Article by Julie Ball
As we cruise towards the end of summer, the heat is starting to give way to some cooler winds from the North. This gusty weather can make getting out on the water a challenge. Calmer conditions could provide some productive fishing ventures as many species begin to display more late summer patterns.
With cloudy days and breezy conditions lately, cobia action for sightcasters has been less than optimal. Some nice fish are still hitting the docks when boats can get out, but the cloud cover is still obscuring any visual advantage for casters. A few chummers are also experiencing similar results lately. This fishery will begin winding down soon for the season.
Blustery winds don’t bother red drum and these fish are not taking any breaks as they fatten up for their journey south in the fall. Schools of bull redfish are roaming lower Bay waters, providing good casting opportunities. Big red drum are also taking bait from anglers bottom fishing on the bayside of the Eastern Shore and from surf anglers along Smith Island. Puppy drum are also active in the shallows, hitting Gulp! artificials and cut bait.
Flounder pounders are also dealing with trying weather conditions, making decent catches a challenge. Protected areas are providing easier fishing conditions, with Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets giving up some keeper flatfish lately. Anglers working the Eastern Shore inlets, off the concrete ships, and along the high rise area of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) are also finding some luck. The better catches are coming from the offshore wrecks when boats can reach them, where anglers can also find sea bass and triggerfish.
Sheepshead are still going strong as anglers entice big fish from the pilings and all four tubes of the CBBT while using fiddler crabs and clam for bait. Big triggerfish are also providing action in all the same locations, with several of these fish still pushing to over 3-pounds.
Spadefish are still biting around the islands of the CBBT, with anglers finding scattered 4 and 5-pounders near the 3rd Island.
Spot are gaining more attention, with good hauls of decent fish coming from local inlets, the Willoughby Bay and the lower Bay rivers.
Croaker are also providing action inside Rudee Inlet lately. Some puppy drum are around in most backwater locations, but speckled trout are slow to evolve as we watch carefully for a rebound.
Spanish mackerel are still providing good action along the Virginia Beach oceanfront for trollers on small gold and chrome spoons. Some king mackerel also responded to trolled baits last week. Anglers are still finding mahi along the “CB” buoy line and near the Tower Reef areas. Plenty of smallish sharks continue to entertain anglers in the same areas.
Amberjack are still available at the South Tower, and jack crevelle could be circling the Chesapeake Light Tower. Deep dropping for blueline tilefish, barrelfish and blackbellied rosefish is still productive, with by-catches of jumbo seabass also common in the same areas.
The billfish bite is fair according to offshore captains, with scattered catches of white marlin and occasional blue marlin and sailfish a possibility lately. The dolphin bite is still good, while wahoo action was on the rise last week. A few nice yellowfin tuna were boated last week, along with some decent bigeye tuna.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A Representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For more information, go to drjball.com.
