Article by Julie Ball
With the warmer weather setting in, many folks are hitting the water. Most attention is directed towards the newly arriving cobia. The first boated fish were reported the week before last, with several more added to the list again last week. And it looks like things will only get better, as Carolina anglers are boasting astounding numbers of fish still heading this way. Most catches are coming from off the Buckroe area of Hampton, where some of the biggest fish will fall to chummer’s offerings. Several fish are also coming from top water efforts, where nice fish were hooked around the CBBT and cruising off the Virginia Beach oceanfront this week.
Spadefish are next on the list. Spades began biting with some regularity this week at the Chesapeake Light Tower, the CBBT, and other inshore and bay structures. Limits of fish ranging from 4 to 6 lbs. are the norm right now. Anglers are swarming to the popular haunts, such as the Chesapeake Light Tower and the CBBT to intercept these mighty fighters, resulting in large crowds.
Red drum are providing plenty of action right now. Boats are releasing dozens of bulls from the seaside of Fisherman’s Island and the Nautilus Shoal areas. Peelers and blue crabs are working best. Rob Collins and David Cohen, both from Virginia Beach, released a pair of bulls measuring 46-inches long while fishing aboard the "Panacea" at Buoy 10 this week. Large schools of reds are also cruising the surface along the oceanfront. The Virginia Beach Fishing Center reported that one boat released several large drum from a school they encountered just outside of Rudee Inlet this week. Big black drum are also taking clam and crab offerings near Buoys 10, 13 and 16 off the Eastern Shore. These fish will begin moving to the islands of the CBBT soon.
Flounder pounders continue to sift through many shorts to get their bounties, but a few big fish are rounding out catches. Most flatfish are coming from drifting strip baits near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Buoys 36A, 40, 42, and the Cell areas. Live baiters are also beginning to see some action. Stanley Barto of Suffolk enticed a nice 7 lb. 8 oz. doormat from the CBBT on a live spot this week.
A few keeper flounder and tailor blues are still available within the local inlets. Pier anglers along the oceanfront are picking through a few small flounder, small croaker, and bluefish. Reports of speckled trout and puppy drum are still coming from within Rudee Inlet, and specks are faring well from within Mobjack Bay. Croaker are an easy target as decent hauls come from all over the lower Bay, with squid and Fishbites working well.
Another summertime favorite, Spanish mackerel, made a debut this week along the shorelines off Virginia beach. These fish are easily enticed with a small Drone or Clark spoon trolled at a fast clip along rips and tide lines. Bluefish up to 5 lbs. are available in this same area, as well as throughout the lower Bay.
Striped bass are still available for anglers live-baiting over the tubes and near the rocks of the artificial islands of the CBBT, as well as at the curve approaching the 3rd Island. Sheepshead should make a better showing along the CBBT proper as the water continues to warm.
For those venturing a little further offshore, plenty of keeper-sized seabass are biting on many wrecks and structures. The Triangle Wreck area is a popular seabass destination this time of year. Even further out, deep dropping varieties are also still a good choice. For those fishing on the bottom near the Norfolk Canyon, plenty of blueline tilefish, with a smattering of grouper, wreckfish, and black bellied rosefish are available. Mike Ney at Long Bay Pointe Bait and Tackle reported that one boat running out of Lynnhaven scored with blueline tilefish ranging up to 19-pounds this week.
Offshore, good water is becoming more prevalent, where catches of nice gaffer dolphin are happening. Sean Doran of South Mills, NC scored with a 26 lb. gaffer on a recent offshore overnight trip aboard the "Red Knight".
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. Representative for Virginia Beach, VA. You can find Dr. Julie’s reports at www.drjball.com.
