Article by Julie Ball
July will host some of the hottest days of the year, but if you can take the heat, fishing can be off the charts throughout the month.
Cobia will continue to provide very good action for sightcasters most everywhere in the Chesapeake Bay, with some really big bruisers available in July. Remember, this year you can keep three fish per vessel at a minimum of 40-inches long, and one fish can measure over 50-inches. Gaffing is now permitted and you must still obtain a free permit and report all catch results.
Red drum action is always hot for casters this month, as pods of big drum find their way to the mouth of the bay and along the Virginia Beach oceanfront.
Big Spanish mackerel will dominate the trolling scene along the oceanfront in July, but big smoker king mackerel are also a possibility in the same areas. Look for clean water and tide rips for the best action.
Spadefish are making an exceptional showing this year, with many large fish tipping the scales at over 9 lbs., awarding anglers with Virginia citations for the first time in years. Spadefish will remain available at the Chesapeake Light Tower, the Tower Reef, the CBBT and several inshore wrecks this month, but the action often slows towards the end of the month with the arrival of masses of jellyfish.
Sheepshead will also bite very well along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel pilings, with clams, crabs and fiddlers being great options for these hard fighting bait stealers.
Triggerfish will also hit in many of these same areas throughout July, with squid a favorite bait.
Tautog are in season again this month, but most won’t be interested.
July is a good month for flounder in the Chesapeake Bay, with jigging and live bait being effective methods for those anglers working their way around the four islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Anglers drifting with strip baits and minnows often find luck with nice flat fish near the 4th Island, the Hampton Bar and the Thimble Shoal Channel. Both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets are also good spots to try this time of year. This year, regulations allow four fish per person at a minimum of 16 1/2-inches.
July may be hot, but the heat won’t deter dozens of croaker fanatics as they crowd into Oyster to get in on the big yearly croaker ritual. It even gets better as the size of the hardheads increase throughout the month. In lower bay waters, croaker can be found everywhere and the size varies with the location. Kiptopeke State Park is still a favorite location, often hosting some nicer fish.
Sea mullet can also be found lurking off Kiptopeke near the Concrete Ships throughout the summer. Puppy drum are still around in July in most backwater locations and inlets, along with some speckled trout.
Tarpon will remain active on the Eastern Shore until September. The hope of landing an elusive Silver King keeps tarpon hunters content in the back waters of Oyster, as long as they can endure the blazing heat and biting flies.
Amberjack will be offering powerful fights on many offshore wrecks and at the Southern Towers. Deep dropping is also a good option in July with decent hauls of the usual blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, an occasional grouper and a side-catch of nice sea bass.
The offshore scene can be explosive in July, but this depends on the location and accessibility of favorable water. Tuna fishing can be solid this month, with yellowfin and bigeye tuna often busting spreads. Mahi are also crowd pleasers, with some large gaffers still around this time of year. Some nice wahoo, king mackerel and scattered mako sharks can also keep anglers content. Billfish will also begin showing this month with livebaiters having an edge early in the season.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. Representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For more information go to drball.com
