It’s officially rockfish or striper season, not only in Virginia, but North Carolina as well. This season should be much improved over the past few years in both states.
Capt. Reese Stecher in Nags Head notes that the striper fishing in the sound kicks off on October 1 and there seems to be plenty of fish to be caught. In fish for fun trips, it’s been all you want and plenty fish between 18 and 26-inches or so. The big rockfish (20 pound plus) that move into the Oregon Inlet waters will arrive a little later in the month.
The regs are a little tricky in Carolina with five different sections of saltwater. Two are of note.
The Albemarle Sound Management Area begins at Oregon Inlet and extends inland to the mouths of the Roanoke, Cashie, Middle and Eastmost Rivers near Plymouth. This includes the northern end of the Pamlico Sound, Roanoke Sound, Croatan Sound, Currituck Sound and Albemarle Sound. It also includes all rivers and creeks feeding into these sounds inland to Edenton. Eighteen inches is the minimum size, and fishermen may keep two per day.
In the ocean, the limit for both NC and VA waters is 2 fish daily over 28-inches.
In Virginia’s bay and tidal tributaries, the limit is two daily with a minimum size of 20-inches. One of the two, however, may be greater than 28-inches. Last year, there were scads of small stripers in Virginia waters from 16 to 18 inches. This year, many of that class should exceed the 20-inch minimum.
So it looks like good fishing ahead, just read the regs carefully and get all necessary permits.
Tropical Storms
The winds from several tropical storms have disrupted much of the saltwater action for Virginia anglers. The outlook should improve by this weekend.
Nags Head
Heavy winds since last weekend have kept boats in port. Anglers dunking baits off the piers are having little success. Winds are calming with better weather ahead.
Hatteras
Not much happening since last weekend when surf casters caught some nice spot, mullet bluefish at Ramp 44. Frisco pier produced some puppy drum and sound side anglers scored with specks and pups.
Boats at Hatteras Harbor remained I port.
Freshwater
The rivers are low and clear and the smallmouth bite is picking up daily. Bass in the major lakes are moving onto the backs of the creeks to chase bait. Crappie are inching in towards the shoreline, especially near deep-water docks.
Trout Streams
Virginia streams need water. Where are the storms when you need them?
Trout stocking will resume in October, assuming there is water to stock the fish in.
Chickahominy Lake
Water temps are near perfect in the Chick. In the mid-70s and fish are responding.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Abe and John Longmire had 1 bluegill, 10 crappie, 3 white perch, 1 gar, 1 bullhead, 1 pickerel, and 7 bass. Tom Porter had 18 bluegills, 1 shellcracker, 9 crappie, 1 white perch, and 3 bass.
Potomac River
By Capt. Steve Chaconas
Early morning low tides will be prime for top water action!
Lots of top water choices. Look for clear calm water and work baits over scattered grass away from thicker grass beds. Lucky Craft G-Splash 80 poppers are perfect on either 20-pound GAMMA Torque braid or 12-pound Copoly. Make LONG casts! Try different presentations. A pop and sit with small pulls has been working. Another bait to use is the Lucky Craft Sammy. Walk the dog with this bait. The GAMMA Torque allows for long casts and enables walking the bait better. A slow cadence with a few pauses. If the Sammy doesn’t have a feathered treble, add one! Watch for fish activity under baits and barely twitch to encourage strikes.
Stickworms are great to have on deck to toss to missed strikes or to fish chasing bait. Rig either wacky or Texas style. Soak in garlic Jack’s Juice!
As the water rises and with some cloud cover, try Mann’s Baby 1-Minus in the same top water places. Move to where the water gets a bit of color to it if fish aren’t taking the bait. Mix in a few pauses and twitches during the retrieve.
As the tide moves in, try hollow frogs over the thicker grass areas, especially when there is sun!
Capt. Steve Chaconas is a guide on the Potomac River info@nationalbass.com