All summer, boats venturing out in deeper water have returned to the docks with nice Blue Line Tilefish. These colorful bottom dwellers hang out in deep water, really deep water, like 250 feet and more. They hang in the same kind of habitat with groupers and snappers and prefer sandy bottoms.
James Friend Dickerson and buddies chartered The Doghouse out of Manteo last week and caught their limit (21) of tilefish, including 5 citations (over 12 pounds.) The party has enjoyed several big fish fries since then as tilefish are excellent table fare.
“We were fishing on light tackle so you could feel them hit, set the hook and then keep fishing for number two,” Dickerson described. “Each line had two or three hooks and a 2-pound weight. I had two doubles, 12-plus pounds, and 8-plus pounds, plus a few singles. Pulling up 22-pounds takes a few minutes, but the adrenaline is pumping and it’s fun. If you’re going to reel in that much line you might as well try for a second fish.”
“This is the 3rd time I’ve been tile fishing. It’s sort of like sheepshead fishing but deeper. They were down 275-300′ on a muddy bottom. I think we were using bits of tuna on the single hooks. I’m going back in two weeks to fish with some of the same guys.”
It sounds like fun – and great eating.
Elsewhere on the Outer Banks, pier fishermen are connecting with sheepshead, albacore, black drum, ribbonfish and bluefish. From the beaches, anglers pulled in puppy drum and sea mullet. High winds have kept most of the bluewater fleet in port, but a few nearshore boats ventured out on Wednesday and caught Spanish, albacore and ribbonfish.
Virginia Saltwater
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Spanish mackerel fishing picked up in the Bay again last week. Crystal clear water had lots of nice size fish jumping. Thomas Herrera earned a state citation for a 28″ fish. He also registered a 43″ jack crevalle release and a 96″ bull shark release.
Good sheepshead fishing is continuing around the pilings of the CBBT. Matthew Green had a 12-1 sheepshead, Tom Turley a 10-4 oz. fish and Robert Perez weighed one at 10-12 oz.
There’s still plenty of cobia in the Bay and along the oceanfront. The bite for big red drum has been steady. George Spangler registered a 54″ red drum release and a 54″ cobia release.
The puppy drum bite has been excellent inside many of the inlets and rivers. There have also been a few nice flounder caught. Luke Rhoades weighted one at 8-8.
Good catches of croaker, bluefish and sea mullet are being had up into the bay. The Cell area has been especially good. Spot action is picking up in the rivers. The big yellow belly run should occur soon.
The Virginia Beach Fishing Pier is reporting small spot, roundhead and an occasional ribbon fish or Spanish mackerel.
Offshore trollers are finding yellowfin tuna, mahi, marlin and swordfish. Deep droppers are catching tilefish. Inshore ocean wrecks are holding seabass and flounder.
Freshwater
The heavy rains from Ida was good news for lake fishermen, but not so good for the river anglers – at least short term. Next week, though, should be excellent on the New, James and Shenandoah with cooler evenings triggering the start of the fall bite. Trout streams also filled, and brook trout fishing will pick up. Fall stockings will soon get underway.,
On the lakes, the boat traffic will now subside, and fishermen will have an easier go of it. Bass are already moving out of their deep haunts up onto points near shore. Crappie are also moving up in the water column. Buggs Island has been especially good.