They are called whiting if you catch one in the Bay. In the ocean, many call them sea mullet. No matter the name, they are spectacular eating, and they are biting like it’s their last meal at Nags Head. Some big ‘uns, too.
TW’s Tackle weighed in lots of oversized sea mullet this week, as anglers were catching them in the surf and from the piers. They typically bite well into chilly weather. Nice trout to 23” continue to be caught in the sound and surf. Inshore anglers are boating puppy drum, sheepshead, and flounder. Surf and pier fisherman are landing spot, blues, specks, pups, and pinfish. Offshore boats had some nice trips that resulted in lots of dolphin and some tunas.
Virginia Saltwater
From the mouth of the Potomac to Rudee Inlet, folks are catching good numbers of trout, nice fish at that. A lot of keeper slot drum are being caught from within the Elizabeth River. Large drum are still being caught in the lower bay proper, but the area of the CBBT has been especially good. The CBBT, HRBT, and Rudee Inlet, have been good for Sheepshead. Folks are still catching spot in the lower bay, and at Rudee Inlet, along with some keeper black drum. Rockfish are shallow, and have mostly been caught inside the creeks, rivers, and inlets, on swim baits, lipless crankbaits, and topwater baits. Big bluefish are scattered throughout the bay, with some reporting fish up to 30 inches. Tautog are available on hard cover areas in the lower bay, and good catches of black sea sass are coming on ocean structures.
Freshwater
Believe it or not, water levels are now low in many lakes throughout the state. Kerr Lake is currently at 298.13′. Largemouth fishing has been tough, but spotted bass are taking up the slack – many over 3 lbs. Crappie at Kerr are holding to brush, and bridge areas. The upper sections such as Bluestone Creek, Buffalo Creek, and creeks around the Rt. 58 Bridge are producing the larger fish. Anna Crappie are being caught in good numbers around the bridges and docks. Snakehead catches are becoming more and more common at Anna. Some fish have been quite large.