lb 2 oz (2005).
Limits
FishOS has not checked the VA limits yet. Check the size, bag and season rules with the Virginia Marine Resources Commission before you keep a fish.
Sources
- VMRC Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament: 2024 Citations Year To Date (every trophy citation with species, catch date, area, technique) (Official source)
- VMRC Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament: 2025 Citations Year To Date (printed May 8 2026) (Official source)
- Florida Museum, Discover Fishes: Atlantic spadefish (Official source)
- NC Division of Marine Fisheries: Atlantic spadefish (Official source)
- Carolina Sportsman: spadefish (Georgetown, SC) (Angler knowledge)
- SCDNR species profile: Atlantic spadefish (Official source)
- SCDNR saltwater game fish records (Official source)
Is atlantic spadefish worth it today?
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