Dr. Julie Ball says cobia hunters in North Carolina are still reporting excellent catches this week as they intercept schools of fish heading north. But this week, both sightings of schools of cobia as well-boated fish confirm their arrival in local waters off Virginia. This trend will only improve over the next months.
Although the bite is not as crazy as it was a week ago, the drum bite continues to keep anglers occupied. Several boats are reporting multiple hook-ups, with good catches of big red and black drum. The black drum continue to come from the Bayside of the Eastern Shore near buoys 10, 13 and 16, where sea clams and chowder clams are the bait of choice. Red drum are still ravaging the breakers off the Eastern Shore barrier islands, while they are also mixing in with black drum among the shoals off Fisherman’s Island, near buoy 10, Nautilus Shoal, and the Nine-Foot Shoal areas. Surf anglers are also still pulling big reds from the surflines along the Eastern Shore barrier islands as well as Sandbridge.
Although a bit early, the first Spanish mackerel catch was confirmed this week off the Virginia Beach Ocean Front. Look for this action to pick up as the waters continue to warm.
Flounder action is still picking up, but there is room for improvement in lower Bay waters. Folks are catching some fish at the CBBT this week, but most of the action is still coming from more protected areas. Both Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets are still giving up decent hauls of flatfish, with some flatties exceeding 20-inches. The best hauls continue to come from the backwaters on the Eastern Shore, such as the seaside inlets of Oyster and Wachapreague. Strips of squid, fresh stripped bait, and Gulp baits are some offerings working for flatfish this week. Scattered puppy drum and school-sized striped bass are also hitting in many of these same shallow water locations.
Croaker are keeping pier anglers content as small to medium-sized hardheads take squid and bloodworm offerings off Virginia Beach, Ocean View, Willoughby and Buckroe lately. Some decent sized sea mullet are also in the mix, along with some Taylor and snapper bluefish and small spot. Striped bass are also a possibility in these areas, as well as along all the lower Bay crossings and inlets, but be sure to check the regulations carefully.
With sea bass season now open, boats are reporting scattered catches of fish, with some fish pushing 4-pounds from both offshore and nearshore structures. Tautog are available in these same areas, but remember that tog season is closed. Reports of spadefish around the islands and pilings of the CBBT and at the Chesapeake Light Tower are trickling in, but the water needs to warm up a few more degrees for these fish to begin biting with consistency. Sheepshead are also beginning to respond along the CBBT, and some nice fish are still taking bait intended for drum along the shoals.
The deep dropping scene is still producing good catches for boats as the dogfish continue to clear out. Expect a selection of blueline tilefish and golden tilefish, along with black-bellied rosefish, barrelfish, and a variety of scattered grouper from along the edges of the Norfolk Canyon. Jumbo sea bass provide a nice by-catch in these areas.
The offshore trolling scene should heat up soon off Virginia. In Carolina waters, the offshore fleet is enjoying some good gaffer action, with yellowfin tuna and big eye tuna adding to the mix. A few billfish are beginning to make things interesting as they enter trolling spreads, with some big blue marlin taking the lead this week.
Chincoteague
It’s almost like the old days at Chincoteague. Anglers renting boats at Capt. Bob’s and drifting minnows in the Chincoteague Channel are scoring with lots of nice flounder. In a local tournament, Billy Kelly had a three-fish stringer at 3-8, 3-10 and 3-12, totaling 10.14 pounds.
Nags Head
Tw’s reports: Surf fishing is almost at a standstill. There are so many neat places to fish on the Outer Banks. There are plenty of public docks on the sound side. Dylan Lewis decided take some night crawlers to Whalehead Club on the Currituck Sound and caught a 2-pound Catfish. The water remains a cool 54 degrees.
The Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported small trout and small croaker.
Avalon Pier reported sea mullet and a 56 water temperature. Nags Head had small sea mullet, Jennette’s had mullet and croakers. The Outer Banks Pier reported sea mullet and skates. .
Nags Head: Small Sea Mullet.
Jennette’s: Sea Mullet and small Croaker.
Outer Banks: Sea Mullet and skate.
The Inshore boats reported good wreck fishing with nice sea bass and togs. The near-shore boats caught bluefish, bonito and Spanish. Inshore boats also caught Blues.
Offshore, the charters brought in limits of yellowfin, dolphin, a 150-pound mako and some citation big-eyes. A 430-pound blue marlin was brought back to the Oregon Inlet docks.
Hatteras Surf
The Point had Spanish mackerel up to 4 pounds and some bluefish on Thursday. South Beach had sea mullet and pompano. Ramp 44 had pompano and sea mullet. The boats loaded up on cobia.
On Wednesday, The Point had big drum, yearling drum, cobia, nice Spanish and bluefish. Emma Snyder caught a 3-pound, 6oz. Spanish. Ramp 49 had sea mullet.
Hatteras Offshore
It’s blackfin tuna and gaffer dolphin off the Hatteras Coast. Snowy grouper are taking bottom rigs.
FRESHWATER
The Potomac Report
A few spawning fish, but most in post spawn! Look for deeper spots or cover away from shore. Water temperature was 80, dropped to 65 last week, back to 80 again. Looks like a summer forecast. The week will start in the mid 80’s before reaching 90 by midweek. Late day showers and thunderstorms toward the end of the week.
Drop shot is the best way to target sluggish post spawn fish. Not only does it stay in the strike zone, but it can work every depth. Try a lighter weight, 1/8 ounce BullShot, but move to 3/16 in wind or current. Keep leaders around 8 inches. Mizmo green pumpkin Doodle worms on a Mustad 2/0 Mega Bite hook.
Buzzbaits over grass or close to wood cover will produce hard strikes, any time of day. Tie to 20-pound test GAMMA Edge fluorocarbon line. Also try crankbaits like the Lucky Craft 1.5 with rattles on 12-pound test. In areas with stained water or with a chop from the wind, try a Mann’s Classic spinnerbait with gold Indiana, Colorado blades and white skirt. 1/4 ounce at lower tides, moving up to 3/8 with rising tides. Tie to 12-14 pound test Edge. Keep in contact with the grass or wood cover.
Fish will also fall for wacky rigged stickworms like Mizmo green pumpkin Quiver Stix. Use the wacky rig tool to place a rubber O-Ring in the center of the worm. Wrap some thin lead solder around the shaft of a 2/0 red Mustad Octopus hook for a faster drop. Tie to 12-pound Edge. Try bubblegum trick worms on a 3/0 hook for fry guarders.
Capt. Steve Chaconas is a guide on the Potomac River. info@nationalbass.com
Lake Orange
Contributed by Darrell Kennedy of Angler’s Landing (540-672-3997). The water is clear with a temperature of 73 degrees. Largemouth bass are in a post spawn stage hitting on baitfish and soft plastics. Some top water action can be enjoyed during low light periods of the day. Crappie are also post spawn, schooling up on brush piles in 8-15 ft. depths. They are taking small minnows. Walleye are biting on live bait during low light. The bluegill and shell crackers are still spawning in the upper end of the lake, and taking red wigglers. Catfishing has picked up with the warmer water temperatures. They are aggressively biting live bait and chicken liver. Some nice yellow perch were caught this weekend. Scott Kelchner brought in a citation 12.5-inch ring perch on Memorial Day.
Lake Anna
Bass are essentially through their spawn, as are crappie. Catfish action is picking up. Below are the leaders in Anna Point’s Big Fish Contest for May:
Striper: Wayne Queen 7 Pounds 7 Ounces
Crappie: Wayne Holder, 1.1
Largemouth: Wayne Holder 6.5
Chickahominy River
Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the high 70’s to low 80’s in the main lake and higher in the major creeks on Wednesday (5/27/2015). The lake level was slightly above the top of the dam. The water was moderately brown and moderately cloudy in the lower lake.
Blue cats were scattered throughout the lake and creeks and were hitting live minnows and cut bait. Some crappie were in loose schools in the main lake on flats and channel edges, frequently near creek mouths, usually at depths of 6 to 12 feet. A moderate number of crappie were scattered or in small schools on shallow to mid-depth cypress knees, wood cover, and shoreline weed beds in the main lake and in mouths of major creeks. Active crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. curlytail jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs, and small swim baits. Some nice yellow perch were scattered in some creeks and on main lake shoreline flats and were hitting live minnows and small jigs. Some nice bluegill were scattered and in small aggregates near shorelines in some areas of major creeks and the main lake and were hitting live crickets and worms, flies, and small tubes and jigs. Some bass and pickerel were on lily pad flats and along shorelines in major creeks and in shallow bays in the main lake and were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, and jigs.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Ellen and Scott Agner, Herb Watson, and Ron Lambo had 25 bluegill, 3 shellcracker, 1 crappie, 1 yellow perch, and 1 roach minnow. Capt. Bill Buck and Jack Trammell had 26 bluegill, 1 shellcracker, 2 crappie, 1 white perch, and 2 bass.
Lake Gaston
Holly Grove Marina’s Craig Karpinski said the largemouth are pretty much done with spawning and are biting wacky rigs and jerkbaits. Lots of big crappie are coming in on small minnows and worms, including several citations. Cats are cooperative if you offer them a clam snout or chicken liver. Bream are in the shallows and taking flies and small worms. The water is clear and 70 degrees.
Smith Mountain Lake
Contributed by Captain Travis Patsell of Cats N ‘ Stripers Fishing Charters (540-580-3487). It is spawning season for most species in the lake.
Stripers: Currently most stripers are in spawn mode. The majority of the fish will be in the lower reaches of the lake. Look for most stripers to be10 to 35 deep. Most methods of live bait fishing will be productive, as alewives used for bait will bring in numbers. Gizzard shad can be used to target larger fish. Downlines, floats and lite lines consisting of 1/8 to 3/8 weight will be successful. The use of planer boards to really cover some water is encouraged. Bottom fishing can also be productive.
Crappie: Look for crappie to be around brush and docks in 8 to 15 feet of water. Slip corks and minnows are always productive.
Catfish: Look for both catfish species to be in chase of spawning shad. With that said, release large catfish over 12 lbs. There’s a “No Consumption” advisory on catfish over 32 inches for mercury and PCB’s. Look for the fish to be in shallow water down to 18 ft. Live and cut bait will be your best bet.
Lower New River
According to John Zienius, smallie action is not very good. You may get lucky with a small tube or crankbait, but you probably won’t get a big fish. Muskies, on the other hand, are biting well. They are going for big inline spinners and big hard jerkbaits. The water is very clear and in the mid 70s
New River
Tangent Outfitters. Shawn Hash says that fishing is “booming. Big muskies are biting on glides and cranks. Smallies are hitting small cranks and soft plastics. The water is beautifully clear and warming up nicely. For more information, contact Shawn at (540) 257-0415 or tangentoutfiters@gmail.com.
New, Clinch and Holston Rivers
Hi Everybody, this is Tommy Cundiff of River Monster Guide Service. We have been in business since 2014. We offer guided trips on the New River, as well as the Clinch and North Fork of the Holston Rivers. The New River smallmouth are off the beds and starting to feed up from the rigors of the spawn and the high water levels we have had in the past several weeks. They are hitting spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and jerkbaits. The top water bite will be really heating up with the water temperatures rising and the hot weather forecasted for the coming week. Muskies are continuing to hit anything thrown their way when you can locate them. I don’t have a report for the Clinch or the north fork of the Holston but we have trips scheduled and will report in the following edition.
Please call us to book an outstanding day on the water. We furnish all equipment and provide a shore lunch. All of our equipment is brand new, including Shimano cI4 reels and St. Croix rods. We will also be awarding the same rig we provide to the angler that catches the largest smallmouth of the 2015 season! Visit our website at rivermonsterguideservice.com, like us on Facebook, or call us at 540-358-0511 to book a trip today.
North and South Forks Shenandoah River
Harry Murray, (540) 984-4212 said that both the north and south forks of the Shenandoah provide excellent action for smallmouth anglers. Both forks are at a good level, have a good color and are 71 degrees. Best fishing in the north fork is from Edinburg to Tom’s Brook. The place to be in the south fork is from Luray to Bentonville. Good flies are: Murray’s Magnum Creek Chub, size 4; Murray’s Magnum Hog Sucker, size 4; and Murray’s Pearl Marauder, size 6.
The stocked and delayed harvest streams in the Valley are wonderful places to fish just now. The water is clear, at an excellent level and 68 degrees. Stoney Creek, west of Edinburg; and Passage Creek, east of Edinburg, as well as Back Creek are all highly productive. Good flies are: Murray’s Black Stonefly Nymph, size 12; Murray’s Yellow Stonefly Nymph, size 14; and Murray’s Betsy Streamer, size 12.
Western Trout Streams
The mountain brookie streams are clear, full and 54 degrees. It is best to come into the stream heads from the trails off the Blueridge Parkway and Skyline Drive. Good flies are: Murray’s Flying Beetle, size 14; Mr. Rapidan Parachute, size 14 and 16; and the Spirit of Pittsford Mills, size 14 and 16.
For up to the minute stream conditions and fishing tips, check out Harry’s website at www.murraysflyshop.com.
Lake Moomaw
Local angler Bill Uzzell notes that trout fishing in Lake Moomaw is in full swing. Numerous reports of brown and rainbow trout catches have been confirmed by anglers. Trolling with various lures and spoons is popular as well as the use of natural bait, particularly alewife shad. One angler claims that light line test (6 to 8 lbs.) is important for success when fishing live bait.
Bass fishing is still strong with the fish transitioning from the spawn to post spawn. Crankbaits, jigs, drop shot plastic worms, and spinnerbaits are popular choices. The night bite is also picking up as water temperatures continue to climb into the 70s.