The saltwater striper/rockfish season opened October 4 in Virginia waters and runs through the end of the year. The limit this fall is one fish per day at least 20-inches in length and no more than 36-inches. Lots of stripers are being caught by trollers and caters, but many fish are throwbacks. It seems that no matter where they set the size limits, the fish you catch will be one inch short – at least for me. Elsewhere in Virginia waters, cobia have mostly disappeared with the exception of a few fish caught in the Sandridge surf. Some big flounder are still biting, including a whopping ten-pounder netted at the Bridge Tunnel this week. Spot are still biting in the Rapp and deep water holes in the bay. Fishing has been excellent for puppy drum and specks on the Eastern Shore creeks as well as in Rudee and Lynnhaven inlets.
OBX
There were sea mullet and pompano caught up and down the Hatteras Island beaches. The Point produced pompano, Spanish, and tons of sharks. Drum were biting all the way from from Oregon Inlet to Kitty Hawk along with sea mullet, spot and pompano.
In the sound at Nags Head, the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported trout, drum and some bottom fish. The pier fishermen were catching spot, black drum sea mullet, pompano and blues
Inshore anglers caught limits of trout and drum. Nearshore boats decked ribbonfish, albacore and Spanish. The offshore fleet had plenty meat fish to spread on the docks. They limited out with dolphin, along with good numbers of yellowfin and blackfin. There were also some billfish flags flying again.
Freshwater
Stan Cobb at Greentop says that excellent crappie fishing is available in the local lakes right now. Kerr Lake and Lake Anna have been especially good. Thirty-pounds won a recent 2-day bass tournament on Kerr Reservoir. Many different presentations are working, but the topwater bite has been better for the bigger fish. Shaky Heads, drop shots, jigs and spinner baits are. all are drawing strikes depending on the conditions.
The upper James is in good shape for fall fishing. The level is slightly low, but a good topwater bite is in full swing. Small spinnerbaits can be a good choice now especially on cloudy or windy days.