Article by Julie Ball
The weather is good, it’s summertime and the fish are here. So if you have not hit the water, now is a good time.
Flounder still seem to be on everyone’s mind. Many anglers are finding good luck with limits of nice fish. Most of the larger fish are still hitting jigs presented along lower Bay structures. According to the folks at Ocean’s East 2, the most popular offerings are jig heads paired with Gulp! Swimming Mullets or bucktails paired with strip baits. Drifters are finding more shorts lately, but they are also scoring with a few respectable fish weighing up to around 6-pounds, especially near the Cell area. Both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets are giving up some keeper flatfish and inshore wrecks became more productive as well last week.
Big red drum continue to provide good mid-summer action as they school around lower Bay shoals and along the oceanfront. Anglers are releasing dozens of bull reds with schools presenting themselves as easy top water targets, mostly on the oceanside of the Bay Bridge Tunnel. While not drawing much interest lately, black drum are also still hitting for casters around the 3rd and 4th Islands of the CBBT on Storm lures and grubs.
Although the cobia scene is picking up a bit, the fish are still not achieving the strong presentation we experienced over the last few years. Chummers are still faring well near the mouth of the Bay with mostly smaller fish. Latimer Shoal and the Nine Foot Shoal areas are still the most productive spots. Sight casters saw more fish last week, with a few boats hooking multiple fish weighing up to 50 and 70-pounds. Pods of bunker and tide lines along the oceanfront are also harboring a few cobia.
Spanish mackerel continue to hit small spoons trolled at 6 to 8 knots along the beach in about 25 feet of water. Use small planers or 4 to 6 ounce in-line sinkers to place the spoons within range. The most predictable Spanish bite is happening off of Cape Henry, where plenty of Tailor bluefish are also in the mix. Pier anglers are also getting in on some Spanish action with Gotcha lures doing the trick on most lower Bay piers. Both the Sandbridge and Buckroe Fishing Piers were good locations last week. Rumors of a few king mackerel sightings and hookups are floating about, but there are no confirmations as of yet.
Sheepshead anglers continue to smile as they take advantage of a good year. Folks are finding fish along all spans of the CBBT lately, with the fish also now showing up on all four tubes. Even folks on the Seagull Fishing Pier scored some nice sheep last week. Tautog action is down in Bay waters, but triggerfish are beginning to take up the slack. Spadefish are still an option around the islands and pilings of the CBBT and on inshore wrecks, with fish still averaging around 3 to 5-pounds.
Another highly esteemed species is also stirring a subdued rumbling among Eastern Shore anglers. Reports of scattered hookups and landings of tarpon circulated throughout the community last week.
Amberjack are taking live bait and jigs at the Southern Towers, as well as several offshore wrecks, which offer a great fight for those ready for a brawl. Deep dropping is still good, with boats finding good numbers of tilefish, rosefish and scattered grouper. Bill Knapp of Virginia Beach scored a nice 67.5-pound snowy grouper he caught deep dropping with me and my crew near the Canyon last week.
Offshore, billfish are gaining more consideration with white and blue marlin catches on the rise. Good numbers of nice yellowfin tuna are still showing up at the docks, along with bluefin tuna and bigeyes. Most boats are also encountering gaffer mahi, king mackerel, and mako sharks, as well as some wahoo.
The winner of this year’s Virginia Beach Tuna Tournament took top place with a nice 227-pound bigeye from the Norfolk Canyon. Congratulations to the crew of the “Special D” with a combined weight of 323.4-pounds.
For information, go to www.drjball.com.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For more information, go to www.drjball.com.
