Article by Julie Ball
Fall fishing is very good when anglers get out on the water, but some intermittent blustery conditions will roll through in the form of a coldfront. Right now, most anglers are heading offshore to partake in the good bluewater billfish bite.
Inshore, cobia are still providing good action for catch and release anglers, but not for much longer. Look for fish in pods on the surface heading south, or lingering on bridge pilings and navigational buoys providing easy marks with eels or jigs.
Flounder action is showing some promise, with a few doormats caught last week from Lynnhaven Inlet ranging from 5 to 9-pounds. Flounder continue to gather at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, where fishing could be good with some clearer water. More flatfish are also collecting on inshore and offshore wrecks, along with good sized sea bass and hungry triggerfish, but sea bass become off limits on the 21st of September.
Big red drum are still roaming about the lower Bay shoals and barrier islands, and it is also time for reds to begin showing more activity around the artificial islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Fresh cut bait and live bait work well. Big bull reds can debut in the surflines along Sandbridge and the Wildlife Preserve at any time. The recent blow from the north can jump start some good drum action, with the best offerings including fresh mullet and spot.
Puppy drum action is picking up in most shallows, inlets and creeks, and in the surf off Dam Neck, Sandbridge and the Eastern Shore Barrier islands. Both Lynnhaven and Rudee Inlets are good locations for pups right now, where juvenile reds are favoring cut fresh mullet.
Fall speckled trout catches are slowly improving, with specks hitting in Hungar’s Creek, and Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets, with a few fish pushing to over 3-pounds.
Spot action has been decent so far this season, and the bite continues to remain steady for these fall favorites. Decent fish ranging to around 12-ounces are biting along the southern and western sections of the lower Bay and along the oceanfront. Favorite locations include the Monitor-Merrimack Memorial Bridge Tunnel, the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets. Local fishing piers are also reporting catches of nice spot, with the best bites happening on the incoming tide last week. Small bluefish are also hitting in these same areas. Croaker are active, with good catches of fish ranging up to around 1.5-pounds taking bait in most any deep water location in the Bay. The lower Bay inlets are also holding some nicer fish.
Spanish mackerel are available along tide rips from the shorelines off Virginia Beach on small spoons. King mackerel are also still taking some trolled offerings, but this action has slowed with the dirty water. The king action could last for up to a few more weeks.
Big sheepshead are still lingering along the structure of the Bridge Tunnel, along with decent triggerfish. Tautog action is rekindling for the fall trend now that the season has reopened. Remember you can keep three fish stretching to at least 16-inches.
Most folks are not interested in amberjack since there is plenty going on offshore, but big AJs will likely hang around the Southern Towers through the end of October. Deep droppers continue to reel in nice catches of big blueline tilefish, black bellied rosefish and jumbo sea bass in water ranging from 300 to 700 feet.
The offshore fall billfish action is still very good. Depending on the day and the weather conditions, boats are flying various amounts of marlin flags back at the dock. Some sailfish are still around, along with some spearfish and scattered blue marlin. A few decent yellowfin and bigeye tuna are also still biting in the Norfolk Canyon. Gaffer and bailer dolphin are still plentiful, with a few nice wahoo around. The swordfish scene could heat up as the waters cool, with a few decent fish caught recently.
Dr. Julie Ball is the I.G.F.A. Representative for Virginia Beach, VA. For more information, go to drjball.com.
