Article by VMRC - Saltwater Review
Chincoteague
Donna at Captain Bob’s, reports that croaker are slowly beginning to hit in the inlet. Flounder are still going strong in front of Captain Bob’s, near Payton Place, and around the sandbar. The throwback ratio is 20 to 1 in most areas and about 25 to 1 in Queen’s Sound. However, the keeper flounder in Queen’s Sound have generally been larger. There are plentiful crabs in Queen’s Sound, along with black sea bass and cownose rays that keep stealing squid from angler’s hooks. Bull sharks have been found around the Four Mouths at Marker 5. Offshore, bluefin tuna were biting at the Parking Lot, the Lumpy Bottom, and 21-and 26-Mile Hills. Yellowfin tuna were found closer to the canyons.
The offshore wrecks produced numerous spadefish and black sea bass; kingfish, croaker, and small spot were biting from the surf.
Wachapreague
According to staff at the Wachapreague Marina, numerous flounder are around the area, but most are small.
Inshore, the flounder fishing is excellent, with hookups in the inlet and local channels. The Bull’s Head Area was a hot spot last week.
Offshore, an 80-pound bluefin tuna was caught, and dolphin were reported at the 26-Mile Hill. Anglers have been catching fish offshore at the Lumpy Bottom and Sam’s Hill, according to staff at Captain Zed’s. Anglers were hooking plenty of bluefin tuna and a few yellowfin along with a few dolphin.
Cape Charles
Croaker are here, according to Chris’ Bait and Tackle staff. They have been found around the Concrete Ships and near Oyster. Sea mullet have also been reported around Latimer Shoal, and spadefish are numerous around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Flounder catches were reported around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and deep water troughs off of Kiptopeke and Cape Charles. The cobia bite has slowed, but anglers are still catching some nice ones.
Lower Bay/Bridge Tunnel
Several cobia catches were reported from the Sunset Boating Center this week. Spot and croaker were also reported.
At Salt Pond’s Marina, staff reported catches of spadefish, flounder, and cobia. Most of the cobia were caught around the buoys and the flats near Back River, and the flounder was hooked near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
Kathy, at Wallace’s Bait and Tackle, reported several citation flounder last weekend (the largest was 9 pounds). Cobia fishing seems to be picking up, as several were weighed in last week (the largest was 76 pounds). Anglers were continuing to catch croaker and spot, and spadefish were reported at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
A few citations were reported from the York River Fishing Center, including a 90-pound black drum caught at the Mobjack Reef and a 7-pound, 13-ounce flounder hooked at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. In general, the heat has kept many anglers from going out; however, the cobia bite has picked up lately.
Dr. Julie Ball, IGFA International Representative for Virginia Beach, contributed the following:
The Independence Day weekend was a fishing success along the Virginia coast. Good weather paired with the variety of available species encouraged many anglers to get out on the water.
The species with the biggest draw was flounder, hands down. Flatfish are hitting well along lower Bay channels, shoals, drop-offs, ledges, wrecks, and bridge structures. Some anglers are hooking over 50 fish, but most are too short to keep. Those working hard for their limits are heading home with flatfish up to 23 inches in length. The larger fish are coming from live baiting or jigging with plastics or strip bait around the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, with a few doormats pushing to over 9 pounds lately. A few keepers are also responding within both Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets.
Cobia action is still good, but it is still slower than last month. Cobia hunters continue to chum on the lower Bay shoals, such as Latimer Shoal and the Inner Middle Grounds, where scattered medium-sized fish in the 30-to 40-pound range are cooperating. A few nicer fish, ranging up to 80 pounds, are still coming from sight casters who are finding fish in open waters around the lower Bay.
Huge schools of red drum are providing excellent top water opportunities right now. Anglers are releasing scores of bull red fish pushing to over 50 inches as these schools roam along the surface, along the shoals off Fisherman’s Island, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, especially near the 3rd and 4th islands.
Spadefish are still hitting at the Chesapeake Light Tower, several inshore wrecks, and at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The larger spades are still coming from areas further up the Bay such as the Cell, where some fish are pushing 7 pounds. The 3rd island and High Rise areas are still the top spade producing locations at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, where anglers are finding fish ranging around 3 to 5 pounds. Folks are also bailing 3-pound triggerfish along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Sheepshead action is good along the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, with some days better than others. Tautog are also biting in these locations, but interest seems to be low.
Scattered black drum hook-ups are coming from the 2nd and 4th islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, with some fish pushing 80 pounds. These are slow growing fish, reaching enormous sizes, so reviving these docile swimmers will boost their chances of survival.
Spanish mackerel continue to provide excellent action off Cape Henry. Captain Steve Wray, skipper of the “Ocean Pearl” out of Lynnhaven, tells that the best luck is occurring in about 20 to 25-feet of water, with planers paired with small spoons working the best. These fish are a nice class, with most ranging to about 16 inches. Small bluefish will also take these lures.
Croaker pushing to ¾ pound are lurking around the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, the Cell, and off the concrete ships. Hard head hunters in Oyster are filling coolers with nice fish ranging up to about a pound this week. Spot and a few puppy drum (juvenile red drum) are still hitting inside Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets. Most pups are coming as a bycatch made by those targeting flounder. Pompano began biting this week along the ocean surf line and piers, along with scattered sea mullet.
Tarpon is one of the most prestigious sportfishing species anywhere. These covert fish take residence each July in the backwaters of the Eastern Shore.
According to the folks at Chris’ Bait and Tackle, a few silver kings were sighted a week ago, but with the cooler weather last week, the fish seem to have vanished for now.
Amberjack are enticing a few anglers to make the long run to the Southern Towers. Jigging is an effective method for jacks when your live bait runs out. Few are bothering with deep dropping lately, although the fish are there. Blueline tilefish, grouper, golden tilefish, blackbelly rosefish, and scattered sea bass are awaiting offerings along the floor at the Norfolk Canyon. Most folks making the long run to the deep are concentrating on offshore trolling species right now.
The offshore bite off Virginia is a good mix. Most anglers are looking for bluefin tuna, and although the bite has slowed a little, the Hotdog, the Fingers, and 26-Mile Hill are good places to try. King mackerel are also a possibility in these same areas. Trollers can continue to expect only scarce yellowfin tuna, but a nice class of dolphin and a few billfish are rounding out catches. Mako sharks are also still around.
Outer Banks, NC
For anglers heading offshore out of the Nags Head area, dolphin continue to be the best bet. Yellowfin, blackfin, and bigeye tuna catches were moderate, and wahoos, king mackerel, and bonito were caught in low numbers. Billfish catches were good with blue marlin and a few white marlin and sailfish in the mix. Snowy and yellowedge groupers, vermillion snapper, blueline tilefish, and blackbelly rosefish were available for the deep droppers. Striped bass and red drum were being caught about eight miles offshore, and the artificial reefs produced triggerfish, tautog, black drum, sheepshead, spadefish, and sea bass. Bluefish and Spanish mackerel were being caught close to shore and by pier fishermen. Surf fishing and pier fishing also produced spot, croaker, pompano, and skates.
In the sounds, flounder were the main targets in the shallows of the inlets, and speckled trout were sporadically caught around the Washington Baum Bridge in the early morning and late evening. Bottom fishing produced good numbers of croaker in the deep holes and channels.
Surf fishing south of Oregon Inlet saw good numbers of Spanish mackerel around Ramp 43 and the Avon Pier early in the morning and late in the evening. Bluefish were scattered along all the area beaches, as well as sea mullet and spot. Sheepshead were being caught at the jetties, and a few cobia were seen around Ramp 43.
The excellent dolphin bite continued offshore of Hatteras. Sailfish have also been a favorite target. Inshore, fishermen have seen a good run of Spanish mackerel and red drum.
