In Virginia saltwater, speckled trout are inside all the local inlets, creeks, and tidal rivers near the bay. Fishing on the Eastern Shore bay-side and on the Peninsula has been especially good. Captain Todd Beck, Knot Wish’n Charters says the water temperature in Rudee Inlet is a little above normal. So far the trout are small with very few gators available. Quality should improve as the temperature drops.
There are plenty of school-sized striped bass available especially around bridges and docks with lights. Anglers are casting light tackle such as swim baits and bucktails.
Tautog catches at the CBBT are on the rise. The bay water temperature is now 62 degrees. Tautog action should improve as water temps drop into the upper 50’s. Ocean wrecks hold larger fish. Crabs are the best bait.
Some have successfully targeted swordfish. Deep droppers are catching tilefish and sea bass.
Inshore wrecks are holding plenty of sea bass and some tautog and flounder.
OBX
Congratulations to the Queen Mackerels! They won First Place Ladies Team in the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club Tournament, the largest surf fishing tournament in the world! The team caught grey trout, sea mullet, and bluefish. In the surf north of Oregon Inlet, there have been some scattered trout, puppy drum, sea mullet, and small bluefish. Down at The Point, there had been a good run of bluefish and a handful of puppy drum.
From the piers in Nags Head, there have been catches of sea mullet, bluefish, spot, black drum, and a few puppy drum. Avon and Rodanthe beaches had a couple of big red drum the last few days, along with sea mullet, spot, and small bluefish.
Sound side fishing has been hot the last two days with lots of trout and puppy drum. Anglers fishing the Little Bridge are still catching plenty of trout, more throwbacks the last couple of days, but plenty of keepers in the mix.
A few boats made it offshore over the weekend with reports of excellent tuna fishing
Freshwater
The hotspot of late has been the Rappahannock River, yielding good catches of crappie, and yellow perch, as well as lots of bass. All the tidal rivers will improve as we move into November. Rockfish are being caught inside the rivers also. Lipless crankbaits are proven baits. The upper James was low and clear, making fishing tough during the day, under sunny conditions, but the tropical rains passing through should greatly improve the fishing outlook.