Article by Julie Ball
The Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer for many, but the summer fishing trend is still going strong. We are also seeing fall species becoming more active, so it is the best of both worlds right now.
Founder have been a hit for most of the latter half of the summer, and now the bite is evolving into a more fall-like pattern. Fat flatties are gathering in the lower Bay area in preparation to leave for the season. Productive areas include the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT), many lower Bay and inshore structures and deep channel edges and drop-offs. Good reports are coming from the 3rd and 4th Islands of the Bay Bridge Tunnel, Back River Reef and near Buoy 42, with good numbers of fish ranging from 21 to 23-inches. Live bait, jigs and fresh strip baits are all working. Lower Bay inlets are also giving up some limits of keeper fish, with flatties ranging from 18 to 20-inches coming from both the Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets. Offshore wrecks are also becoming more productive. Nice keeper-sized sea bass are also providing action on many offshore structures and you can keep them for a while longer until the season closes near the end of the month.
Cobia action is right on track as these fish also transition into their fall trend. Look for good opportunities for casting to fish concentrated in schools and pods on the surface in open water near the mouth of the Bay and along the oceanfront as they stage to migrate south. Many of these fish have exceeded 50-pounds lately. Nice fish are also pausing on bridge pilings and buoys, which is typical for this time of the year. Chummers are still having luck on lower Bay shoals.
Big red drum encounters are happening throughout the lower Bay. Schools of reds continue to delight sightcasters near the CBBT and off the Virginia Beach shorelines, while the surf action is still good on the Eastern Shore barrier islands. These fish will also begin showing in numbers in the surf along Sandbridge and at the wildlife refuge soon.
Big sheepshead are still taking late season offerings along the span of the Bay Bridge Tunnel, with the action on the tubes escalating. Triggerfish are also in the same vicinity, as well as on several inshore wrecks. Spadefish ranging from 3 to 4-pounds are still hanging around the 3rd and 4th Islands, but the bite is about over. Anglers are finding bluefish, some grey trout and schoolie-sized striped bass while casting, jigging and drifting baits around the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT) and the CBBT, especially at night.
Speckled trout are making a good showing in the Lynnhaven Inlet, the Poquoson flats, the seaside of Oyster and the Elizabeth River. This bite will continue to improve over the coming months. Plenty of aggressive puppy drum are responding for anglers casting jigs or offering fresh bait within the Lynnhaven, Rudee and Little Creek Inlets.
Nice spot and croaker are infiltrating the lower Bay and local inlets. Pier anglers are taking advantage of the abundant spot and croaker found from Buckroe to Sandbridge, toting away coolers of spot ranging to 3/4-pound and croaker pushing to over 14-inches last week. Croaker are still a mainstay out of Oyster, but this bite will wind down soon. Good numbers of spot are also coming from within the Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets, with bloodworms the best choice.
King mackerel are a possibility along the shorelines from Rudee Inlet to False Cape and around coastal wrecks. These lightning-fast fish are responding to both trolled lures and live bait lately, but finding clean water is the key. Plenty of ribbonfish and some sharks and cobia will also compete for your offerings. Spanish mackerel are still hitting near the CBBT, the mouth of the Bay and along the oceanfront. False albacore are also a possibility, while bailer mahi may also present in cleaner inshore waters, especially near the wrecks.
Deep droppers are still faring well off Virginia. Boats continue to bring home content anglers toting a variety of nice tilefish, rosefish, barrelfish, grouper and big sea bass. A few big amberjack are still available at the South Towers, and Jack cravelle could make a brief showing at the Chesapeake Light Tower over the next few weeks.
The offshore billfish bite is still very good, although the action is spread out. If you can find a concentration of fish, the white marlin bite can be amazing, with live-baiters releasing the most fish. A few blue marlin, sailfish and spearfish were also reported last week. Tuna are rare, but an increasing number of wahoo and plenty of nice dolphin are rounding out catches.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For more information, go to www.drjball.com
