Article by Julie Ball
The black drum action finally took off with a bang during the full moon phase this past week. Many boats reported tangling with dozens of large blacks while fishing on the bayside and oceanside shoals off the Eastern Shore. But with over 50 boats reported in a small area on the oceanside shoals one evening, the fishing pressure scattered the fish. But expect these gentle giants to make a quiet comeback once they regroup.
Big red drum are still patrolling the breakers off Smith and Fisherman’s Island, with the incoming tide providing the best results. The red action will only improve. The folks at Chris’ Bait and Tackle report that surf anglers are faring very well on the reds from Smith and Myrtle Islands, with good sized striped bass to 44-inches also taking offerings. Blue crabs and peelers are working well. James Lompero of Virginia Beach released a 48-inch red while fishing with crab off of Smith Island this week.
Flounder action around the CBBT is still off, but anglers working the various lower Bay and Eastern Shore inlets and shallower backwaters, are finding some keepers. One angler had five flatties to 5 lbs. while fishing with minnows off of Newport News this week. Striped bass are supplementing the flounder catches near the Bay Bridge Tunnel. Top water plugs presented to the rocks of the 3rd and 4th islands of the CBBT are producing nice fish to 45-inches. Live baiting over the tubes is also a good method to try right now.
Tautog have not slowed with the warming water, but only catch and release is permitted for these fish until June. Look for sheepshead and spadefish to show soon.
Croaker are active within the tributary rivers, and all over the lower Bay. Anglers are finding very good numbers of hardheads averaging to near a pound off Ocean View and Little Creek. A few large spot and sea mullet are also mixed in. Squid and bloodworms get the nod this week as the top baits.
Puppy drum are still dominating the lower bay inlets and shallows. Some folks are also targeting pups within the Elizabeth River with good success. A few speckled trout and bluefish are biting within Rudee Inlet, with scattered keeper flounder also available in the same areas. Speckled trout action on the Eastern Shore is still spotty, with a few takers coming from the seaside area of Oyster.
Keeper black sea bass are coming from near shore wrecks, with bigger fish up to five-pounds still available further offshore. If blueline tilefish and grouper are your desire, plenty are available in deeper water, but with other species making a showing closer to shore, this fishery will probably get a break.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. Representative for Virginia Beach, VA. You can find Dr. Julie’s reports at www.drjball.com.
