Hopewell / Prince George

The Lower James River is a nationally-recognized largemouth bass fishery: upstream from Hopewell, large mouth fishing is best in old river channels and abandoned gravel pits; downstream from Hopewell, through Prince George to Hog Island, bass fishing is most productive in larger tributary creeks and large expanses of vegetative tidal flats. This part of the tidal James also provides the best fishing for blue catfish in the state; good crappie fishing in oxbows upstream of Hopewell; and white perch throughout the river.

A healthy run of hickory shad has created a very popular spring fishery with the Fall Line from late March through early May; and anadromouse striped bass, “rockfish,” fishing is seasonally excellent in the vicinity of the I-95 bridge near Richmond. The Appomattox is a major tributary of the James which flows to Hopewell; a wide range of species including largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass and redbreast sunfish, bluegill, flier, crappie, pickerel, and fallfish. Striped bass and wall-eye provide a seasonal fishery.