Article by Julie Ball
With the great weather last week, the mid-summer fishing is still going strong. Inshore, the main interest still centers around cobia and the old standby, flounder.
Cobia hunters finally found a significant upswing in the action last week. More sightings and more responsive fish are translating into more cobia in the boat for sight casters. Several of these fish are pushing from 60 to 80-pounds lately. Captain Justin Wilson and his crew aboard the “Just Right” out of Lynnhaven spotted 15 cobia, and hooked 5 fish up to 45-pounds while sight casting last week.
Latimer Shoal and the Nine Foot Shoal are still good places to dump chum and bottomfish, both cuts, where smaller fish were still the norm last week. Huge schools of red drum are still meandering about the lower Bay and along the oceanfront, providing great sight casting opportunities. Schools of jack crevelle are making their yearly stop in Lower Bay waters, briefly flashing anglers along lower Bay cuts before disappearing into the depths.
Flounder pounders reported good catches of quality fish last week. Although the number of trophy doormats is still down, decent fish ranging from 3 to 6-pounds are making the trip worthwhile. The best results are coming from those offering live bait or jigging near bridge pilings and along the tubes of the CBBT, lower Bay wrecks, Back River Reef, and near the Cell in about 40-feet of water. The outgoing tide is providing the best action. Both Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets are still giving up good numbers of keeper flatfish for drifters.
Anglers are heading to Oyster to partake in the excellent croaker run, with the “chimney” and Buoy 7 areas providing good action. Within lower Bay waters, croaker are everywhere from the HRBT to Cape Henry. The area off Kiptopeke State Park is also a favorite location lately, while the folks at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle report that nicer croaker are coming from the Inlets. Big spot are also still hitting within the Inlets, with Fish Bites working well last week.
Spadefish ranging to about seven pounds are available at the Chesapeake Light Tower and the Tower Reef, while smaller fish to around five-pounds are hovering near the CBBT and the Cell. Sheepshead are still going strong along the CBBT structure and triggerfish are also swiping baits in many of these same areas. Tog action is still down, and will likely not rekindle until the fall.
Spanish mackerel are still dominating the trolling scene along the oceanfront. The bigger fish are coming from shallower water on small Drone or Clark spoons trolled at a quick clip. The Virginia Beach Fishing Center reports that most of the fish are ranging from 14 to 20-inches, with Tailor bluefish rounding out catches. King mackerel were sighted skying along the Virginia Beach shorelines last week, with only rumors of a few hook-ups.
Virgina tarpon are still drawing hardcore anglers to the backwaters of Oyster, with reports of sightings and hook-ups still trickling in. Be prepared to also tangle with big Southern rays and sharks in the hot sun in these same areas.
Deep dropping is still a good choice, with quality blueline tilefish, golden tilefish, blackbellied rosefish and nice grouper on the menu. Black sea bass are also available mixed in with the tilefish.
Amberjack are still taking jigs and live bait offered on offshore wrecks and at the South Tower.
The offshore bite is still very good, with the billfish scene improving daily. Boats raised up to a dozen billfish in spreads last week, with white marlin, a smattering of blues and a few sailfish exciting bluewater trollers. Last week, the best action occurred from the Triple 0’s area to East of the Cigar in 50 to 100 fathoms. Nice yellowfin tuna are still hitting in the Canyon, along with big eyes and scattered school-sized bluefin tuna. Wahoo are becoming more common, with some big gaffer dolphin showing here and there, along with a few surprise mako sharks. For more information go to www.drjball.com.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For more information, go to www.drjball.com.
