Article by Julie Ball
Anglers are taking advantage of the recent good weather and moderate temperatures, but the northeasterly blow over weekend could slow up the activity for a few days.
The cobia bite has been very good over the past few weeks, and the action continues to heat up. The fish are cruising along the surface in small pods in the lower Chesapeake Bay waters and along the Virginia Beach oceanfront, making excellent targets for sightcasters. This pattern will only improve over the next several weeks as fall approaches. Willing fish are also emerging along tide lines, from under schools of rays and near pods of bait. Some very big fish are available, with anglers frequently passing up 40-pounders in order to target brutes pushing to over 60-pounds. Chummers are still holding their own, with several nice fish taking offerings last week.
Jack crevalle continue to offer some challenging battles for those happening across schools of jacks zipping near the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay. Big red drum are also welcome by-catches for sightcasters looking for cobia around the mouth of the Bay and near the 3rd Island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT). Black drum are still schooled at the 3rd and 4th Islands, but not for long.
Nice flounder, ranging to around 6-pounds, are still filling limits from lower Bay waters. Live baiters are experiencing great results all along the CBBT, especially near the tubes at the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Islands lately. Those jigging along the pilings and tubes near the 3rd and 4th Islands also scored with nice flatfish last week. The lower Bay inlets are giving up some keepers, with many flatties ranging up to 22-inches in both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets responding, especially during an outgoing tide. If you prefer to avoid the crowds, decent flatfish are also showing on inshore and offshore wrecks. Nice keeper sized sea bass are also providing good action on many offshore structures.
Sheepshead are still around, with some really big fish taking fiddlers and clam last week. The entire span of the Bay Bridge Tunnel is holding fish, with more fish grouping on the tubes lately. Some big triggerfish will also compete for your offerings in many of these same locations. Spadefish were still hanging around the 4th Island last week, with reports of some fish weighing up to 7-pounds.
Spanish mackerel are active off Cape Henry, as well as over the tubes of the CBBT, and along tide rips in the lower and middle Bay areas, with many ranging to nearly 3-pounds. King mackerel action could be decent this year if the easterly winds prevail and the bait sticks around. Bobby Crutsinger of Virginia Beach boated a nice 33-pound smoker while fishing off the oceanfront last week. Some surprise bailer-sized mahi also taking trolled spoons within sight of land.
Small to medium-sized croaker are available near the MMBT, the CBBT and the Cell. The croaker bite in Oyster is good, but that may slow a little with the easterly winds.
Nice spot are also making a showing within Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets, with bloodworms the best bait.
Spunky puppy drum continue to keep inshore anglers busy within most any lower Bay inlet or shallows, and the speckled trout bite is also showing promise in these same areas, with specks up to around 30-inches reported from the Elizabeth River last week.
Big grey trout, up to about 5-pounds, are still lingering near the crossings near the Eastern Shore, along with nice sea mullet hitting along the bottom.
Big amberjack are still available at the South tower, and Jack crevalle are also a possibility at the Chesapeake Light Tower, especially later this month. A variety of nice blueline tilefish, scattered grouper, black-bellied rosefish, jumbo sea bass and barrelfish are on the deep dropping menu lately.
Offshore, the billfish bite is still on the upswing, and should continue to improve throughout the month. Most boats are releasing multiple white marlin, with a smattering of blue marlin, sailfish and spearfish also rounding out catches. Tuna are scarce, but a few yellowfin and bigeyes are around, along with some large wahoo and dolphin. The Wine, Women and Fishing Billfish Tournament was a success with a sold-out roster. Top honors went to my team from Virginia Beach aboard the “JUBILEE” captained by Bill Richardson.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For more information, go to www.drjball.com
