Dr. Ken Neill, III
It is a time of closures in Virginia’s fisheries. Sea bass, one of our best wintertime fisheries, is closed. The bay striped bass season is closed. You can still fish for them in the bay. Some anglers were doing just that in the New Year, right up to the snow. You can even release a citation for these fish…at least as long as we have a citation program.
There have been Boston mackerel reported in the area of the Chesapeake Light Tower. From 20 to 40 miles off of the beach, there are bluefish, rockfish, and there have been Bluefin tuna encounters. Anglers looking for rockfish in the open coastal area are finding plenty of bait, a lot of whales but no rockfish. Sea bass are also off limits.
With our “open” fisheries, tautog anglers are having the best success on the coastal wrecks. The Triangle Reef area has been good.
Outer Banks
Surf fishing at Nags Head is non-existent. Piers are doing nothing. Nothing to report in the sound.
An Oregon Inlet boat sailed Monday and caught Blackfin, Albacore and Dolphin. The captain said he can never remember catching Dolphin in January.
In the Hatteras Surf, a, few smaller black drum and some sea mullet were reported in Frisco last weekend. A few puppy drum and sea mullet were caught around the jettys. On Monday, it was mostly sharks.
The Tuna Duck sailed out of Hatteras and caught
Blackfin and yellowfin tuna. Another boat sailed out of Hatteras Harbor and returned with a nice catch of Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna. There were a few King Mackerel were in the box as well.
Freshwater
Lake Anna
Striper fishing has been good as the bait begins to school tightly and the line-sides take advantage. There is early morning topwater action near The Splits and a number of fish caught by trolled lures throughout the day.
Some nice bass are taking finesse worms in depths of 12 to 20 feet. Crappie are super deep, not much action.
Buggs Island
Good numbers of stripers are active, but most are under 18-inches. Some crappie are hitting on deep brush piles. Bass are at the mouths of creeks.
The Rivers
The James, New and Shenandoah Rivers are clear and at good levels, but cold. Muskies can be had with big spinnerbaits and smallmouth will hit slowly presented pig ‘n jig combos. Warm, sunny afternoons offer the best chances.
Trout Streams
Catch a decent day and you may have a decent catch of trout in many of Virginia’s put-and-take waters. Fish slow, fish deep and stay warm.
Below is this week’s stocking schedule.
Grayson County: Elk Creek
Washington County: Whitetop Laurel (Upper and Lower), Tennessee Laurel
Botetourt County: Jennings Creek, Middle Creek, McFalls Creek
City of Hampton: Armistead Pointe Park Pond
City of Chesapeake: Northwest River Park
Bath County: Jackson River (Hidden Valley)
Grayson County: Fox Creek, Middle Fox Creek, Helton Creek, Paddy Run
Montgomery County: Craig Creek
Fauquier County: Thompson WMA Pond
Potomac River
Not the Best Weather
Not the best week to get on the water, but a good time to get ready for the weekend. Water temperature still hovering in the mid to upper 30s.
It’s no fun to fish in the rain when it’s cold, but fish will still be biting. All fishing presentations should be slowed down and use thin diameter line. Either 6 pound test GAMMA Edge fluorocarbon alone or as a leader with Torque braid is good to detect light bites and for better hook sets.
In the clearest, warmest water, like Blue Plains and other water discharge areas, suspending Lucky Craft Pointer 78 jerkbaits and Lucky Craft Bevy Shads can be worked slowly with pauses. Make long casts and use slight taps. The Bevy Shad has a diving lip, so lift the rod and pause.
Silver Buddy blade baits on 10-pound Edge can be cast to shallow sides of drops and worked down to find fish. Depth of fish is key. Work depths by lining up casts to stay in the strike zone. A medium action graphite rod enables good hooksets. Make sure hooks are sharp! Replace with Mustad round bend trebles.
As for soft plastics, grubs work well. Using 1/4-ounce ball head jigs, thread 3 inch avocado Mann’s Stingray grubs or 4 inch Mizmo curl tailed grubs. Line remains 6-pound test Edge fluorocarbon either alone or as a leader with 15-pound test Torque braid.
Be patient and use 1/4 ounce or heavier Punisher hair jigs on the same line as the grubs. Spraying Jack’s Juice Bait Spray will soak into the hair and allow fish to hold on better. Works for soft plastics too. Tip Punisher jigs with small chunks or small Mizmo Swamp Monster craws. Black/blue combos in most cases. If the water is clear, there are plenty of nice craw patterns.
Capt. Steve Chaconas is a guide on the Potomac River info@nationalbass.com