Article by Julie Ball
At last! Catches are improving most everywhere as the spring fishing scene finally comes to life.
Tautog was still the biggest draw last week, as the bite within Bay waters continues to sizzle. But don’t wait too long to target these fish since the season closes on the 1st of May.
Excellent catches are coming from the structure and pilings of the Bay Bridge Tunnel and several lower Bay wrecks. Anglers using fiddler crabs and blue crabs are experiencing steady action, with easy limits of fish ranging from around 4 to 8-pounds. Scattered catches to 10-pounders are also coming from these same areas. Larger tog continue to come from offshore, deep water wrecks, but the action is much slower, with both sea bass and cod also competing for offerings on these structures. Sea bass will remain out of season until May 19th.
The flounder bite is still emerging in lower Bay waters. Scattered keepers are rewarding those who put in their time along the Eastern Shore seaside inlets, Oyster, Magothy Bay and Back River Reef. Some decent flatfish ranging up to around 21-inches are coming from both Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets on strip bait and minnows. This action should continue to improve as the water warms up.
Red drum remain active along the barrier islands of the Eastern Shore, with some nice fish taking offerings mostly among the breakers off Smith and Fisherman’s Islands. Peeler crabs, blue crabs and bunker fished on the bottom will give you a chance at tangling with a bull red. Although the action is not hot yet, the red drum bite will only improve over the weeks ahead. Some smaller black drum are also hitting in these same areas.
The lower Bay Rivers are giving up good numbers of croaker, while Little Creek, Ocean View and Buckroe anglers are finding medium-sized hardheads on bloodworms and squid, especially at night.
Casters working the surflines along the oceanfront are also finding some willing croaker recently, along with some nice snapper-sized bluefish. Big bluefish also thrilled anglers within Rudee last week. Puppy drum are hitting in Rudee, Lynnhaven, and Little Creek Inlets on topwater lures and grubs.
Folks will likely show little interest when the Bay trophy striped bass season begins on May 1st, but if you plan to target these fish, be sure to get your Trophy striped bass permit and review the changes in this year’s rockfish regulations.
Tilefish, grouper, black-bellied rosefish and other deep water bottom species are still available in water over 50 fathoms near the Canyon. As the dogfish begin to move out this month, more boats will venture out to try their luck.
Offshore action is heading our way as boats running to Carolina are finding a mixed bag of yellowfin tuna, blackfin tuna and bluefin tuna. Gaffer mahi are beginning to show, along with scattered wahoo. A few boats from Virginia will test some warmer water moving into range near the Cigar this week in hopes of finding tuna.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For more information, go to www.drjball.com
