Article by Julie Ball
With stiff breezes predominating last week, some of the Mid-Atlantic spring fishing scene took a slight detour from the usual trend. The biggest interest still lies in the emerging drum scene, which is motivating anglers to gather blue crabs and head for the Eastern Shore during calm spells. These fish are fierce fighters, and can weigh in upwards of 50-pounds. The best action is still tight to the barrier islands along the surf and breakers, but this fish’s reign of the lower Chesapeake Bay has just begun. No hurry since these rulers of the shoals will grace us with their presence through October.
The red drum’s close cousin, the black drum, is also pushing its way into the usual haunts. These two species are usually caught in the same areas. A few blacks are coming from near Buoys 13 and 16 in the Chesapeake Bay, as well as the seaside inlets along the Eastern Shore, while smaller fish are still coming from the surf. This action will also continue to heat up over the next few weeks as larger fish become more common.
Only a few boats are taking advantage of the Bay’s Spring Trophy Striped Bass season, but stripers can provide a good alternative for those looking for some variety. Anglers working top water lures along the rocks at the islands of the CBBT are finding some nice fish exceeding the 32-inch minimum size requirement, but most are school-sized. Plastic lures cast and jigged around the pilings of the CBBT and the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel are also working well.
Tautog are still very active on lower Bay, inshore, and offshore structures, but these fish are now only available for catch and release until the fall. Before the season closed, Captain Neal Taylor out of Virginia Beach put 8-year-old Jordan Nestor on the new pending International Game Fish Association Small Fry World Record. The crew was fishing at the popular Triangle Wreck area when the 21.5-pound fish of a lifetime hit the boy’s crab offering.
The flounder scene is still dragging within Bay waters and out of the Eastern Shore Inlets. The best numbers of keeper fish are coming from the lower Bay protected waters, with Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets the top areas. Anglers are also scoring with a few bluefish and speckled trout in the same areas.
Surf anglers fishing from lower Bay piers, the James River Bridge and the MMBT found impressive catches of croaker last week, with some of these hardheads pushing to nearly 2-pounds. Sea mullet ranging to nearly a pound are also providing some diversity, with bloodworms working the best.
Scattered speckled trout are still showing some activity within the Eastern Shore seaside inlets and the back waters of Oyster, with some fish topping 3-pounds lately. Folks working the Elizabeth River are still finding a few stray keeper specks, but the action backed way off last week. Puppy drum are still offering a good fight in lower Bay shallows as well as the Elizabeth River lately.
Blueline tilefish ranging up to 16-pounds, wreckfish and other deep water species are still available in deeper water over 50 fathoms when the weather allows boats to reach them. The upcoming opening of sea bass season on May 19th has many anglers excited about making the run.
The Virginia fleet is anxiously awaiting the development of the spring offshore debut. Right now the fleet is watching as Carolina boats enjoy good tuna and wahoo bites, along with a smattering of billfish lately.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For information, go to www.drjball.com.
