Article by Julie Ball
Another coldfront rolled through last week, bringing a little more relief from the heat. Most species are providing good action, so plenty of anglers will hit the water over the weekend.
The flounder bite really took off last week. Anglers are cleaning up with easy limits of nice flatfish in most of the popular hot spots. Any method is working, but the folks at Ocean’s East 2 report that many are trying the jigging method, with Gulp! baits still leading the way. Live bait is also very effective right now. Both techniques are working around all four islands of the Bay Bridge Tunnel and their respective crossings, with the average flattie averaging around 20 to 22-inches. Anglers drifting with strip baits and minnows are also lucking into good numbers of fish near the 4th Island, the Hampton Bar, the Thimble Shoal Channel, the Baltimore Channel and inshore wrecks, with the slowing, incoming tide working best. Both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets are also giving up good numbers of keepers lately.
Cobia sight casters are less than enthusiastic lately. Hoards of smaller fish are leading boats on wild chases throughout the lower Bay. Chummers putting in their time are scoring with more of the larger fish using cut bunker, eels and live croaker fished on the bottom off Bluefish Rock, York Spit, Fisherman’s Island and on the Inner Middle Grounds. Those anglers fishing off of the oceanfront are also encountering some big sharks.
Red drum are still schooling around the mouth of the Bay, but boats report they were more skittish last week.
According to The Virginia Beach Fishing Center, Spanish mackerel are still the word on the trolling scene along the oceanfront. The bigger fish are coming from shallower water on small spoons trolled at a quick clip. Most of the fish are ranging from 16- 21-inches, but a few bigger fish are also mixed in. The king mackerel scene has not developed, but a few reports of hook ups are trickling in.
Sheepshead are still biting well along the CBBT structure, with more fish beginning to move to the tubes of the artificial islands. Triggerfish are still biting in many of these same areas, with some fish pushing to over 3-pounds, especially on some of the near shore wrecks.
Spadefish are still available at the Chesapeake Light Tower, the Tower Reef, the CBBT and several inshore wrecks. The 4th Island of the CBBT was particularly productive last week.
Anglers are flocking to Oyster to get in on the popular croaker run, with the Chimney area providing the top action. Many of these hardheads are pushing to over a pound. Within lower Bay waters, croaker are still everywhere. The area off Kiptopeke State Park is still a favorite location, while some nicer croaker are also coming from the Inlets lately. Lots of smallish puppy drum and a smattering of speckled trout catches are also happening inside both inlets. Bigger specks came from the Elizabeth River, Poquoson Flats and Mobjack Bay last week.
Decent spot are also around, with Lynnhaven Inlet and Little Creek providing the best action, where a few fish are pushing to near 12-ounces. Smaller croaker are still scattered everywhere from the HRBT to the CBBT, as well as off Cape Henry.
According to Chris’ Bait and Tackle, the tarpon action is very good lately. Several hook-ups and a few confirmed landings are keeping tarpon hunters happy in the back waters of Oyster.
Amberjack are still an easy target at many offshore wrecks and the Southern Towers, while anglers may also luck into a few jacks at the Chesapeake Light Tower. Deep dropping is going well, with good hauls of the usual blueline tilefish, black bellied rosefish and an occasional grouper with a side catch of nice sea bass.
According to Captain Jake Hiles, skipper of the “Matador” out of Rudee Inlet, the offshore scene was a little slower last week. Boats have been looking mostly for billfish, but yellowfin tuna, gaffer mahi and some big wahoo are around for those making the run.
For information, go to www.drjball.com.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For information, go to www.drjball.com.
