Article by Julie Ball
With most of the summertime players in place, the fishing scene was explosive. Flounder are still the main attraction, with nice doormats weighing up to 10-pounds hitting the scales. Anglers working structure with jigs adorned with artificial baits such as Gulp! Jerk Shads are coming out on top, with live baiters coming in second. The Bay Bridge Tunnel pilings and the 3rd and 4th Island tubes were the best flattie hot spots last week. Drifters are also finding plenty of fish along channels, shoals, drop-offs and ledges, but they are averaging on the smaller side. A few keepers are also responding within both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets.
Cobia hunters continue to chum on the lower Bay shoals, such as Latimer Shoal and the Inner Middle Grounds, where mostly medium-sized fish in the 20 to 30-pound range are cooperating. Captain Ben Shepherd of “Above Average Sportfishing” feels the cobia bite is improving, but it still has a way to go to catch up with last year’s numbers. Sight casters are boating fewer but larger fish, with most pushing to over 50-pounds. Captain Ben tells us that he is spotting plenty of fish, but not many are responding.
Spanish mackerel continue to provide good action for trollers, with Cape Henry being the best location. Some boats are also finding good luck around the islands of the CBBT. The best catches are in about 20 to 25-feet of water, with planers working better than in-line sinkers. These fish are a nice class, with a few 3-pounders in the mix along with tailor bluefish to around 2-pounds. Sharks are also becoming a popular target off the coast, with spinner sharks taking the lead this week.
Scattered black drum hook-ups are coming from the 3rd and 4th Islands, with some fish pushing to 70-pounds. Red drum are still taking baits along the Eastern Shore shoals and sightings of schooling reds near the CBBT and off Sandbridge are offering excellent topwater action.
Spadefish are providing good action at the CBBT with limits of fish ranging from 2 to 5-pounds taking clam offerings. Anglers are also finding a few nice triggerfish weighing up to around 2 to 3-pounds. Sheepshead are still responding along the Bridge Tunnel to fiddler crabs, blue crabs, clam and sand fleas, with most fish coming from the southernmost part of the span. With the warmer water taking its toll, tautog action slowed up in the Bay last week.
Croaker are scattered all over the lower Bay with good numbers also available within Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets. Hardhead hunters in Oyster are also filling coolers with decent fish. Ocean’s East 2 reports that nice spot are also surprising anglers within the inlets, with some pushing to around 15-ounces. A few puppy drum are also lingering in these same areas along with a smattering of bluefish. Sea mullet are still making a good showing this year all over the lower Bay, with many fish pushing close to a pound. Sandy bottom areas along channels, near the CBBT and off Cape Charles are providing excellent round head action.
Tarpon sightings are on the rise on the Eastern Shore, especially on the seaside with a few rumored hook-ups. Plenty of sharks and super-sized rays are also available to keep you busy as you wait in the hot sun for a rare tarpon run.
Amberjack are enticing a few anglers to make the long run to the Southern Towers, but the offshore bite has been so good lately that most boats are showing little interest. Deep dropping is good with nice blueline tilefish, black bellied rosefish, seabass and a smattering of grouper being caught. Again, the offshore action is distracting most from the deep dropping scene.
The tuna bite off Virginia is still good, and quite the mixed bag; anglers don’t know which species they will hook into. Although the tuna action has cooled off from last week, boats are still finding some 30-pound class yellowfin tuna, scattered big eyes and a few bluefin tuna. Many of these fish are more inshore, with the Fingers producing well this week. According to Captain Russ Kostinas, skipper of the “Top Notch” out of the Fishing Center in Rudee Inlet, the billfish showings are also on the rise with several white marlin hooked near the Cigar last week. A few blue marlin were also taken, along with a good smattering of bailer and gaffer dolphin to over 25-pounds, some nice wahoo and mako sharks. One boat even had good luck with a few swordfish on an overnight trip in the Canyon last week. For the latest 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.
