Article by Julie Ball
Gusty fronts and thunderstorms dominated the weather last week, but when boats could get out on the water, the results were worth the effort.
Cobia continue to peak the most interest since they are still the newest game in town. Plenty of cobia are available, with some boats returning to the dock with good catches. Chummers working the shoal areas on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay have caught a few cobia weighing over 70-pounds lately. Sightcasters are spotting more fish, with the majority in the 30 to 50-pound range, with both live and artificial baits enticing strikes.
The interest in red drum is now overshadowed by other species, but the action is still good along Fisherman’s Island, Nautilus Shoals and the Nine-Foot Shoal areas. More catches are ranging in the lower 40-inch range lately, but some whoppers exceeding 50-inches are still in the mix. The large school of big reds were still cruising on the surface off the Virginia Beach oceanfront, and close to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay last week for casting opportunities.
Black drum have all but vacated the shoal areas off the Eastern Shore and are now homesteading around the artificial islands of the Bay Bridge Tunnel.
A few spadefish were biting at the Chesapeake Light Tower last week, but be prepared to compete with skin divers. Scattered catches of spades ranging up to around 4-pounds are also coming from the 3rd and 4th Islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT) on clams.
Sheepshead are becoming more active, with a few nice fish up to 14-pounds taking offerings along the bridge’s structure and some lower Bay wrecks.
Grey triggerfish are also starting to show up around the islands of the CBBT.
Spanish mackerel debuted along the oceanfront last week, but the catches are mostly sparse for now. Trollers are also catching a mixed bag of snapper bluefish in the same areas.
The flounder scene is picking up momentum most everywhere in lower Bay waters. The best catches continue to come from the shallow protected inlets on the Eastern Shore and the southside, with the folks at The Fishing Center reporting that Rudee Inlet anglers boasted of flatties ranging from 18 to 23-inches last week on gudgeons paired with any colored plastic or Gulp! grub. Anglers saw much improved action last week using jigs and live bait around the pilings and tubes of the CBBT.
Decent reports of speckled trout and puppy drum are still coming from within Rudee Inlet, Lynnhaven Inlet and Mobjack Bay. Some puppy drum from Little Creek Inlet are exceeding 25-inches lately, but this action slowed some last week.
Oceanfront pier anglers are thrilled with a good spot run on bloodworms, along with some medium-sized croaker, smallish flounder and scattered sea mullet. Croaker averaging up to around 15-inches are also responding within Rudee Inlet lately, with decent grey trout still a possibility near the Marine Science Museum. Small bluefish and spot are also available in both Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets. Small croaker and snapper bluefish are hitting at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, while croaker and sea mullet are also biting off Ocean View and around the CBBT.
Some jumbo sea bass are hitting on offshore wrecks and structures, but several boats are experiencing slim pickings lately. Deep droppers working the edges of the Norfolk Canyon are also hauling in some big sea bass mixed in with good numbers of big blueline tilefish, pushing to over 20-pounds. A few nice golden tilefish and black bellied rosefish are also coming from deeper water in the Canyon. Those willing to make the run can find amberjack beginning to school around offshore wrecks and the South Tower.
The offshore fleet is finding action closer to Virginia waters. Although most of the larger tuna are further south, local boats making longer runs are encountering big yellowfin tuna, pushing to around 70-pounds, along with an occasional big eye tuna. Smaller yellowfins in the 30-pound class were encountered near the Norfolk Canyon last week, mostly in about 50-fathoms of water, along with big gaffer mahi.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For information, go to www.drjball.com.
