With less than 2 weeks to go in the season, the rockfish – big rockfish – are coming to net.
Most, says Dr. Ken Neill, III, are coming from the mid-bay area in the vicinity of the Cut Channel, Range Tower, Buoys 40A to 54A. Keeper-sized fish are being caught everywhere with both the York and James producing. Large schools of small rockfish can be found under working birds throughout the bay. Anglers reported catching over 200 fish in a day, under the birds, with almost all being too small to keep. That is a good sign for the future. For the present, eelers are catching most of the big rockfish with fish to over 60 pounds being weighed in this week.
There are still speckled trout and some puppy drum being caught inside of Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets but the water temperatures are dropping fast. Tautog action is good at the CBBT and other near shore structures. Offshore wrecks are holding sea bass, flounder and there are still a few triggerfish around.
Big bluefish are a common catch around the wrecks and out deeper where anglers are targeting blueline tilefish. Tilefish catches are good along with a good by-catch of big sea bass and bluefish. There have also been some Mako shark encounters.
There have been some yellowfin tuna catches out of Virginia by boats making very long runs. Yellowfin tuna and blackfin tuna are being caught out of the Outer Banks and there has been some great king mackerel action out of Hatteras. There should be some bluefin tuna out there somewhere.
Nags Head
Slow going at Nags Head. A few sharks are biting in the surf, indicating they have likely moved in for the cold winter season. Some stripers are tugging lines at Mann’s Harbor. Eels are the top bait. A few puppy drum are biting in the surf.
The Oregon Inlet Fleet has remained mostly in port. The few trips out have yielded yellowfin and blackfin tuna.
Hatteras Surf
Wednesday Fishing Report
Yesterday, 06:47 PM
It was a pretty day on Wednesday, notes Red Drum & Tackle – not much wind but a little cool. The Jetties had some Puppy Drum. Avon had Sea Mullet and small Black Drum. I am sure there were some Speckles but no one likes to report about catching them in case the word gets out.
Hatteras Offshore
It’s been rough weather for boats out of Hatteras Harbor. Last weekend, one boat fished the sound and had great luck with speckled trout.
Lake Anna
Some big’us are being caught at Lake Anna. For the December Big Fish Contest out of Anna Point Marina, Eddie Richardson leads the largemouth pack with an 8-5 citation. Richardson landed the big girl on a jig. Tony Barrix has a 6-13 striper to his credit and AJ Thompson weighed in a 1-12 crappie. Lots of 5-pound plus bass are being caught along with plenty of 4 to 6 pound stripers. Crappie have dropped to deep water for the winter.
Potomac River
Shortest days this week.
Not much daytime warming with cold-water tactics focusing on Silver Buddy lures. Small tubes and grubs work too. The biggest keys are downsizing line and slowing all presentations.
Some ramps will have ice. Be careful. The water temps are in the low to mid 40s.
Fish will be on drops in out of the current areas. Grab a bunch of 1/2 ounce silver Silver Buddy lures. Cast to shallower sides of drops and allow baits to get to the bottom. With very short lifts, allow lures to slowly fall again to the bottom. Watch for bites on the drop and be aware of possible fish when lifting again. Use 10-pound test Copoly on spinning gear or Edge fluorocarbon line on casting gear. Or use 15-pound Torque braid with 8-pound Edge leader. Use medium heavy cranking rods. Find depth oriented fish and focus on those depths.
For a change-up use 3-inch avocado Mann’s Stingray grubs on 1/4-ounce ball head jigs. Use the same line on spinning reels. An attractant like Jack’s Juice Bait Spray will encourage cold-water fish to hold on a bit longer. Keep all hooks sharp!
When the water edges above 45, fish will move up a bit from the drops. Slow rolling spinnerbaits on 12-pound test Edge will work. Also cranking and pausing suspending Lucky Craft Bevy Shads in Shad patterns on sunny days or Aurora gold on cloudy days or with slightly stained water will get bites. Use 8-10 pound test.
Capt. Steve Chaconas is a guide on the Potomac River info@nationalbass.com