Article by Julie Ball
Decent weather is providing anglers with some good opportunities lately. The ongoing flounder explosion is still the main attraction inshore. Since the summer’s sluggish flounder spell turned around last weekend, anglers are rushing to get in on the bite. Dozens of whoppers up to 12-pounds are hitting the scales. Huge doormats are striking at jigs and live bait presented along varying bottom structures in the lower part of the Bay. The Cell, the CBBT structure, and lower Bay wrecks are just a few of the best flounder hot-spots lately. Drifters are also having good luck with strip baits and minnows near Buoy 36A and the Thimble Shoal Channel near Cape Henry.
The next top species is cobia. Cobia are transitioning to their usual late summer trend of top-water rendezvous with structure. This movement is providing a new approach for many cobia hunters. More fish are also beginning to cruise on the surface. In the meantime, chummers are still enjoying a nice selection of big fish taken on cut bait and eels. John Wandrick of Townsend boated a nice 68-pound cobia while deploying chum near Buoy 16 this week.
Red drum are still roaming around most of the lower Bay, especially near shoals and the 3rd and 4th Islands of the CBBT. Black drum are also still meandering around the artificial islands of the Bridge Tunnel where folks are hooking and releasing a few fish on artificial lures. Expect the blacks to begin moving off the islands soon.
King mackerel are beginning to show promise. Sightings of schools of kings, along with a few landings of snake-sized fish is bringing hope that the fishery will light up soon. A good easterly blow could jump start the king bite.
According to local charter captains, the Spanish mackerel fishing along the coastal Virginia Beach is hit and miss right now. Plenty of tailor bluefish are taking up the slack.
With the large number of sharks showing in local waters, these toothy critters are becoming a targeted species lately. Several varieties of sharks such as sand tigers, tigers, hammerheads, black tips, and spinners are sniffing out chum slicks all over coastal and lower Bay waters. Some of these fish are pushing to over 8-feet.
The great puppy drum action is still going on within most any skinny water location in Tidewater, with steady action within Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets. These young reds will hit a variety of baits, with fresh cut mullet and Gulp! mullets the top choices lately.
Interest in spadefish is waning, but some decent sized fish are still available along the northern span of the CBBT, the four artificial islands, and many inshore structures. Sheepshead are cooperating lately. Crab, clam, and fiddlers presented along the pilings and tubes of the CBBT can entice a sheepshead bite. Chong Chae of Virginia Beach did just that when he hooked into a massive 14-pound sheepshead near the 2nd Island while using a fiddler crab for bait.
Triggerfish are everywhere on lower bay structures and inshore wrecks. These little fish will take most any offering. Chesapeake’s Michael Phelps found a willing 4 lb. 4 oz. trigger while fishing near the 2nd Island of the CBBT with clam.
Croaker are everywhere, and the bigger hardheads are now moving into lower bay waters. The larger fish are coming from the deeper areas north of the 3rd Island of the CBBT, the MMBT, Back River Reef, and the Cell. Many fish are ranging from 1 to 1.5-pounds. Anglers fishing Oyster are still filling coolers in the back waters. Spot are hitting within Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets on bloodworms, with good numbers of fish still coming from off the Concrete Ships.
The rekindled tarpon action on the Eastern Shore is still holding this week. According to the folks at Chris’ Bait and Tackle, with a few fish jumped off this week, and many sightings, the Silver King hunters are content right now. A few more hot days are needed to maintain this pattern. It is rumored that tarpon are also frequenting the coastline near Sandbridge recently.
Amberjack are providing good opportunities on offshore wrecks and at the Southern Towers. With the slow offshore action lately, many bluewater trollers are hitting the South Tower. Some boats are even bringing home AJ’s to try. Tuna are scarce, and there are a few dolphin around. Scattered white marlin are available further south.
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.
