Article by Julie Ball
With a steady parade of evening thunderstorms this week, the spring Mid-Atlantic fishing scene has taken a slight detour from the usual trend. The biggest interest is still in the emerging drum scene, which is motivating many anglers to gather peelers and crabs, and head for the Eastern Shore shoals between the thunderstorms.
Red drum are providing some decent action among the breakers and sloughs near Smith and Fisherman’s Island, especially at night. The best action is still among the breakers, where kayak anglers are taking advantage of this trend right now. John Fauci of Norfolk had a great drum trip this week when he released a massive 58-inch bull from his kayak in the white water off Fisherman’s Island. Bill “Gordy” Knapp of Virginia Beach also found some drum action while his crew braved the storms and rain this week. Bill released a nice 51-inch red while bottom fishing at night with crab off Fisherman’s Island recently.
According to Chris at Chris’ Bait and Tackle, smallish black drum ranging to about 35-pounds are becoming more active along the Eastern Shore seaside inlets, surf, and near buoys 13 and 16 on the bayside. The larger fish are still coming from the Quinby areas further north. This trend will also continue to heat up over the next few weeks, and larger fish will become more common.
With the recent muddy water and excess fresh water from the abundant rain, the flounder scene is still slow within Bay waters and around the CBBT. The best numbers of keeper fish are coming from the Eastern Shore seaside inlets, and back waters of Oyster. A few keeper flatfish are also coming from within both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets.
Healthy puppy drum ranging to 33-inches are still hitting inside Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets, where anglers are also finding bluefish up to around 5 lbs. and scattered speckled trout. Specks are also available within the Eastern Shore seaside inlets and the backwaters of Oyster. Peeler crabs, live bait, and Mirrolures are a good choice for the specks right now.
Many are taking advantage of the Bay’s Spring Trophy Striped Bass season. Striped bass are providing a good alternative for those looking for some solid action right now. Anglers working top water lures along the rocks at the islands of the CBBT are content with steady hits from fish exceeding the 32-inch minimum size requirement. Storm Lures cast around the pilings of the CBBT are also working well. Reports of school-sized fish are coming from around the HRBT, and larger fish are hitting cut bunker near the mouths of the lower Bay Rivers.
Tautog are still lurking on lower bay and inshore structures, but these fish are only available for catch and release until late June.
The lower Bay Rivers are still holding the larger croaker, while the Little Creek jetties and Ocean View are hosting medium-sized hardheads, which are hitting squid. The folks at the Ocean View Fishing Pier report that the best croaker action is still at night. Nice-sized spot also debuted this week off the pier. Sea mullet ranging to near a pound are still providing some variety, where blood worms are working best for both spot and sea mullet.
The black sea bass are beginning to migrate closer to shore, where the Triangle Wrecks will provide good numbers right now. Remember that sea bass must now stretch to 12.5-inches to keep them. Blueline tilefish, grouper, and other deep water species are still available in water over 50 fathoms when the weather allows boats to reach them.
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.
