Virginia Saltwater
Striper season is closed in the bay and so far, no reports of stripers off Virginia Beach. Some puppy drum were caught at Rudee Inlet. Black sea bass and blueline tilefish are being caught on the deep ocean wrecks off Virginia Beach.
Outer Banks
Not much to report at Nags Head. Few are fishing and some boats were iced up in port. At Hatteras, there were reports of good numbers of slot-sized Puppy Drum being caught at Ramp 55 early this week. The fish were taking shrimp, mullet and jig heads and grub tales. Drum catches were also reported along the Frisco Beaches. There were no reports of any boats fishing offshore.
Rappahannpck River
Catfish are in the deeper holes in the river channel and will hit cut bait, in the lower portions of the river. Bass and crappie action is zilch. Perch are in the lower reaches of the river, along with some few stripers.
Upper James, Shenandoah and New Rivers
There were some duck hunters on the rivers but no fishermen. Too cold, but a slight warming trend might stir things up.
Lake Anna
Largemouth bass are on the main lake points and steep banks. Most of the fish caught are in 10-14 feet of water. Striper fishing is fair, with fish running 8-10 pounds being taken near the dam and around the mouth of Sturgeon Creek on Hopkins, Kastmaster spoons, and Silver Buddies. Some crappie are biting small shiners over deep brush piles.
Lower James River
Big blue and flathead catfish are biting on strips of cut shad and cut eel, around the outflow from the Dutch Gap Power Plant and at the Comstock area of Swift Creek. Some crappie are being taken by anglers fishing the barge pits and around the islands at Dutch Gap.
Chickahominy River
Crappie and yellow perch are hitting minnows around Walkers Dam. Some school size largemouth bass are being caught on small plastic grubs and worms at the mouths of feeder creeks. Catfish action is good on cut bait.
Chickahominy Lake
Good catches of bass and yellow perch were reported, primarily caught on live minnows before the ice up.
Lake Gaston
Not many fishing because of the cold, but those who did caught some nice crappie. Striper fishing was good below the Gaston Dam, while a few large fish are being taken in front of the dam.
Buggs Island
Striper fishing has picked up around the Rudds Creek Bridge. Largemouth bass are favoring the main lake gravel points. Crappie are holding above brushpiles in 10-15 feet of water.
Smith Mountain
A number of 10 to 15 pound stripers were reported when boats could launch. Ice, you know. Few boats fished for bass or crappie.