Article by Julie Ball
Although Labor Day marks the end of summer for many folks, local anglers know it is not the end of the good fishing for Virginia. The fall species will begin to earn more interest as the waters cool and the summer favorites prepare to leave for the season.
Flounder action was steady last week in the lower Bay. Flatfish continue to gather at the mouth of the Bay in preparation for migrating to deeper water. Folks drifting near the 1st and 2nd Islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) and near the Small Boat Channel are faring well with nice fish averaging to around 5-pounds, while working the areas near the third and fourth islands of the CBBT with live bait has also been productive recently, with some scattered trophies pushing to over 9-pounds landed last week.
Boats working Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets are also finding a few catches of decent keepers. Good action is happening on nearshore and offshore wrecks, where solid catches of nice fish pushing to over 24-inches took fresh strip bait last week. By-catches of keeper sea bass and big triggerfish are also responding on these same structures.
Cobia are nearing the end of their reign in local waters as they move out of the lower Bay, but there is still opportunity for some great action before they depart for the season. With some days better than others, both chummers and sightcasters are finding decent catches, with a few bruisers going to well over 60-pounds boated last week.
Big red drum continue to delight anglers as schools swarm on lower Bay shoals and near the mouth of the Bay, where some reds were hooked near the 3rd and 4th Islands recently. Surfcasters are on alert, with the drum bite in the surf along Fisherman’s Island on the rise. Look for big bulls to also show in the surf off Sandbridge and near the Little Island Fishing Pier soon.
Spanish mackerel are still responding to trolled spoons along Sandbridge and Dam Neck, as well as around the artificial islands of the CBBT, along with plenty of bluefish. There are also some rumors of a few king mackerel striking trolled baits a few miles off Sandbridge. Sharks are still a big event here, where a variety of toothy critters continue to thrill anglers.
Speckled trout are a true question mark this season, but reports of scattered catches of mostly smallish fish ranging up to around 16-inches in lower Bay protected inlets, Hungar’s Creek, the Poquoson Flats, Mobjack Bay, and the seaside and Bayside areas of the Eastern Shore is encouraging. A rumor of a 6-pound citation trout coming from Rudee Inlet last week has the hush-hush speck community buzzing. If this trophy fish is confirmed, it will be the first gator trout caught in Virginia since the massive fish kill last February. Puppy drum of all sizes are still coming from the surf lines off Virginia Beach, as well as Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets.
Nice sheepshead are still taking offerings over the tubes of the Bay Bridge Tunnel, along with a decent number of keeper sized tautog, but remember to throw them back until the 20th. Spadefish ranging to around 2 to 3-pounds are still around the 3rd and 4th Islands, although this action has slowed, but plenty of hungry triggerfish are happy to take over.
Decent-sized spot are showing along the oceanfront and the lower Bay shorelines, rivers and inlets. Some nice spot are available within both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets on a moving tide, as well as off the Hampton Bar and Ocean View areas. Medium-sized hardheads are also showing in these same areas, as well as along the southern Small Boat Channel.
Amberjack are still active on local wrecks, the Chesapeake Light Tower and the Southern Towers through October, with jack crevelle also a possibility. Deep droppers are having good luck near the Canyon edges with limits of nice blueline tilefish and jumbo sea bass.
Blackbellied rosefish, grouper and barrelfish are also adding to the deep water variety.
Offshore action is still very good, with the billfish bite escalating recently. Good numbers of white marlin and scattered blue marlin are keeping boats busy. A few sailfish, spearfish and swordfish were also reported last week. Some 50-pound class yellowfin tuna and good numbers of bigeye tuna, along with big wahoo are also possibilities. Dolphin action remains very good, with plenty of bailers and several gaffers over 30-pounds hitting the docks.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. Representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For more information, go to drjball.com.
