Historic Virginia pier provides low cost fishing, crabbing options for families

NORFOLK, Va. (WFXR) — As the summer vacation season comes to a close, you might be thinking of making one last run to the beach. The sun and surf are fun, but if you and your family want to mix in a little low-cost outdoors adventure, there is an option to consider in Norfolk.

We are talking about the historic Ocean View Fishing Pier.

The pier sits along the Chesapeake Bay near where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. At only $11 a person, it attracts thousands of anglers and crabbers every year.

Malcolm and Jessica Grant bring their son Isaiah to the pier to go crabbing. While the pursuit is fun, it is their tastebuds that are the real motivator.

“I’m trying to catch some crab because we had some homemade crabcakes, which was amazing,” said Malcolm Grant. “So, we figured it was so tasty we should just continue crabbing.”

The Grants prefer high tide for their crab pursuits.

“When the tide’s going out, that’s when you catch the most,” added Jessica Grant.

The Grants bait their crab nets with pieces of cut chicken or fish. Once baited, the basket, attached to a piece of rope, goes over the side of the pier and all the way to the bottom. After about ten minutes, the Grants pull their traps to see what they have caught.

It did not take long for the effort to pay off as Malcolm Grant shouted as he pulled up a net: “Beautiful blue crabs!”

The crabs are taken from the net with a pair of tongs. Young Isaiah Grant tried to corral a crab, finally getting it into a cooler with the help of his dad.

The Grants repeated the process over and over until they had enough to make a batch of crab cakes.

“It’s a good day,” said Jessica Grant.

It was also a good day for U.S. Navy sailor Joe Taylor. Taylor is from St. Louis, Missouri and is based on the USS George H.W. Bush. He says he loves to fish and does it all the time back home on the Mississippi River.

“This is less muddy,” said Taylor as he baited a bottom rig with a small fish.

Taylor then cast the rig out in the hope of catching something big. There are cobia, bluefish, and red drum that patrol these waters.

On another rod, Taylor was using standard bottom bait, Fish Bites. He was hoping to catch spot and croakers with that. If they are big enough, he will keep them to eat. If not, he will use them as bait.

Coming to the pier to fish is a way for Taylor to relax while helping to protect our country.

“It’s beautiful, you can’t beat this right now,” said Taylor. “Beautiful day, fish biting, still at high tide, easy way to relax.”

However, relaxation was put on the backburner when a huge stingray took Taylor’s bait. Taylor scrambled as the fish ran in the waters down the pier. After a fifteen minute tussle, the ray was netted, and Taylor could relax again.

“Always a good day here,” Taylor said. “That’s what I love about this place, you’re always going to have something on your line.”

The Ocean View Pier has a rich history. It was once part of a vibrant tourist area, located near the now-closed Ocean View Amusement Park. Originally known as Harrison’s Fishing Pier, that structure was destroyed by Hurricane Isabel in 2003. The new pier was rebuilt bigger and better. At nearly 1,700 feet long, it is the longest fishing pier in North America.

Now, the pier attracts thousands looking for a way to unwind, catch a few fish, maybe haul up dinner from the deep. While you are never guaranteed to catch something, there is still the time spent outside relaxing and having fun with others looking for the same thing.

Taylor summed it up: “Good people, great environment; I can never complain.”