Article by VMRC - Saltwater Review
Chincoteague
According to Donna at Captain Bob’s, flounder catches have increased in Chincoteague this week. The best catches were found in the Canal, directly in front of Inlet View Campground, in the Assateague Channel, in front of Tom’s Cove Campground, and by the Assateague Bridge. Several triggerfish were also reported from Queen’s Sound.
The croaker bite slowed, but those that were caught were large. They were found in the Chincoteague Channel near Buoys 19 and 20 and outside the Inlet, by Buoy 10.
Chincoteague has also been experiencing the best crabbing in over 4 years, according to staff. The best crabbing hot spots were the Assateague Bridge and on Assateague Island.
In the surf, spot, kingfish, croaker, and a few bluefish were biting.
Offshore, flounder, spadefish, and bluefish were caught at the wrecks. Anglers had to travel to the Washington Canyon to catch a few scattered dolphin and an occasional wahoo or marlin.
Wachapreague
According to staff at Captain Zed’s, a 66.5-pound yellowfin tuna took first place in the 17th Annual Chick Charter Ladies Club Tournament last weekend. The largest dolphin reported was 21.5 pounds.
Inshore, anglers were catching flounder and croaker. Flounder were mostly undersized (around 18 inches), but some keepers were mixed in. The best place for the keepers was right outside of the Coast Guard Station.
Cape Charles
Mark, at Chris’ Bait and Tackle, reported that anglers caught a few croaker around Oyster and Wise Point last week. Flounder have been found around the High Rise and bridge pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and also just north of Cape Charles. Sea mullet were reported at Kiptopeke and at the Fisherman’s Island Bridge. A few sight casters also weighed in cobia that were almost 80 pounds.
Lower Bay/Bridge Tunnel
Several cobia release citations were reported from Cobb’s Marina this week. Most came from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Keeper flounder were also reported last week.
Staff at Sunset Boating Center reported flounder catches at the Hampton Bar this week.
Staff at Salt Pond’s Marina registered a citation cobia weighing 63 lbs. 3 oz. last week. The fish was hooked at the 4th island of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
Kathy, at Wallace’s Bait and Tackle, reported that five cobia were weighed in last week. Flounder catches were reported as well, and staff has begun to see numerous triggerfish being brought in from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.
Virginia Beach
Dr. Julie Ball, IGFA International Representative for Virginia Beach, contributed the following:
As the end of summer draws near, the fishing scene is beginning to transform into a more fall-like pattern. Many summer species are preparing to leave local waters, while the fall species are starting to show more activity.
The cobia bite has been very good this season, and last week was no different. More fish are cruising along the surface in small pods in lower Bay waters and along the oceanfront, making promising targets for sight casters. Anglers are finding willing fish along tide lines, under schools of rays, and near pods of bait. Some very big fish are available right now.
Many anglers are passing up 40-pound fish in order to target those weighing 90 pounds or more! The late summer trend of favoring buoys and bridge pilings is also gaining momentum. This pattern will only improve over the next several weeks as fall approaches.
The larger flounder were harder to find last week, but nice fish ranging to around 5 pounds are easily filling limits. Both live baiters and drifters are finding good luck all along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, within the lower Bay inlets, the small boat channel south of the 1st Island, the Baltimore Channel, Buoy 42 area, and off the Concrete Ships. Fresh strip bait is working well right now for drifters, while small spot, mullet, and peanut bunker are the choices for live baiters.
Sheepshead are still around, with nice fish taking fiddler crabs, and clam. The entire span of the Bay Bridge Tunnel, as well as all the tubes of the artificial islands are holding fish. The triggerfish action is still a go. With no limits on triggers, anglers are loading up on these fish from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel structure. Some larger spadefish are hanging around the 4th island this week, with reports of some reaching up to 7 pounds.
Spanish mackerel are available off Cape Henry, over the tubes of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and along tide rips in the lower and middle Bay areas. Spanish mackerel are located anywhere from 3 to 10 miles off the Virginia Beach coastline, with many fish ranging to near 3 pounds. Bailer-sized dolphin and lots of false albacore are also hitting trolled spoons in these same areas.
Red drum are on a late-season roll, with good action around the 3rd and 4th islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, the Nine Foot Shoal, Latimer Shoal, and along the oceanfront. Big puppy drum (juvenile red drum) ranging over 32 inches are taking lures and fresh bait within both Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets this week.
Croaker are available near the Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and the Cell. According to the folks at Chris’s Bait and Tackle, the croaker bite in Oyster slowed a little this week with the easterly wind but should pick back up soon. Nice spot are also making a showing within Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets, with bloodworms the best bait.
Large amberjack will take any offering at the South Tower right now, and jack crevalle are also a possibility at the Chesapeake Light Tower, especially later this month. A variety of nice tilefish grouper, blackbelly rosefish, black 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 through the month. Boats are beginning to release multiple whites, with a smattering of blue marlin, sailfish, and spearfish. The action is scattered, but good bites continue to come from just south of the Triple Zeros and from the 400-line to the Canyon, in anywhere from 50 to over 500 fathoms. Tuna are scarce, but a few yellowfin and bigeyes are around, along with some big wahoo and plenty of dolphin.
Outer Banks, NC
Offshore fishing out of Nags Head continued to see decent catches of tuna (yellowfin, blackfin, bigeye, skipjack) and wahoo. The king mackerel bite was strong in the eight-to ten-mile range. Billfishing showed some improvement over the prior week with blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish all represented.
Blueline tilefish, assorted snapper, snowy grouper, and gag and yellowedge grouper were caught by bottom fishing in the deeper waters. Bottom fishing closer to shore on the artificial reefs produced sea bass and triggerfish in decent numbers. Nearshore boaters saw intermittent catches of bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Pier and surf fishermen caught bluefish, Spanish mackerel, spot, croaker, and pompano in good numbers. A few flounder, puffers, black drum, and sea mullet were in the mix as well. Inshore waters produced the usual suspects, including speckled trout and flounder, with the early morning hours being the best times.
South of Oregon Inlet, Spanish mackerel and bluefish were caught at the Point on metal spoons and Stingsilvers in the morning hours. Puppy drum were around Rodanthe along with a few sea mullet.
Offshore fishing out of Hatteras Inlet saw good action on the dolphin and wahoo. Billfishing was slower, but a few boats did manage to catch a grand slam (blue marlin, white marlin, and sailfish). Inshore action included speckled trout, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel.
