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 and Capt. Reese Stecher (www.beachbumfishing.com) and parties have been finding and catching lots of nice fish back in the sound. Capt. Stecher has been catching. as many as 20 a day and put 4 fish between 8 and 10 pounds in his fish box on one trip. As mentioned before, a typical season produces good numbers of stripers in Albemarle Sound, but generally smaller fish. Not this year. Reese is finding the big boys on a consistent basis. Sometimes he finds them near bridge structure and tosses jigs, while other times he has been trolling and finding lots of fish feeding on the shad. There is no really frigid weather in the forecast, so a trip to Carolina might be just what the doctor ordered and a great way to kick off the fishing New Year.
Elsewhere in Virginia saltwater, pups and specks are biting in the inlets and tautogs are being caught near structure. Sea bass season is closed, but boy what a season – tons of nice fish.
On the OBX, sea mullet, black drum and puppy drum have been finding baits in the surf. Boats out of Oregon Inlet are gaffing lots of yellowfin tuna when the weatherman allows.
Freshwater
In Virginia freshwater, water temps are in the 40s and fishing is slow. At Anna, a little warmer lake than most, anglers are still connecting with largemouth bass, stripers and crappie. Finding clear water is the key.
Buggs Island is high and stained and will get worse before it gets better.
The rivers have been high and swollen for the past month – better for ducks than smallmouth. The trout streams are in excellent shape, but water there is in the upper 30’s, pretty cold, even for trout.