Article by VMRC - Saltwater Review
Chincoteague
Donna at Captain Bob’s reports that not a lot has changed around Croakerville (aka Chincoteague). Numerous croaker can still be found in the Chincoteague Channel from Marker 14 around the point to Daisy’s Dockside. While not many croaker were available in the Assateague Channel last week, keeper flounder were hooked. Kingfish up to 14 inches were around outside of the inlet (near Marker 10), and blue crabbing has been excellent all season long. Sharks were still around, but in lower abundance compared to recent weeks.
Wreck fishermen did well last week with spadefish, black sea bass, a few triggerfish, and tautog.
Offshore fishing has been successful with tuna and large dolphin at the parking lot. There have been several whale sightings reported by the offshore boats as well lately.
Wachapreague
Staff at Captain Zed’s reported that a few gray trout were caught in the area last week, mostly in the surf and in Cedar Island Cove. Flounder were still around with a lot of throwbacks for every keeper. A few small croaker came in as well. Croaker were found at Drawing and Green channels and near Bull’s Head. A few kingfish have been caught in the inlet as well.
Cape Charles
Despite the heat, fishermen from Chris’ Bait and Tackle still had a great week and weekend. Cobia fishing was good in the area, and spadefish were reported around the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Croaker are biting very well out of Oyster, and citation flounder are still being reported. A few tarpon and shark releases were also reported.
Lower Bay/Bridge Tunnel
Citation flounder were reported from Cobb’s Marina last week. The largest, a WHOPPING 10 pounds, 15 ounces, was caught at the Concrete Ships at Kiptopeke. The other large flattie, also caught at the Concrete Ships, weighed in at 7 pounds.
Staff at Sunset Boating Center reported flounder catches this week. Most were found around the Hampton Bar.
It was a really exciting week at Wallace’s Bait and Tackle—Kathy reported a 70-pound, 8-ounce cobia caught last week at Bluefish Rock. Several other citation flounder (7 pounds, 4 ounces and a HUGE 10 pounds, 1 ounce) were weighed in as well. Cobia and flounder were also reported from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
Flounder are everywhere, according to staff at the York River Fishing Center. They reported extremely good fishing in the last week. Flounder were hooked all over the Bay, and croaker were abundant in the York River, specifically down river near the oil refinery pier. Cobia and Spanish mackerel were found near the York Spit as well.
Virginia Beach
Dr. Julie Ball, IGFA International Representative for Virginia Beach, contributed the following:
Recent cold fronts brought some welcome relief from the heat last week, and the fishing is still heating up. The inshore species are providing good action, while the offshore billfish scene is also picking up.
Flounder action has been steady recently. Anglers drifting with strip baits and minnows are finding nice fish at the Cell, the Hampton Bar, and the Thimble Shoal Channel. Plenty of keepers are taking bait, with several fish pushing near 8 pounds in the mix. Those dropping live bait and jigs on lower Bay structures are also finding nice fish along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel near the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th islands, as well as the High Rise. Within Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets, flounder enthusiasts are finding fewer keepers, but those working for their catches are finding fish ranging up to 23 inches. Anglers are having good success using peanut bunker as bait within the Lynnhaven Basin lately.
Cobia continue to provide very good action, with the larger fish making a good showing this week. Chummers are scoring with a nicer class of fish using chunks of bunker, live eels, and live croaker fished on the bottom. The best locations for chumming lately are the seaside areas of Fisherman’s Island, the Nine Foot Shoal, and Latimer Shoal. Sight-casters are finding incredible catches, with another state-leading fish hitting the scales. Red drum are also schooling around the mouth of the Bay, with reports of schools also showing off the Virginia Beach oceanfront, especially off of Sandbridge.
Another new visitor has joined the summertime show. Several sight-casters are reporting sightings of jack crevalles within the lower Bay. Often, these members of the jack family are noted schooling around the lower Bay late in the summer, especially near the shoal areas and the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Although catches are not common, trolling spoons, sight-casting, and live bait can entice a hit.
According to the folks at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle, puppy drum (juvenile red drum) action picked up within both Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets. Anglers are casting Gulp! lures with good results, with most pups ranging over 20 inches.
Medium-sized spot are also around, with Little Creek providing the best action this week, where a few fish are pushing to near 14 ounces.
Smaller croaker are everywhere from the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The best hauls are coming from the backwaters of Oyster, where fish are pushing 2 pounds.
The folks at Chris’ Bait and Tackle report a few tarpon sightings and landings this week.
Sheepshead action is still good, with fish to 14 pounds taking fiddler crabs or clam presented along the Bridge Tunnel complex.
Plenty of triggerfish are also available in these same areas. Spadefish are still schooling around near shore wrecks, the span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, especially the 3rd and 4th islands, as well as the High Rise area. Most of these fish are ranging to around 4 pounds.
Spanish mackerel action off the oceanfront is good lately, with larger fish pushing to over 2 pounds taking trolled spoons in water as shallow as 15 feet. Boats are finding schools of Spanish mackerel busting the surface as far as 5 miles out, making a fun catch for sight-casters. Tailor bluefish are also mixed in with the mackerel.
Amberjack are a no-brainer at the South Tower, where anglers are finding good numbers of big fish. A few barracuda are also coming from the same area.
Staff at Virginia Beach Fishing Center reported fantastic offshore fishing last week. Catches included yellowfin tuna, white marlin, and numerous dolphin and amberjack. One sailfish was even caught two miles out of Rudee Inlet.
Inshore catches included flounder in the inlet and tailor bluefish mixed with nice-sized Spanish mackerel from the beaches. At the local light towers, spadefish and shark have been hooked, and headboats in the Bay had success with croaker, black sea bass, and some flounder.
Paula, at Fishermen’s Wharf Marina, reported good fishing at the Norfolk Canyon last week. Catches included white marlin, gaffer dolphin, and yellowfin tuna.
Outer Banks, NC
Offshore fishing out of Cape Hatteras continued to see good results for people chasing dolphin and tuna last week. Several boats were able to catch their limits of dolphin; yellowfin, blackfin, bigeye and skipjack tuna were all available for the taking. Trolling was also producing little tunny, bonito, wahoos, and king mackerel. The billfish bite dropped off a bit from last week with blue marlin dominating these catches. Deep-droppers had success with vermillion snapper, red snapper, snowy grouper, gag grouper, yellowedge grouper, triggerfish, and blueline tilefish. Small numbers of striped bass and red drum were being caught in the 8-to 10-mile range. Closer to shore, boaters had good luck with bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Pier and surf fishermen were able to catch large numbers of spot, croaker, and sea mullet. In the sounds and inlet, anglers saw improvement in the flounder and speckled trout catches. The shallow water areas in the inlet were the best bet for flounder. Roanoke Sound bridges and sea grass beds in the early morning and late afternoon were best for the trout. Bottom fishing in the deeper waters of the sound produced some good sea mullet action as well.
South of Oregon Inlet, the surf fishing on the point produced bluefish and Spanish mackerel in the late afternoons. The Avon beaches saw good action on bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and sea mullet.
Offshore fishing out of Hatteras Inlet produced good catches of dolphin and blackfin tuna. A scattering of sailfish were reported as well. Inshore, the Spanish mackerel and bluefish bite was strong.
