Article by VMRC - Saltwater Review
Chincoteague
According to Donna at Captain Bob’s, the flounder throw-back ratio was pretty high last week (with 25 throwbacks for every keeper). The best catches were near the tip of the island, in front of Captain Bob’s, and in the Assateague Channel. A large flounder (almost 7 pounds) was brought in last Monday from the pier at Inlet View Campground. A few croaker were reported at Buoy 10 and the Assateague Channel. It has been a banner year for crabbing, and large crabs are still being caught everywhere. Winds and rough waves kept many anglers inshore last week, although a citation wahoo (45 pounds) was brought in from the Washington Canyon. Dolphin, as close as the Parking Lot, were also biting. Black sea bass and flounder were brought in from the wrecks.
Wachapreague
Staff at the Wachapreague Marina reported slow fishing over the past few days. Anglers reported wahoo catches just after the storm passed, but few anglers have gone out lately.
At Captain Zed’s Marina, several citations were reported. Local anglers are catching flounder and croaker in the Wachapreague Inlet and at the mouths of Green and Drawing channels.
Cape Charles
Staff at Chris’ Bait and Tackle report that fishing was slow last week. A few croaker were reported in the Bay, and decent flounder catches were reported before the storm, but little have been spotted since. Black drum and puppy drum (juvenile red drum) were hooked from the local beaches, and one angler even hooked a tarpon from the surf.
Lower Bay/Bridge Tunnel
Staff at Cobb’s Marina reported that small spot and croaker have been caught in the area, along with flounder and cobia.
Two citations were reported from Salt Pond’s Marina last week. The first was a 7-pound, 9-ounce, 26-inch flounder caught at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and the other was a 7-pound, 2-ounce flounder also caught in the Chesapeake Bay with bucktail.
Virginia Beach
Dr. Julie Ball, IGFA International Representative for Virginia Beach, contributed the following:
Although Hurricane Earl stirred the waters into a muddy mess, the tremendous early fall fishing action is picking up where it left off as the waters clear. The fall heavy hitters such as spot, speckled trout, and puppy drum will become of more interest as the waters cool.
Anglers are also imparting farewells to exiting summer favorites such as flounder, cobia, and red drum as they stage to head out.
Flounder action was very good before Earl but has been slow to recover. Anglers are working hard for their catches, but those using live bait and drifting with cut bait near the third island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel are finding some keeper fish, with a few doormats in the mix. Drifting along the Thimble Shoal and Baltimore Channels are also good places to try right now. Flatties in the 22 to 24-inch range are also available within Lynnhaven in about 20 feet of water this week. Strip baits bounced over the structure works well for wreck flounder.
Cobia are on the move as they prepare to head south, generating outstanding top water action. Before the hurricane, boats were hooking up to as many as a dozen or more fish per day. The best catches are coming from casting live bait and jigs to large pods of cobia swimming on the surface and pairs circling buoys lining the channels heading out of the Bay. Many of these fish are ranging in the 50- to 70-pound class. Bay pier anglers are also getting in on the great top water scene, with a number of cobia landed off several lower Bay and oceanfront piers recently.
Fall speckled trout are starting to present in Lynnhaven Inlet, the Poquoson flats, the seaside of Oyster, and the Elizabeth River. Although most fish are on the smaller side, this action and the size of the fish will only improve as the waters cool.
A few puppy drum are available to those casting jigs or offering fresh bait within Lynnhaven or Rudee inlets. The Elizabeth River is also producing pups lately. Big red drum will continue to delight anglers on the lower Bay shoals and near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, while surf and pier casters are especially interested in the prospect as they await the run off Sandbridge.
The folks at the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier are reporting catches of nice pompano and horse croaker weighing almost 2 pounds this week. Medium-sized hardheads are all over the lower Bay and along the Virginia Beach shorelines, but the run of big hardheads out of Oyster slowed after the storm.
Sheepshead are still taking late-season offerings along the entire span of the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Lots of hungry triggerfish are in the same vicinity. Spadefish ranging around 3 to 4 pounds are still around the 3rd and 4th islands, although this action has slowed.
Spanish mackerel are zipping through tide rips near the Bridge Tunnel, along Cape Henry, and along the buoy lines at the mouth of the Bay, where 20-inch fish are the average size lately. Schools of false albacore are moving in closer to the beach, which can be sporting on light tackle.
Big amberjack are still swarming around offshore wrecks, the South Tower, and the Chesapeake Light Tower. Crevalle jack could be a nice consolation prize. Deep-dropping for blueline and golden tilefish is still a good choice.
Offshore billfish action resumed to off-the-charts intensity after the hurricane passed. Boats are reporting dozens of releases for mostly white marlin. Several sailfish, spearfish, and blue marlin are also visiting trolled spreads. A true grand slam was reported last week when a crew released 18 white marlin, a blue marlin, and an Atlantic spearfish. Dolphin action is good, with many gaffers over 30 pounds hitting the docks. Nice wahoo are also becoming more common in 50 to 100 fathoms.
Outer Banks, NC
Offshore fishing out of Oregon Inlet has slowed down some from the prior week. Anglers hooked dolphin, wahoo, tuna, and amberjack but were having a harder time getting their limits. Billfishing also slowed down, but all three species were available.
Eight to ten miles offshore, king mackerel, red drum, cobia, and striped bass were caught.
Bottom fishing was producing sea bass, triggerfish, snapper, grouper, and blackbelly rosefish.
Close to shore, boat, pier, and surf fishermen reported Spanish mackerel, bluefish, spot, croaker, pompano, and sea mullet.
Inside the inlet, speckled trout were being caught in the early morning and late afternoon. Flounder catches were mostly undersized, and legal-sized striped bass were around the bridges.
South of Oregon Inlet, the fishing was a bit slow. Bluefish were at the point along with a few red drum. Sea mullet could be caught on the north and south beaches. Spanish mackerel and bluefish were at the point jetties as well.
Offshore fishing out of Hatteras Inlet was good for blackfin tuna and dolphin. Sailfish were available for the people chasing billfish.
Inshore fishing saw red drum, speckled trout, and bluefish.
