Got a note from Capt. Reece Stecher with Beachbumfishing this week. Reese said that a recent party had the best sight-cast fishing for Red Drum that he had ever seen in March. They caught fish up to 30-inches. There were huge schools. The sound, apparently, is full of fish. Up in Virginia waters, boats are already finding nice pups in the lower tidal rivers and all the inlets.
This promises to be one of the best years for puppy drum in recent memory. The fish are plentiful, many are keepers, and they are active. Time to respool those Penn Reels.
Offshore, boats out of Oregon Inlet are taking advantage of decent weather to troll the Gulf Stream where they are catching and returning with yellowfin and Mahi.
Freshwater
Crappie are active in all the major lakes in Virginia as they move close to shore to spawn. Some whoppers are coming out of Buggs Island, many fish pushing 3 pounds. Shad are at Fredericksburg and Richmond and the bite gets better each day.
At Lake Orange, water temps are in the mid 50s and the lake is clear. Bass and crappie are moving to the shallows feeding up before they spawn. Minnows and baitfish imitations work best to entice them a bite.
The upper James is at a great level and some big smallmouth are fitting plastics and crankbaits.
Trout streams are also in excellent condition and mayflies are going airborne. It’s starting to happen.