Lynnhaven Pier

We are officially closed for the 2011 season. We will reopen for 2012 on Friday, May 4th at 4PM.

2011-11-21T12:23:00.001-05:00

We would like to THANK everyone for a great 2011 season!

May you all have a warm and wonderful Holiday Season. We'll see you next year.

Pier Hours - Open through Sunday, November 20th

2011-11-17T12:07:00.001-05:00

We will be closed if there is inclement weather or if we have no one fishing by the time it gets dark (so we don't have to turn on the lights). It will always be a good idea to call 481-7071 first to make sure; we'll answer the phone if we are there. "Buddy Day " will not be available during November. We will change to the next day's wristband three hours before closing. Those 'closing' times are when the lights will be turned off (if they're on), so please finish up by then.

We will be open the following days/hours through Sun, Nov 20th:

Fri Nov 18: 8:30AM - 8:30PM

Sat Nov 19: 9:30AM - 9:30PM

Sun Nov 20: 10:30AM - 10:30PM

We will officially close for the season on Sunday, November 20th and reopen for the 2012 season on Friday, May 4th at 4PM.

Call 481-7071 for fishing updates or check or Facebook page at Lynnhaven Fishing Pier Facebook Page

Also, don't forget that CHRISTMAS is just around the corner! You only have 3 days left to shop with us! We have GIFT CERTIFICATES available as well as Lynnhaven Pier T-Shirts (Men's, Women's, and Kid's), Ball Caps, Knit Hats, Bumper Stickers, and Ceramic Coffee Mugs. Until we close for the season, with every $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE you purchase, you get a Lynnhaven Pier Ceramic Coffee Mug FREE! And ALL COMBO FISHING RODS are 20% off!

We Are Staying Open Another Week for You

2011-11-12T19:39:00.001-05:00

Over the past week, we've been catching some Speckled Trout, Puppy Drum, and Rockfish/Striper; small to "keeper" size for all.

We are going to stay open a while longer for you if we have the business, the weather and the fish to stay open, so it's up to you guys how long this will continue. We will be on a rotating schedule based on the incoming tide, which is the best time to fish. We will be closed if there is inclement weather or if we have no one fishing by the time it gets dark (so we don't have to turn on the lights).

It will always be a good idea to call 481-7071 first to make sure; we'll answer the phone if we are there. "Buddy Day " will not be available during November. We will change to the next day's wristband three hours before closing. Those 'closing' times are when the lights will be turned off (if they're on), so please finish up by then.

We will be open the following days/hours until otherwise posted:

Sun Nov 13: 10AM-Midnight

Mon Nov 14: 8:30AM - 8:30PM

Tues Nov15: 8:30AM - 8:30PM

Wed Nov 16: 8:30AM - 8:30PM

Thurs Nov 17: 8:30AM - 8:30PM

Fri Nov 18: 8:30AM - 8:30PM

Sat Nov 19: 9:30AM - 9:30PM

Sun Nov 20: 10:30AM - 10:30PM

Will will post additional days/hours if we have the business, the weather and the fish to stay open; so it's UP TO YOU GUYS how long this will continue.

Call 481-7071 for fishing updates or check or Facebook page at Lynnhaven Fishing Pier Facebook Page

Also, don't forget that Christmas is just around the corner! We have GIFT CERTIFICATES available as well as Lynnhaven Pier T-Shirts (Men's, Women's, and Kid's), Ball Caps, Knit Hats, Bumper Stickers, and Ceramic Coffee Mugs. Until we close for the season, with every $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE you purchase, you get a Lynnhaven Pier Ceramic Coffee Mug FREE! And ALL COMBO FISHING RODS are 20% off!

The Nets

2011-10-25T14:59:00.004-04:00

I met today with the VMRC Board in their regular public meeting to talk about the problems with nets around the Pier and was impressed with their thorough and serious attention to the matter.

Specifically with regard to the haul-seine nets, there are quite a number of issued permits, most of which are inactive. According to VMRC, the fishermen are fishing withing the rules of their permits, but VMRC does not have jurisdiction over beach access, that belongs to the City of Virginia Beach. The distance they must maintain from the Pier is controlled by State statute, not by the VMRC rules, and so is out of their jurisdiction.

It seems that the net fisherman who was in the news recently had a good summer last year and stirred the interest of additional permit holders who had been inactive prior to this season. What also seems to have led to increased fishing this season is a policy change by the City staff with regard to vehicle access to the beach. It strikes many people that allowing trucks on the beach is incompatible with recreational use of the beach. This policy change by the city staff was not open to public comment or debate; it's not known who requested it nor who approved it.

VMRC has agreed to informally ask the fishermen to voluntarily halt fishing on the weekends to give the pier fishermen a chance to catch some fish. There is no guarantee how successful this will be.

If you are a resident of Virginia Beach and would like to weigh in on the matter, I suggest you contact your City Council borough representative, as well as the at-large members, the Mayor and the Vice-mayor. A list of names and addresses can be found at http://socuteurl.com/goopandaboobers.

If you are not a resident of Virginia Beach, I suggest you contact the Mayor at the address above or the City Manager, whose address can be found at http://socuteurl.com/mykittymuffins.

I know many of you are understandably upset by all this, but in all cases please be brief and polite in your message. For the larger issue of nets in general, the consensus we get from our community of fishermen and neighbors is that the City of Virginia Beach has grown into a community where commercial net fishing has become incompatible with both recreational fishing and residential use and it's time to end the noble, traditional pursuit of commercial net fishing in local waters.

State Delegate Chris Stolle has in the past sponsored a bill to end the practice of commercial net fishing in Virginia Beach waters but did not pursue it. Perhaps it's time to give this bill more consideration and discussion. You can contact him through http://delegatechrisstolle.com/ to express your opinion. Again, we ask you to be brief and polite.

It's a big Bay. Big enough for us all to enjoy. Big enough for us all to earn a living if we only work cooperatively. That's our hope.

Hoyt Duff, co-owner
Lynnhaven Pier

2011-09-01T15:33:00.002-04:00

See our Hurricane Irene Pictures at
http://socuteurl.com/fishygooglepup

And our Hurricane Irene Videos at
http://socuteurl.com/schleepypuppychip

2011-08-31T09:02:00.002-04:00

"Famous" Amos of Franklin, VA catching big spot Wednesday morning. (Just turn your computer sideways, OK? Blogger doesn't seem to read EXIF info to rotate the picture.)

Satellite View of Pier Damage

2010-06-03T16:47:00.004-04:00

Thanks to Google, here's a link to an overhead view of the November 2009 damaged Pier. That first gap from the shore is the 120-foot gap that is almost repaired. The next big section extends to just past where the second shelter is. That's at about the 800-foot mark, so you can see how damaged the remaining 600 feet is. It's really not as bad as it looks and repairs were completed January 2011.

WTKR Helps Out

2010-01-28T19:32:00.003-05:00

WTKR NewsChannel 3's Barbara Ciara is reporting tonight at 11PM on our "Buy A Board" program . Watch!

Update: WOW! What an incredible response! Thank you! -- Hoyt & Bobbie Duff

November Nor'easter Damages Local Landmark

2009-11-27T13:38:00.003-05:00

Since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, insurance for piers has been unavailable. We sustained considerable uninsured damage in Hurricane Isabel in 2003, losing 300 feet, and have suffered again during the November Nor'easter. Between pilings, stringers and decking, repairs are expected to run an incredible $1,000 per foot to rebuild a wooden pier.

Customers, friends and strangers have contacted us and asked what they can do to support us and ensure that Lynnhaven Pier, a local landmark since 1956, will re-open fully restored on May 2, 2010.

Our response is the "Buy A Board" program where anybody can buy a replacement decking board for the Pier. The deck boards are special-order 2"x8"x20-foot salt-treated lumber. For $100, we will inscribe a name/date/message of your choice (that will fit and is in good taste) on a new board and use that board to re-build the Pier. When we've worked out the details, single and double benches will be available for sponsorship at $250 and $500 each. When the Pier re-opens, special T-shirts and coffee mugs will be available at $25 and $15. All profits from these items will be used to repair the pier.

Look to the left and click on the Pier store link to Buy A Board. Thanks for all your encouraging words and continuing support!

Hoyt and Bobbie Duff

2009-11-13T04:30:00.004-05:00

Shortly after 5 p.m. on 11/12/2009, the Nor'easter damaged about 200 feet of the Pier. You can see images of the damage at WTKR and WVEC .

We will be rebuilding and plan to open on schedule on May 1st in the spring. After meeting with the contractor, we'll file the paperwork necessary for the building permits and begin work in late March or early April.

Tackle Tips

2009-08-24T12:43:00.001-04:00

Useful things to have on the Pier when fishing are a 5-gallon bucket,
a sharp knife, a rag, a pair of needle-nose pliers, a few gallon-size
plastic bags and some sunscreen.

Fishing rods longer than 6 feet are not useful and anybody can catch
fish with a hand line (string tied to a bottom rig) if you don't have
a rod or don't want to rent one.

For most fish you will catch, a number 4 hook and a two-ounce pyramid
sinker are all you'll need. Avoid big hooks and big pieces of bait --
you'll only wind up feeding the crabs.

Fishing Tips

2009-06-15T22:41:00.001-04:00

The best fishing occurs while the water is moving; incoming tide is
better tha outgoing tide. To get the most help from the tide, start
fishing about an hour after the tide change. Right at low and high
tide, catching is always slow.