Article by Julie Ball
The saltwater action continues to heat up along the Mid-Atlantic coast, and should continue to only get better.
The big news inshore is still cobia. Cobia chummers are doing well, with many boats returning from the shoals with keeper fish and a few trophies weighing to near 80 lbs. The areas off Hampton, from the Rock Pile to off of Buckroe Beach are producing fish. The Nine Foot Shoal and Latimer Shoal areas are also producing decent catches lately. A few cobia are also cruising the surface and hanging around bridge pilings, making targets for sight casters. The first big cobia tournament of the season, the Hampton Creek Cobia Tournament, was won with a 77.5 lb. bruiser, caught by Ryan Summerford of Newport News aboard the “Reel Stripper.”
Although red drum are overshadowed by the cobia interest, reds are still available along Fisherman’s Island and the Nine Foot shoal areas. Most catches are incidental by-catches by boats targeting cobia. Several boats released dozens of bull reds while chumming for cobia this week. Although slow, recent black drum hook-ups are coming from the four artificial islands of the Bay Bridge Tunnel, casting bucktails.
Spadefish action is hit and miss around the Chesapeake Light Tower lately, but the four islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, as well as the pilings, are producing good catches of respectable fish. Inshore wrecks are also holding good numbers of spades, as well as the Cell and Wolftrap Light further up the Bay. Sheepshead action is picking up along the CBBT, while triggerfish are becoming a nuisance in these same areas.
Tautog became legal again this week, and will willingly take your offerings of crab or fiddlers on inshore wrecks and along the islands and CBBT proper.
The flounder scene is faring well in most of the usual haunts lately. Although still weeding through many shorts, good numbers of keepers are coming from the CBBT area. Live baiting over structure is working best for the larger doormats. Bigger flatfish are also coming from within the inlets. Wally Anderton of Virginia Beach landed a nice 7 pounder while fishing inside Lynnhaven River this week.
Speckled trout and puppy drum are still available within the lower bay inlets, and within the back waters of Mobjack bay.
Spanish mackerel action is very good right now, with larger keepers now becoming more consistent. These fish are making a great showing along the oceanfront, with the Cape Henry area the hot spot lately. Keeper-sized Spanish were even boated inside Lynnhaven Inlet this week. Trolled Drone and Clark spoons offer good, fast action for kids and guests. Once the water clears a little more along the beaches, king mackerel should make its debut.
Amberjack are showing on wrecks and navigation towers. The action is good, but right now the majority of the fish are ranging between 44 and 48-inches. A few citation-size fish over 50-inches are around, but plan to put in the time.
Deep dropping along the Canyon edges is still giving up good numbers of deep water species, such as tilefish and grouper. Seabass are also still available on structures from about 30-miles out, and on out to deeper wrecks.
The Virginia offshore season is heating up, and the yellowfin tuna bite is still the main attraction, with outstanding numbers of fish still the norm. A few bigeyes are also around, with school-sized bluefin tuna available on some of the inshore lumps, where the Hotdog produced this week. Mako sharks are making a showing, with several reports of these sharks helping themselves to trolled spreads.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. Representative for Virginia Beach, VA. You can find Dr. Julie’s reports at www.drjball.com.
