Article by Julie Ball
The fall fishing season is shaping up when boats can get out on the water, but sporadic windy days and tropical disturbances can make it difficult this time of year. When the weather allows, most inshore boats are targeting spot, red drum, flounder, and cobia, while the offshore boats are getting in on the outstanding white marlin bite.
The flounder action is still not up to where it was before the hurricane, but some folks are finding decent fish. Doormats ranging to over 9-pounds are taking both live bait and drifted bait along the CBBT structure and drop-offs, with the 1st, 3rd and 4th islands producing the best lately. The deep channel edges at the mouth of the Bay are also providing some keeper flatfish for drifters. Surprisingly, many of the lower Bay fishing piers such as the Ocean View Fishing Pier are giving up keeper flounder this week. Some surf and pier anglers are catching limits of flatfish ranging from 19 to 25-inches. According to the folks at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle, the flounder in Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets are mostly throw backs right now.
Offshore wrecks are also a good bet, where keeper seabass and grey triggerfish will also take offerings.
Big cobia are still lingering on the pilings of the CBBT and the buoys near the mouth of the Bay and off the oceanfront. Large schools of cobia are also cruising on the surface as they gather to exit the area. Many of these fish are exceeding 60-pounds, with tossed jigs and live bait working well. Also look for big schools of cobia assemble along the ocean front.
Big red drum are swarming all over the lower Bay right now. Folks are finding big schools of drum roaming on the surface, making easy targets for casters. But the big news is that the long awaited red drum run off of Sandbridge also began this week. To surf and pier angler’s delight, big reds are taking cut bait cast into the sloughs along the surf lines off Sandbridge. A few red drum are also coming from both the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier and the Little Island Fishing Pier. Puppy drum are also available from the surf, as well as within Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets, and the Elizabeth River.
Speckled trout are beginning to show more promise for a good fall season. Although most fish are still small, good numbers of fish are coming from most of the usual haunts such as Rudee, Lynnhaven, and Little Creek Inlets, the Elizabeth River, Hungar’s Creek, the Poquoson Flats, and Mobjack Bay. Look for this trend to continue to heat up over the next month.
Decent sized spot are pouring into the lower Bay and ocean front areas. The Virginia Beach Fishing Center reports that anglers are especially thrilled with the recent spot invasion just outside Rudee Inlet. All of the local piers are reporting good spot action lately, with the best bites occurring on a moving tide and at night. Both bloodworms and Fishbites are working well.
Horse croaker made a good showing this week inside the lower Bay inlets, with Little Creek and Lynnhaven Inlets producing the best hauls. Many of the larger hardheads ranging around 2 to 2.5-pounds are coming from the deeper channel just outside the Lynnhaven basin on squid, shrimp, or live bait. Sheepshead action has slowed a little along the CBBT, but the triggerfish will more than make up for it.
Spanish mackerel are still chasing trolled spoons along Sandbridge and Dam Neck in about 20 to 25 feet of water. Schools of false albacore in these same areas will also hit spoons. A few king mackerel are also taking trolled baits in these same areas lately.
Amberjack are still available on local wrecks, the Chesapeake Light Tower, and the South Tower. Jack Crevelle are also a possibility, but this action is hit or miss.
Deep droppers are having good luck near the Canyon edges lately. Limits of nice blueline tilefish, blackbellied rosefish, and scattered jumbo seabass are hitting the decks.
Good numbers of white marlin, with a few blue marlin, sailfish, and spearfish are available from the Washington Canyon to the triple 0’s area in anywhere from 30 to 120 fathoms lately. Scattered yellowfin and blackfin tuna are also surprising a few boats this week. Wahoo continue to slam spreads, while gaffer dolphin are still a good backup.
For more information, go to www.drjball.com.
