If you live long enough, you’ll see some strange things. One of the strangest things I’ve seen in the outdoors happened about 20 years ago on the Jackson River in the upper Hidden Valley area. I had been invited on a shocking expedition with the Game Department. For several years, I had urged the state to make that area catch-and-release, but they wanted to know if trout would hold over before … [Read more...]

  Big cars need a lot of gas. Big fish need a lot of food, even in winter. That’s why many larger fish feed throughout the colder months, and anglers that target those fish often have great success. One such fish that grows to epic proportions is the blue catfish. Years back, there was much talk about the potential of a hundred pound catfish in Virginia waters. Scuba divers said they … [Read more...]

It may be cold outside,  but the bass fishing has been hot, hot, hot at Lake Anna. Recently, winning bags (5 fish) have weighed 22, 28 and 23 pounds. The big fish went 7-0, caught out of Sturgeon Creek. The clear water near the 208 Bridge has been very productive. Some hybrid stripers are also being landed at Anna. At Buggs Island, bass’n has been good in Nutbush because of clear water. … [Read more...]

Several years ago, I fished with my son and grandson out of Topsail, NC. We were looking for Spanish Mackerel, but they didn’t cooperate. So we bottom fished and caught sea bass – really nice sea bass. Later, on the dining room table, I came to the conclusion that a black sea bass is the best-eating fish in the ocean – better even than flounder. When I visit, Whole Foods Market, I always to check … [Read more...]

A 597-pound swordfish, caught September 25, 2020 by Nicholas Kontodiakos of Norfolk, has been certified as the new Virginia State Record by the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Kontodiakos’ catch crushes the existing record of 466-pounds, caught on August 16, 2019, by Tony Gower Jr. of Virginia Beach, VA. The record setting catch was made off Virginia Beach while Kontodiakos was drifting … [Read more...]

There are plenty of yellowfin tuna off the Outer Banks, but not many fishermen willing to drop two grand, bundle up and go chase them. But they are out there, some big bluefins, too. In Virginia saltwater, it’s slim pickings. There are some togs and flounder being caught off the wrecks, but few are trying. A handful of anglers are picking up speckled trout at Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets.  On … [Read more...]

In Virginia saltwater,  the rockfish season is in the rearview window, but there are still plenty of tautogs willing to bite. Sometimes called blackfish, ‘togs are scattered all along the East Coast. They are strange looking fish that average 2 or 3 pounds. Their claim to fame comes on the dinner table – they are delicious. There is even a restaurant called Tautog’s on 23rd St. in Virginia … [Read more...]

  How badly do you want to catch a 10-pound flounder? If you are willing to bundle up and sneak out one day when the wind isn’t blowing 20 to 30, and if you head out into the ocean and find some nice structure, you just well might catch a 10-pound flounder – or two. They’re biting for those willing to track them down. The Chesapeake Bay striper season closed on December 31, but the … [Read more...]

Or so said Yogi Berra, who also said when you come to the fork in the road, take it. Well, unfortunately, it is over – rockfish season that it. Went out on Dec. 31, but the last week produced fireworks. Loads of 50-plus pound fish were reported, most caught on live eels near Cape Charles. But while rockfish season is over in Virginia (except the ocean season), it ain’t over in North Carolina … [Read more...]

Amidst all the bally-ho of big stripers from the ocean come reports of outstanding sea bass action on the ocean wrecks. Parties aboard the Rudee Head Boats out of Virginia Beach are hammering the large and tasty sea bass - in my mind, the best eating fish in the ocean. The season for sea bass closes December 31st. Currently, any boats that can find decent weather to make the run out to the wrecks … [Read more...]