Article by Julie Ball
Even in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, the fall fishing season is off to a good start, with most anglers targeting speckled trout, spot, flounder and cobia. Offshore boats are getting back out, and finding good results. As long as we continue to dodge the array of tropical activity, this trend should continue to improve.
Speckled trout action really took off after Irene. Although many fish are small within the local inlets, a few pushed to over 6-pounds in some areas last week. Lures and cut bait are working well in most of the usual haunts such as the lower Bay inlets, the Elizabeth River, Hungar’s Creek, the Poquoson Flats and Mobjack Bay. Surf anglers are also getting in on the action with nice specks averaging from 3 to 5-pounds coming out of the wash from Cape Henry to Sandbridge . A few nice grey trout are also taking lures intended for specks within the Little Creek Inlet.
Nice sized spot are pouring into the lower Bay and oceanfront areas. The Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, the lower Bay and ocean front piers and the lower Bay and oceanfront inlets are all providing yellow belly action for excited anglers. The best bites are occurring on a moving tide, with both bloodworms and Fishbites working well.
Horse croaker ranging to 2-pounds are also active in lower Bay waters. The bigger hardheads are lurking in deeper areas around the channels, inlets and the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Big hardheads are also thrilling anglers at the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, the Ocean View Fishing Pier, the Concrete Ships and just outside the Lynnhaven Inlet in the channel.
Flounder action is still not up to where it was before the hurricane, but folks are still finding some decent fish. Keepers, with some ranging to over 7-pounds, are taking both live bait and drifted bait near the CBBT structure and drop-offs, with the 3rd and 4th Islands producing the best lately. Deep channel edges, especially at the mouth of the Bay, are also providing good results. According to the folks at Ocean’s East 2, the flatfish in Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets are mostly throw-backs right now. Offshore wreck flounder are also a good bet, where keeper sea bass and triggerfish will also take offerings.
Cobia are still lingering on the pilings of the CBBT and the buoys near the mouth of the Bay and off the oceanfront. Schools of cobia are also cruising on the surface as they gather to exit the area. Many of these fish are exceeding 50-pounds, with tossed jigs and live bait working well.
Big red drum are swarming all over the lower Bay. The Nine Foot Shoal area and 4th Island are the best places to look. Reds are also still available along the shorelines off the oceanfront. Nice puppy drum are available from the surf, and within the Lynnhaven, Rudee and Little Creek Inlets, and the Elizabeth River.
Spanish mackerel are still chasing trolled spoons along Sandbridge and Dam Neck in about 20 to 25 feet of water. The usual by-catch of Tailor bluefish are a guarantee, and schools of false albacore in these same areas will also hit spoons.
Sheepshead are still taking late season offerings along the entire span of the CBBT, with the best hauls coming from the 1st and 2nd Island tubes. Scattered tautog along with hoards of trigger fish are in the same vicinity. Spadefish are still active around the 3rd and 4th Islands, but this action is slowing up.
Amberjack are available on local wrecks, the Chesapeake Light Tower and the South Tower. Jack Crevelle are also a possibility, but this action has not materialized as of yet. Deep droppers are having good luck near the Canyon edges lately. The Fishing Center reports that their headboats had a good deep dropping trip recently, with limits of nice blueline tilefish, blackbellied rosefish and jumbo seabass. A few big golden tilefish and grouper were also in the mix.
Offshore action is picking back up. Good numbers of white marlin are keeping those boats venturing to blue water busy. Most of the billfish action is occurring from the the Triple 0’s area and south lately. Even swordfish and spearfish were reported last week. Scattered 50-pound class yellowfin tuna and excellent catches of bailer and gaffer dolphin are rounding out catches.
For more information, go to www.drjball.com.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For more information, go to www.drjball.com.
