Retirement to VA

[rangerranger]

We are retired and living in Austin, TX but are considering moving back East, primarily to get to a 4 season climate for my wife. It would also get us closer to family in PA. Personally I hate leaving the incredible bass fishing here, but want to find a place that will be good for both of us.

Williamsburg and VA Beach are two places on our list of possibilities. I'm concerned that VA Beach may be too congested, particularly since we hate the terrible traffic in Austin. However we do love being near the water and there are some beautiful neighborhoods in our price range.

What are your thoughts on fishing opportunities in/near both areas? I primarily bass fish in Texas but lived in Delaware for 15 years where I fished saltwater every weekend.

Any other thoughts that may help us?
Thanks!

[TexomaDan]

We thought about retiring to VA until I checked out the cost of living……then moved to TN.

[carolina_cowboy01]

Williamsburg sits near the James and Chickahominy Rivers - Terrific bass fishery and you are not far from brackish and saltwater jaunts as well.

[rangerranger]

What type of boat is most suitable in that area? Bass boat, or perhaps a shallow center console that can do some duty in the bay as well?

[Bjxds]

IMHO Housing Everywhere is still Overpriced. Williamsburg and VA Beach areas do have some nice areas, but traffic and congestion are terrible, and if you regularly need to cross any of the bridges or tunnels.....

[booter]

I'd choose Williamsburg over VA Beach any day. VA Beach is just congested and over crowded IMO while Williamsburg is not as bad, but probably more expensive to live. For flying in and out, most people who live in Williamsburg just fly out of Richmond vice deal with the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel that is currently undergoing an expansion and won't be done for a few more years.

[Lightning 6]

Disclaimer….I am biased.

Williamsburg & VB are both expensive & housing in VB is too congested for my taste.
We chose Chesapeake over VB 24 years ago because we wanted larger lot sizes than those in VB, less traffic and better access to green spaces and bass fishing.

Chickahominy River is the best fishery in VA. Chowan River is the best fishery in NC and is just across the VA/NC border. Personally, I fish the Northwest, Pasquatank, Perquimmans, Notyoway, Blackwater & Chowan rivers from Feb-Dec……and love that they have very little pressure and plenty of shorelines that are not developable, and little to no tidal influence…..so I don’t have to deal with boat traffic, Karens, huge tournaments, large tidal swings, jet skis (very few), wake boats (only on Northwest), and I am surrounded by otters, herons, beavers, ospreys, bald eagles, nutria, and an occasional black bear when I am out fishing.

If you desire waterfront property and prefer to avoid the hustle & bustle of a vacation/ tourist town you should take a look at Leesville Reservoir (adjacent to Smith Mountain Lake) or one of the rivers on the North side of the Albemarle Sound. Leesville is close to Roanoke and any of the Albemarle Sound tributaries are within a short drive from major highways and medium sized cities.

SEVA & NE NC both provide excellent year round fresh, brackish and salt water fisheries. Housing prices are crazy nation-wide but VA taxes are not as bad as I expected when I was informed that we were retiring here…..but both states are veteran friendly and plenty rural areas where housing is very affordable.

Another option is the Delmarva Peninsula. Excellent year round brackish and salt water fisheries and surprisingly cheap properties (if you are looking to build). It is very rural with scattered small towns but Salisbury Md & VB are fully capable cities that offer everything and within driving distance of anywhere on the peninsula.

Ideal boat would be a 21’ Ranger Coastal but a bass boat is perfect for anything other than the Ocean or Chesapeake Bay.

[rangerranger]

Thank you very much for the great info! Believe it or not I ran a Ranger 2180 Center console for years in the early 2000s. Caught plenty of bass from it and hauled it from Austin to Florida 4 or 5 times to fish inshore and nearshore waters.

Looks like prices in your area are similar to here in Austin. Ours have actually dropped quite a but since the Covid peak. Traffic and growth is out of control We don't have enough water or electricity and we keep adding thousands of homes and huge water consuming factories (Samsung, Tesla, etc.)

I actually worked for Perdue in Salisbury as an intern during college back in 1980. So I'm somewhat familiar with the Peninsula, at least in the old days. We had a huge plant in Accomac.

From what I've heard, fishing in my old area of Delaware Bay is a sad shadow of what it was in the 80's, back when it was a bad day if you didn't get a 10lb weakfish during the spring spawn. Should I guess that saltwater fishing in your area has also gotten a lot tougher?

[rangerranger]

Do you happen to have any good sources for boat ramp info on the rivers you mentioned? I know I can keep searching but if there is a centralized list or site it would be great. Thanks!

[Lightning 6]

Do you mind Pming me your email?

I’d prefer to pull together a word document w/ lots of references, useful local fishing & tourney sites, and some other assorted info. I have done it a few times for others but usually only for one area…..I’d be happy to pull together something more suited to this discussion.

Warning: I personally do not fish inshore or salt water …… but I am familiar with a lot of worthwhile sources of information that I can provide links to.

[Blue Steel]

We thought about retiring to VA until I checked out the cost of living……then moved to TN.

Retired in Virginia, moved to Tennessee the day after retirement.

[Hammerdn]

I think you were looking at North Carolina awhile ago, but I could be wrong. “Lightning6” is giving you some good info on the NE Carolina areas. Some very good bass fishing without the crowds and great scenery. It’s is pretty rural but there are a few nice towns. Also SE Va has some good fishing too. Not far from saltwater fishing in either place. Take him up on his offer, it’s worth a look for sure.

[motobuffy]

You are getting some good advice concerning the more rural locations vs metropolitan areas. One thing no one has mentioned is the difference in how you fish the tidal rivers as opposed to reservoirs. i prefer tidal rivers myself.

[XXXLTRP]

If someone were to gift me a house in Va Beach or Williamsburg, I'd live in a tent under an over pass first.

I grew up in Tidewater, worked there and now only go back to visit family. The traffic is beyond terrible and the localities have made zero progress in managing an update to the interstates and roadways. There's just to many people there and not enough space. Even when I lived in the southern end of Chesapeake at the Carolina line, my commute was 21 miles to Norfolk/ Va beach and in the summer it could take 2.5+ hours. I'd never return if my family wasn't still there.

[rangerranger]

Yes, you are correct. I think the decision is between staying in Texas, TN, SC, NC or VA.
Frankly we are finding the decision very difficult. My preference would probably be to move to a less crowded part of Texas. Greater Austin is over 2 million people and in addition to traffic we have water and electricity shortages. My wife would like to get East to someplace that has 4 seasons. The 100 degree plus days from May through September are tough on her.

I really appreciate all the help here!

QUOTE=Hammerdn;13698319]I think you were looking at North Carolina awhile ago, but I could be wrong. “Lightning6” is giving you some good info on the NE Carolina areas. Some very good bass fishing without the crowds and great scenery. It’s is pretty rural but there are a few nice towns. Also SE Va has some good fishing too. Not far from saltwater fishing in either place. Take him up on his offer, it’s worth a look for sure.[/QUOTE]

[Lightning 6]

2.5+ hours…..yes there is SIGNIFICANT traffic at rush hour…..but I have had exactly one (1) commute in excess of 90 minutes and that was in a winter snow storm and surrounded by drivers who were scared. That includes living in Chesapeake (Great Bridge) for 24 years & working in Norfolk, Suffolk, and VB.

[PsuHntr]

There are some fantastic lakes in the Virginia beach area but they are 9.9 hp and if you had the right boat the fishing in the Cheseapake bay is fantastic in the summer....That being said I would never live there but if you did choose to live around Williamsburg you are a pretty short drive to Virginia beach and really in a great location for the Potomac, James, Chick River etc

[rlb8s]

Disclaimer….I am biased.

Williamsburg & VB are both expensive & housing in VB is too congested for my taste.
We chose Chesapeake over VB 24 years ago because we wanted larger lot sizes than those in VB, less traffic and better access to green spaces and bass fishing.

Chickahominy River is the best fishery in VA. Chowan River is the best fishery in NC and is just across the VA/NC border. Personally, I fish the Northwest, Pasquatank, Perquimmans, Notyoway, Blackwater & Chowan rivers from Feb-Dec……and love that they have very little pressure and plenty of shorelines that are not developable, and little to no tidal influence…..so I don’t have to deal with boat traffic, Karens, huge tournaments, large tidal swings, jet skis (very few), wake boats (only on Northwest), and I am surrounded by otters, herons, beavers, ospreys, bald eagles, nutria, and an occasional black bear when I am out fishing.

If you desire waterfront property and prefer to avoid the hustle & bustle of a vacation/ tourist town you should take a look at Leesville Reservoir (adjacent to Smith Mountain Lake) or one of the rivers on the North side of the Albemarle Sound. Leesville is close to Roanoke and any of the Albemarle Sound tributaries are within a short drive from major highways and medium sized cities.

SEVA & NE NC both provide excellent year round fresh, brackish and salt water fisheries. Housing prices are crazy nation-wide but VA taxes are not as bad as I expected when I was informed that we were retiring here…..but both states are veteran friendly and plenty rural areas where housing is very affordable.

Another option is the Delmarva Peninsula. Excellent year round brackish and salt water fisheries and surprisingly cheap properties (if you are looking to build). It is very rural with scattered small towns but Salisbury Md & VB are fully capable cities that offer everything and within driving distance of anywhere on the peninsula.

Ideal boat would be a 21’ Ranger Coastal but a bass boat is perfect for anything other than the Ocean or Chesapeake Bay.

Great synopsis!

VA is a great place to retire, especially if retired military. Taxes may be lower in some states but overall the state does a good job putting those taxes to good use. Some improvements on the tax front include some of the military retirement is now state tax free - wasn't always the case. Plus York County and Gloucester County don't tax boats which is a great benefit - especially when your personal property tax bill arrives.

Once the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT) improvements are complete the commute to Norfolk and VA Beach from the Peninsula will be a lot smoother. The HRBT makes it challenging currently.

Tennessee or South Carolina would be on my list if looking to move outside of VA. I've lived in TX, FL, AL, GA, LA, AZ, NY, CT, RI & CA and am very content here in VA. Quality of living is good and the fishing is excellent, both salt and fresh.

Of the two mentioned, I would recommend the Williamsburg area.

[Meadows]

Lynchburg/Central VA area would probably be my choice. Close to Smith Mountain, Buggs Island, and not too far from tidal waters. Once you get East of Richmond everything is tidal. Nothing wrong with that and I love me some tidal fishing, but being more central gives you more options.

You mentioned 4 seasons. VA is very regional when it comes to weather. I live in the Shenandoah Valley and it's always about 8-10* colder here than in the eastern & SE part of the state. Eastern part of the state gets very little snow accumulation, while here in the Valley we average around 2' per year.