Article by VMRC - Saltwater Review
Chincoteague
According to Donna at Captain Bob’s, the wind really kept people off the water last week. Hot spots for flounder last week were the Four Mouths around Marker 5, Queen’s Sound, and the Assateague Channel near Tom’s Cove.
Bluefish have also been caught around the Four Mouths. Surf fishing is excellent with large striped bass and a few black drum being caught.
Wachapreague
Despite the poor weather, there was a lot of fishing activity out of Captain Zed’s last week. Anglers were catching numerous flounder, and there were several hot spots in the area. Those included Millstone Creek (south of the Coast Guard Station) Drawing, Green and Bradford’s channels (near Bradford’s bay on the west side of the island has been exceptional), and Gates Channel.
Black drum fishermen have also been doing really well in the inlet on both sides near Dawson’s Shoals. The area approximately a mile and a half south of Wachapreague Inlet (near the old Coast Guard Station location for you long-timers) has been doing really well for black drum.
Cape Charles
At Chris’ Bait and Tackle, staff reported a few black drum catches last week. They are expecting to see good drum fishing when the weather allows anglers to go out. Anglers near Oyster are reporting the best flounder action they have ever seen! There are also rumors of a few croaker arriving.
Captain Ray Cardone, of Cherrystone, reports that kingfish (sea mullet) were biting really well last week. He has not yet seen black drum but has heard rumors of large schools being sighted around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
Lower Bay/Bridge Tunnel
Windy conditions were reported from the York River Fishing Center. When anglers can go out, really nice croaker fishing has been reported in the York River. Small flounder are also beginning to bite (only a few keepers). Speckled trout have not fully shown up in the Mobjack Bay area; however, staff is expecting to see them soon.
Ken Neill, of the Peninsula Anglers Club and IGFA representative, contributed the following:
The black drum bite has been good on the seaside of the Eastern Shore, such as inside the Great Machipongo Inlet. A few fish have shown at the usual bay black drum areas like the Cabbage Patch. This bite should heat up this week.
Red drum continue to be caught in the surf of the Eastern Shore, though the action is not as hot as it was a few weeks ago. Some fish have been caught on 9-Foot-Shoal. This fishery will pick up later this month.
Striped bass fishing is very good around the islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Right now, you can keep one fish per person of at least 32 inches in length. Boats are coming in with their limits and releasing other fish.
A reminder to all striped bass anglers. Regulation 4VAC 20-252-10 ET SEQ. requires all striped bass kept during the trophy season be reported. You can report online through the Virginia Saltwater Journal (www.vasaltwaterjournal.com) or filling out and mailing in a form (included on pages 6 and 7).
The flounder bite has been hit or miss, with more misses lately. Most of the flatfish caught are too short to keep. The seaside inlets of the Eastern Shore have been producing some good catches of flounder.
A few nice speckled trout are being caught in the Mobjack Bay area.
Offshore, there have been some tuna caught out of Virginia, but we are still waiting for a consistent bite to develop in range of Virginia boats.
Dr. Julie Ball, IGFA International Representative for Virginia Beach, contributed the following:
Anglers are anxiously awaiting the big rally in the drum action that usually occurs around this time each spring. Unfortunately, the drum have yet to receive the memo. Very scattered catches of both black and red drum are frustrating drum seekers. The few black drum hooked so far are coming from Quinby, Great Machipongo Inlet near Hogg Island, the shallow surf off the Eastern Shore Barrier islands, and near buoy 13 on chowder and sea clams. Although most of the blacks are ranging around 30 pounds, a few fish are pushing to over 46-inches. This bite should pick up soon.
Surf anglers are still pulling some red drum from the surf lines along the Eastern Shore, and scattered catches are coming from off Fisherman’s Island. Many of these hook-ups are a result of spotting a swimming school on the surface. Most boats are reporting poor results, with the luckier boats managing only one release. Blue crabs and bunker work well fished on a fish-finder rig on the bottom.
Rockfish are making up for some of the lull with other species lately. Striped bass measuring up to 46-inches are hitting near the 3rd and 4th islands on both live bait and top water lures. The third island is the most popular area lately.
According to the Virginia Beach Fishing Center, Rudee Inlet is still an excellent source of respectable bluefish around 4 to 5 pounds. Speckled trout are also hitting twister tail grubs within Rudee. A few keeper flounder are also coming from the mouth of the inlet.
If blueline tilefish are your desire, these fish are available in deeper water over 300 feet, along with a variety of grouper and other deep water species. On May 22, black sea bass will be back in season.
Outer Banks, NC
Offshore fishing out of Oregon Inlet continues to see a good bluefin tuna bite. The best action has been a little closer to shore than the last few weeks.
Dolphin and wahoo were also available to those looking for some surface action.
Deeper water bottom-droppers continue to catch amberjack, tilefish, and vermillion snapper. The artificial reefs produced sheepshead, black drum, and triggerfish.
Pier fishing and surf fishing from the Nags Head beaches were producing puffers, sea mullet, croaker, and bluefish. Inside the inlet and sounds, speckled trout were around the area bridges, while flounder continue to be caught in the skinny water around the small islands.
South of Oregon Inlet, bluefish have been biting very well. Scattered reports of red drum in the surf were floating around, with Rodanthe being whispered as a good area. Sea mullet were around, and even a few pompano were being caught around Ramp 55.
Offshore fishing out of Hatteras has seen an early run of cobia. Dolphin were also around, and people were able to catch their limits of amberjack.
