Article by Julie Ball
Right now, many summer species are preparing to migrate out of the area, while the fall residents are making their debut. This can make it tough to choose which fish to target.
Cobia is a sure deal as they crowd along bridge pilings and buoys, with more fish now reported in open water. Pods of fish are appearing on the surface as they prepare to exit local waters. Good numbers of fish are also appearing along the oceanfront, with most ranging from around 20 to 40-pounds. Expert sight casters report that bucktails and live menhaden are working best lately.
Chummers and bottom anglers are still catching some decent fish in the usual hot spots with cut bunker.
Flounder action is up and down, but the wind and rain from Irene could push the action to the downside for a while. On good days, anglers are finding enough keepers to hold their interest. Nice flatfish are coming from deeper channels and lower Bay structures. The High Rise, the bend at the 3rd Island, the 4th Island, the Baltimore Channel and Back River Reef are popular flounder spots lately. Lower Bay inlets are also giving up some keeper fish, with many ranging up to 22-inches in both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets. If you prefer not to fight the crowds, decent flatfish are showing on inshore and offshore wrecks. Nice keeper sized sea bass are also providing good action on many offshore structures.
Red drum are still on a late-season roll, providing incredible topwater action for casters. Huge schools of bulls continue to roam around the 3rd Island of the CBBT, the Nine Foot Shoal and along the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Some big puppy drum ranging to over 30-inches took lures and fresh bait in both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets last week. Speckled trout are beginning to draw more attention, with several nice keepers coming from Lynnhaven Inlet, the Bayside creeks of the Eastern shore and the Elizabeth River last week.
The Virginia Beach Fishing Center reports that decent yellowbelly spot are biting in Rudee, Lynnhaven and Little Creek Inlets, as well as near the 1st Island. Croaker ranging up to 1.5-pounds are hitting around the four islands of the CBBT, off the concrete ships and the near the Cell. Coolers are still overflowing with medium-sized croaker out of Oyster, but the punch coming from Irene could shut down the Oyster croaker bite for the season.
Sheepshead are still around, with nice fish taking fiddler crabs and clam. The entire span of the Bay Bridge Tunnel and the tubes of the artificial islands are holding fish up to 12-pounds.
Spadefish are hanging around the pilings of the Bridge Tunnel, with anglers cleaning up with 3 and 4-pounders. Triggerfish are everywhere, and becoming a nuisance to anglers targeting other species.
King mackerel are making a cautious appearance along the Virginia Beach shorelines. Anglers are reporting skying fish, near misses and a few landed snakes, with most of the activity happening off of Sandbridge. Nice Spanish mackerel were still responding well along the oceanfront and along the CBBT last week, along with the obligatory by catch of Tailor bluefish.
The folks at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle reported a flurry of hush-hush tarpon activity out of Oyster, with several fish jumped off and a few landed. The folks at Chris’ Bait and Tackle fear that Irene could end the silver king run for the year.
Big amberjack are still lurking among the legs of the Southern Towers as well as on several offshore wrecks. Jack crevelle will show up on the Chesapeake Light Tower within the next few weeks. Scattered catches of jacks are coming from the Bay as schools of Jack crevelle continued to roam lower Bay waters last week. Deep dropping is still good when boats target deeper water off Virginia. Nice blueline tilefish, blackbellied rosefish and a good number of barrelfish are keeping anglers happy.
Offshore, billfish are still at the top of the list, with several boats flying multiple flags this week before the storm. But Isabel could cause this action to scatter. Bailer and gaffer dolphin, wahoo and a few yellowfin tuna are also around. Swordfish will become more common as waters cool. 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.
