Article by Julie Ball
As summer settles in, the summer-time fishing trend continues to escalate. Most anglers are focusing on two of the seasons favorites, cobia and flounder.
So far, the cobia fishing scene has been over the top as anglers continue to intercept fish all over the lower Chesapeake Bay. Some true trophies are hitting the docks, with many reports of fish pushing into the 60 and 70-pound range. Both chummers and topwater casters are experiencing good luck. Bottom anglers are finding action off of Back River, Grand View and Buckroe, as well as the Latimer Shoal and the Inner Middle Grounds areas. Sightcasters are pulling fish from the pilings of the Bay Bridge Tunnel and from open waters near the 3rd and 4th Islands.
The flounder scene is picking up momentum most everywhere in lower Bay waters. Folks on the Eastern Shore continue to lead the way in numbers, with limits of nice flatfish the norm, but the bigger fish came from Bay waters last week. Along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, live bait and jigging are becoming more productive. Anglers working the tubes and pilings near the 1st and 3rd Islands with live bait are scoring with some nice fish, including some doormats weighing to around 9-pounds last week. Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets are still giving up above average numbers of keepers on an outgoing tide.
Although still available, red drum are losing popularity as other species debut in the Bay. The bite on the Eastern side of the Bay is still good as big reds pushing to over 50-inches continue to hit along the surf and near Buoys 8 and 10 off of Fisherman’s Island. A few boats are also finding some topwater action as schools of red drum cruise near the 3rd and 4th Islands of the CBBT, as well as the Virginia Beach oceanfront lately. The black drum activity on the Eastern Shore shoals and Middle Grounds has slowed significantly.
A few spadefish bit at the Chesapeake Light Tower last week, but be prepared to compete with skin divers. Scattered catches of spades, ranging up to around 4-pounds, are also coming from the 3rd and 4th Islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel on clams.
Sheepshead are becoming more active, with a few big fish weighing up to 14-pounds taking offerings along the bridge’s structure and near some lower Bay wrecks. Triggerfish are also starting to show up around the islands of the CBBT.
Anglers are excited about the recent arrival of Spanish mackerel into local waters. These fish provide quick action and are easy to catch. Boats are encountering good numbers of Spanish while trolling off Cape Henry and along the Virginia Beach oceanfront in about 25 to 30 feet of water. Tailor and snapper bluefish are also in these same vicinities. Rumors of the arrival of king mackerel were verified last week with a confirmed landing off the oceanfront.
Small to medium-sized croaker are an easy target as decent hauls come from all over the lower Bay, with bloodworms and Fish Bites working well. The best catches are coming from off Willoughby, near the HRBT, the southern small boat channel, and near the 2nd Island of the CBBT. Keeper sized sea mullet are also still hitting in some of these same areas as well as along the oceanfront and the southern and eastern shorelines and shoal areas. Small spot are also active within lower Bay inlets.
The offshore trolling action is really picking up off Virginia, with very good catches of nice yellowfin tuna and mahi keeping the fleet busy, with some yellowfin pushing to over 60-pounds caught recently.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For more information, go to www.drjball.com.
