Article by VMRC - Saltwater Review
Cape Charles
Abundant croaker were found near Oyster, according to staff at Chris’ Bait and Tackle. Nice croaker catches also came from Wise Point at Buoy 262. Flounder were reported at Buoys 42 and 36, around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and near the Concrete Ships. Cobia were still around for sight-casters, and spadefish were hooked around the Bridge Tunnel pilings.
A 48 lb. red drum release citation was written up at Cobb’s Marina last week. The big fish was caught at the 3rd island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Flounder were also abundant at the islands of the Bridge Tunnel.
Kathy at Wallace’s Bait and Tackle reported an eventful week. Piles of citations were recorded including an amberjack citation, a blueline tilefish citation (11 lbs. 9 ounces at the Norfolk Canyon), a 9 lb. 1 oz. flounder citation from the High Rise, and an 8 lb. 4 oz. speckled trout citation caught at Back River. In addition, 16 cobia citations were recorded!!! The heaviest was 89.5 pounds. According to Kathy, the cobia bite remains HOT!
Flounder were caught at the Hampton Bar. Huge croaker are caught in the James River, near the Ghost Fleet. Rumors of spot around, but no big catches yet.
Wachapreague
According to staff at Captain Zed’s, bottom fishermen were catching flounder and croaker last week. The large croaker have finally arrived, and were available in Green and Drawing Channels. Keeper flounder (about 1 in 10 throwbacks) were found near Cedar and Paramore Islands. Offshore, dolphin, wahoo, and marlin were caught, mostly in the offshore canyons.
Virginia Beach
According to staff at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center, numerous marlin (mainly white with some blue), dolphin, and a few spearfish were caught offshore. Inshore, small sharks were around, as well as red drum, Spanish mackerel, and taylor bluefish. In the inlet, spot fishing picked up last week, and croaker, flounder, and bluefish were landed.
Dr. Julie Ball, IGFA International Representative for Virginia Beach, contributed the following:
As temperatures begin to ease into the eighties, the late summer fishing trend is right on track. Many summer species are preparing to migrate out of the area, while the fall visitors are making an entrance. This mixed bag can make it tough to choose which species to target. Most anglers are opting for either flounder or cobia as both species gather in the lower Bay.
Flounder is always a favorite, and the action was still good last week. Nice flatfish are coming from almost anywhere, but the most productive areas are along deep channels, drop offs, and most any lower Bay structure. Good reports are coming from all along the Bay Bridge Tunnel, Back River Reef, and Buoy 42. Live bait, jigs, and fresh strip bait are all working well right now. The lower Bay inlets are also giving up keeper fish, with many ranging up to 24 inches in both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets. Flatfish will begin moving to inshore and offshore wrecks soon. Nice keeper-sized seabass are also providing good action on many offshore structures.
Cobia action is still a sure thing, with pods of fish appearing on the surface as they prepare to exit Bay waters. These fish are making easy targets as they appear in open waters, with many pushing well over 50 lbs. According to the folks at Ocean’s East 2, live bait and eels are out fishing bucktails this week. Reports indicate good numbers of cruising fish outside Little Creek Inlet, along the entire Baltimore Channel, near York Spit, and along the Virginia Beach coastline last week.
Schools of bull reds are still roaming the lower Bay shoals, as well as the 3rd and 4th islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Surf anglers are also pulling bulls out of the surf along Smith Island. Puppy drum (juvenile red drum) are still active in the shallows. The best locations are Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets, with speckled trout also showing promise on the Poquoson flats and Hungar’s creek. Backwater casters are reporting nice sized pups on live bait, Gulp Swimming Mullets, and cut bait.
Some spot are showing up in the Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets, and scattered around the lower Bay. The local piers are also reporting good spot action, especially after a stiff easterly blow. This bite should only improve over the next few weeks. Croaker ranging up to 1.5 pounds are hitting inside Magothy Bay near Buoy 262, while the biggest hardheads are coming from Oyster, where some fish are pushing to 2.5 pounds. Sea mullet are also taking shrimp and clam near Buoy 262 and along Latimer Shoal off the Eastern Shore Bayside. Tarpon are still active in the backwaters of Oyster, but not for long.
Triggerfish are still everywhere, while sheepshead anglers also found good catches last week, with some fish ranging up to 12 lbs. Nice-sized Spanish mackerel are still providing good action from the middle Bay on out to the Chesapeake Light Tower. A few anglers are encountering gaffer mahi-mahi along the “CB” buoy line and near the Tower Reef areas lately.
Virginia deep droppers are still faring well off the coast of Virginia. The Rudee Inlet headboats continue to bring home content anglers toting limits of big tilefish, rosebellies, and grouper. Several citation bluelines over 10 lbs. are in the mix, along with some nice sea bass.
Amberjack are still available at the South Tower and offshore wrecks, and jack crevelle will make a brief showing on the Light Tower over the next few weeks.
Offshore, billfish are still at the top of the list. Very good numbers of white marlin, along with scattered blue marlin, and a few sailfish are thrilling trollers right now. A few big wahoo and bailer and gaffer dolphin are rounding out catches, but tuna are very scattered.
Outer Banks, NC
Offshore fishing out of Oregon Inlet was highlighted by tuna catches last week. Yellowfin, blackfin, bigeye and skipjack tuna were all in anglers’ creels in good numbers. Other summer denizens were around including dolphin, wahoo, king mackerel and amberjack. Billfishing was relatively good for all three species: white marlin, blue marlin and sailfish.
Bottom fishing in the deeper waters produced sea bass, tilefish, various snapper, and grouper. King mackerel were also being caught closer to shore, around eight miles, and red drum and striped bass were being found three to five miles offshore. The artificial reefs saw sheepshead, black drum, tautog, and spadefish. Spanish mackerel and bluefish were being caught just outside the breakers for boaters, pier fishermen, and surf anglers. The usual bottom species around the breakers included croaker, spot, sea mullet, pompano, puffers, flounder, red drum, black drum, and spadefish.
Inside the inlet and sounds, speckled trout were being caught in the early morning and late evening hours, mostly around the bridges of the sound. Flounder were being caught in Oregon Inlet (on the dropoffs of the shallow waters). Croaker, spot, and sea mullet were biting well for those using cut bait and blood worms.
Surf fishing south of Oregon Inlet was hit or miss last week. Before the wind of the last few days set in, the fishing had been excellent and can be expected to return as soon as the winds die back. Puppy drum (juvenile red drum) were being caught on the southern beaches and around the jetties of Oregon Inlet and Hatteras Inlet. Spot, croaker, sea mullet, and pompano were filling people’s coolers, and Spanish mackerel and bluefish were being caught by those with metal spoons and jigs at the Point. Tarpon, king mackerel, and barracuda were caught at the Avon Pier.
Offshore fishing out of Hatteras Inlet has produced limits of dolphin. The wahoo bite has been good, and a few tuna and sailfish were in the mix as well. Closer to shore and in the inlet, Spanish mackerel and bluefish were making good runs, and a few flounder were being caught by drifters.