Coastal HarvestA distinct section of Charted Waters, for crabbing and shellfishing rather than rod-and-reel fishing. Looking for fishing instead? →
Hampton Roads Coastal Harvest Guide
An educational guide to recreational crabbing, shellfishing, and coastal-invertebrate harvest in and around Hampton Roads — blue crabs, oysters, clams, shrimp, whelks, and more; current regulations; health and safety; and lawful access. This guide is informational and does not replace official regulations, current health-closure status, or your own judgment on the water.
Public access never means harvest is legal there. A visible shoreline, park, boat ramp, beach, marsh, or tidal creek is not automatically open to harvesting — species rules, seasons, private shellfish leases, sanctuaries, and current health-closure status all apply independently. This guide states each one separately rather than assuming any one implies another.
This is an initial release: 24 individually researched species. It is not yet a complete guide — a full structured-data pass across every content type is still being built out in a subsequent phase. See this guide's own planning document for the full roadmap.
Here to fish, not crab or shellfish?
Charted Waters started as, and still primarily is, a Hampton Roads fishing guide — locations, species, bait & tackle, charters, and a beginner learning path, all separate from this coastal harvest guide's own content and rules.