Article by Julie Ball
Summer officially started this past week, and with some decent weather pending for the upcoming week, anglers will test the saltwater scene as we turn the corner into the full summer trend.
Most anglers are still interested in the emerging cobia bite. According to local cobia gurus, these stealthy fish are becoming more interested in offerings, but the best is yet to come. Some impressive fish are around, with several weighing between 60 to 85-pounds, but most cobia are still averaging in the 20 to 40-pound range. Chummers are faring well as they work the shoal areas off Hampton, Grandview, and Buckroe, with Bluefish Rock, a favorite spot. Live bait is getting the nod for chummers, but take plenty if you go, as nuisance sharks are helping themselves. The folks at Ocean’s East 2 report that sight casters are spotting more cobia this week in Bay waters, as well as along the Ocean Front as far out as the Light Tower. The majority of these fish are in the 30 to 50-pound range, with both live and artificial baits enticing decent strikes lately.
Although red drum catches are overshadowed by the cobia interest, huge reds are still hitting along the shoals off Fisherman’s Island near buoys 8 and 10, and the Nine Foot shoal area. Casters are also getting into some epic top-water action while throwing lures to big schools of reds meandering anywhere from the Nautilus Shoal area, to around the 3rd and 4th islands of the CBBT, and out to around six miles off the Virginia Beach coastline. Most black drum hook-ups are coming from around the four artificial islands of the Bay Bridge Tunnel, where casters are picking at fish on bucktails and Storm Lures.
The flounder action is showing some promise, with improving reports this week. Anglers are finding some luck with nice keeper fish from Oyster, the Cell area, off Kiptopeke, Back River Reef, and near the four islands of the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Working jigs and live bait around the pilings and the tubes of the CBBT is most productive lately. Drifters are also finding takers while presenting strip baits along lower Bay drop-offs and channels. Lower Bay inlets are also producing decent numbers of keeper flatties, with some fish pushing to over 23-inches coming from the basin within Lynnhaven Inlet this week.
Surf and pier anglers continue to find a mixed bag along shorelines, with sea mullet, Taylor bluefish, puppy drum, striped bass, flounder, spot, and croaker providing most of the commotion. Grey trout, decent croaker, and 3-pound bluefish are available at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, while croaker are also biting off Ocean view, and around the CBBT. Some speckled trout along with hoards of aggressive puppy drum are still available within the lower Bay inlets and shallows.
Spadefish are earning some attention from anglers, with the Chesapeake Light Tower and nearshore wrecks holding some decent schools. Plenty of spades are also responding around the islands of the CBBT, along with curious triggerfish. Some anglers are finding some luck with sheepshead, with a few fish pushing to over 10-pounds coming from various lower Bay structures this past week.
Spanish mackerel are now officially active along the Virginia Beach ocean front, where the bite is still a bit scattered. Most fish are small to medium-sized, but some Spanish are pushing to over 3-pounds. The bigger fish are coming from water located around 4 to 6-miles out, where it tends to be clearer. This bite will continue to improve as the summer heats up.
Deep droppers are still going strong with good limits of blueline tilefish, some decent grouper, nice rose fish, and side catches of nice seabass. Amberjack have established residency on offshore wrecks, as well as the South Tower.
The Virginia offshore scene is still evolving, with yellowfin tuna the main target. The tuna action slowed up off Virginia this past week, with local boats now looking to run south for their catches. A few nice bigeye tuna are lurking about, with the ‘Backlash’ out of the Virginia Beach Fishing Center setting the pace with an impressive 185-pounder they hooked while trolling near the 650-line this week. Scattered bailer-sized mahi are also on the prowl, adding some variety. For more information, go to www.drjball.com.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For information, go to www.drjball.com.
