Article by Julie Ball
Despite the stiff winds over the past week, local saltwater temperatures continue to rise. But these same gusty conditions kept most anglers closer to shore. Once boats can get outside the inlets, the fish will be waiting.
Most interest is still centered around the emerging red drum bite. The full moon last week primed conditions for drum activity among the breakers along the Eastern Shore barrier islands. Big reds ranging from 45 to 50-inches are providing decent early season action off Fisherman’s Island on peeler crabs, blue crabs and bunker.
Smallish black drum ranging to around 25-pounds are becoming more active in the Eastern Shore seaside inlets and near Latimer Shoal in the Bay, but larger fish will become more common in local waters soon.
The most cooperative species last week were still tautog, and you don’t have to go far to target them. Boats braving the seas are still finding limits of keeper fish along the Bay Bridge Tunnel structure and inshore wrecks. Several Bay tog are pushing to over 9-pounds, with many 6 and 7-pounders around. These fish are favoring both fiddlers and blue crabs lately. When boats could get out to reach them, good numbers of super-sized tautog were still active on deeper water wrecks, with the Triangle Wrecks a popular choice. Unfortunately, tautog season in Virginia closes on May 1st and doesn’t reopen until September 20th.
Although tautog became off limits on May 1st, the Chesapeake Bay Spring Trophy Striped Bass season opened on the same day. Anglers can keep one fish per person at 32-inches or larger, which need to be reported, so review the regulations carefully.
The flounder bite is still hit and miss, but the trend is on the upswing within lower Bay waters. Scattered keepers are rewarding anglers who put in their time, with the best luck coming from the Hump, Buoy 36, the 1st and 2nd islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and the Eastern Shore seaside inlets. Anglers are also hooking flatties up to 21-inches inside the Lynnhaven River, with the outgoing tide producing the best results. A few bigger fish, pushing to around 25-inches, are also in the mix, with strip bait and gudgeons still performing the best.
Depending on who you ask, the speckled trout action in the Elizabeth River is a challenge, especially in the Southern Branch. Dedicated anglers are finding scattered fish, and most of those are impressive, stretching to over 23-inches. A few trophies from the River even exceeded 30-inches last week. The bigger fish are still responding to top water presentations, while puppy drum and small striped bass are also hitting in the same areas. Puppy drum have been particularly active within Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets lately.
Lower Bay Rivers are still harboring larger croaker, while the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and Ocean View areas are hosting decent numbers of medium-sized hardheads. Shrimp and bloodworms are working well right now. The folks at the Ocean View Fishing Pier report that anglers are hauling in croaker averaging to around 14-inches. Tailor bluefish were still hitting along the Oceanfront and within Rudee Inlet last week.
When boats can get out, deep dropping species such as tilefish and grouper are still available in water over 50 fathoms near the Canyon. As the dogfish begin to move out this month, more boats will venture out to try their luck.
Offshore action is heading our way. Yellowfin tuna action, along with some wahoo and dolphin, are giving the Carolina fleet some decent days. Bluefin tuna are also a possibility, with some boats trying their luck with the migrating schools passing by on their way north.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For information, go to www.drjball.com.
