Fall is one of the best times to visit Chincoteague Island. The beaches are more accessible and surprisingly, the water often remains warm enough for swimming thru September.
Arriving on Chincoteague and Assateague Islands, visitors will notice seasonal changes. Gone is the humidity, hordes of biting insects and bumper to bumper traffic. Summer gulls have matured, turning from brown to white and the ducklings of spring are now fully grown and exploring the town. Birds of all kinds are on the move as the Atlantic Flyway begins to come to life. Experienced birdwatchers will notice the changes and take to the marshes and refuges with cameras, spotting scopes, notepads and easels.
Fishermen enjoy fall fishing around Chincoteague. For offshore enthusiasts, some of the best catches of the year come in late September thru November. These include yellowfin tuna, wahoo, mahi mahi and other pelagic species that school up in their migrations back southward. Similarly, flounder, croaker, trout and other species form schools and exit the bays. Just off the coast, these inshore species gather and feed heavily before leaving Virginia waters.
Surf fishermen find fishing improved as local fish migrate down the beaches. In addition to smaller species, surf anglers begin to fish for the monsters of the beaches, as striped bass, red drum, black drum and sandbar sharks all make their way down the Virginia coastline.
Beach lovers have the beaches more to themselves, and many decide to explore Assateague Island more extensively. A walk in either direction following one of the late summer hurricanes may reveal a new crop of shells along the shoreline. Several types of whelks, surf clams, scallops, cockles and other shells wash up, mixed in with mysteries of the ocean such as sand dollars, devil’s purses, driftwood and sometimes even coins or other antiquities.
End of season sales offer some excellent bargains and most tackle shops offer a unique variety of rods, reels, baits, t-shirts and more. Fall festivals are another activity for fall fishermen and other visitors. Several events feature artists and crafters selling nautical items, decoys, wildlife art and other items. Other events such as the oyster festival feature the finest in Virginia seafood.