Specks, speckled trout, are biting in earnest at Lynnhaven, the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel area, as well as the Elizabeth, York, Piankatank, and Rappahannock rivers. Successful anglers are using popping corks, swim baits, topwater baits, and live bait.
Long Bay Point Bait and Tackle reports a large variety of fish inside Lynnhaven now, signaling a bustling season for anglers. The waters are teeming with speckled trout, puppy drum, flounder, and stripers.
The Sheepshead, known for their distinctive teeth, are still holding on structures within the river and out at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Meanwhile, the large red drum are still making a splash, schooling in the lower bay’s warm 70-degree water.
Flounder enthusiasts will be pleased to know that the HRBT and CBBT are yielding good numbers. And let’s not forget the rockfish season, which kicked off on October 4th. This season introduces new regulations, including a slot limit of 19-24 inches and a cap of one fish per person per day. Nighttime brings consistent rockfish catches around lighted docks, with keepers also being reported along the HRBT and CBBT.
Larger chopper blues are scattered in the lower bay. Head Boats are enjoying abundant seabass catches.
Further offshore in the bluewater, skippers are finding tuna, dolphin, the occasional billfish, while many anglers are setting their sights on the elusive swordfish.
OBX
While the ocean water is still a warm 70 degrees, the air temps were a bit cooler this week. Jennette’s pier reported some big drum Tuesday morning. Pier fisherman are catching bluefish, spot, and sea mullet. Fingers crossed, we’ll see more drum, but fall fishing has been quite unpredictable versus the typical catches for this time of year. The surf fishermen are on the prowl for some nice drum, but so far, no luck. However, puppy drum, small trout, spot, bluefish, and sea mullet are being caught in the surf.
Inshore fishing has been excellent with catches of speckled trout, bluefish, puppy drum, and flounder. Sheepshead have been hit or miss depending on the bait and location.
Freshwater Fishing
Cool weather means pretty cool fishing as the water turns from parboiling hot to fairly comfortable for the fish. The rivers are in good shape and smallmouth are biting topwater baits. Bass anglers are catching rockfish in the lower tidal rivers. They are keepable when in the 19–24-inch slot size. The lower Chick has been good as has the area along the Benjamin Harrison Bridge.
The trout trucks are being loaded with fish and fall stocking is now fully underway.
