It’s prime time for king mackerel fishing in Virginia and offshore boats are putting fish in their live wells. This week, lots of 40 and 50 pound mackerel were gaffed off of Virginia Beach. Also, the ocean wrecks are producing sea bass, triggerfish and a few flounder.
Large red and black drum are beginning to leave their summer hangouts in the Chesapeake Bay. Reds are still being landed on the shoals, but numbers are now increasing in the ocean surf.
Cobia are on the move as well. For a few days there were cobia on just about every buoy in the lower bay, but numbers are decreasing. Remember, cobia season is closed in Virginia and all fish have to be released.
The Chesapeake Bay striper season opened October 4th. Anglers are now allowed to keep 2 rockfish between 20-28 inches per day. However, one fish may be over 28 inches in a 2 fish limit.
Small stripers have been reported around the CBBT islands and kayakers have been catching them around the rocks at Rudee Inlet. There are some large bluefish mixed in at both locations. Captain Craig Paige on “Paige 2 Charters” got on some excellent bluefish at the islands, and released a 37-inch citation.
The bridge tunnel is still holding some nice sheepshead.
Henry and Luke Bolin did some father/son fishing inside Lynnhaven Inlet last Saturday and caught a dozen nice spot, a dozen croakers, two speckled trout and a few black drum and some puffers.
Captain Bill on Key Dreams Charters enjoyed a pleasant day on the bay doing some family fishing. They caught 6 flounder up to 20 inches, Spanish mackerel, sharks, puffers, and sea bass.
The offshore bite has been excellent. Anglers are landing some nice wahoo. They are still releasing a good number of white marlin and a few blue marlin. There are also plenty of Mahi around. Captain Dave on the High Hopes Charters had a great day with limits of Mahi.
OBX Report
Capt. Rese Stecher and parties have been finding stripers back in the sound, often culling fish less than 20-inches. As of last weekend, they were also still catching cobia. The drum and trout bite is beginning to heat up as well.
Soundside anglers on the Little Bridge on the Nags Head/Manteo causeway reported trout, bluefish and some keeper stripers.
The bluefish bite is good in the surf south of Oregon Inlet. There are also some scattered mullet and pompano available. Large drum are starting to show in the surf. Red drum are being caught at Avon, along with bluefish, sea mullet, puppy drum, and pompano.
Pier Fishing:
Avalon: Trout and drum.
Nags Head: Bluefish, spades, black drum, Spanish and trout. Jennette’s: Pompano, black drum, trout and bluefish.
Outer Banks: Spanish and blues off the end, pompano, sea mullet and trout.
Virginia Rivers
The rivers in Virginia are fully fishable.
But…
There is rain from Hurricane Michael on the way. Maybe, just maybe, it will spare us from more of the wet stuff. If conditions allow, the smallmouth, muskies and river cats should be plenty hungry this weekend.
Capt. Steve Chaconas says the Potomac is clearing a bit. “Look for clearer water and grass remnants,” he says. “Early morning high tides will have fish moving around. Falling water will bring fish out to scattered grass and the ends of lay downs and docks.”
Big Lakes
Smith Mountain, Lake Anna, Buggs and Gaston are all in great shape (as of this writing). Bass are chasing bait back in the creeks and stripers are active. Crappie fishing is excellent statewide as the tasty “specks” fatten up for the winter.
Some big blue and flatheads are eating cut bait at Buggs. The channel cats are biting at Lake Anna. Go fishing!
Trout Streams
Wow! It’s the first week in October and our trout streams are at mid-spring levels. Look for a tremendous breeding season for native brookies. They should be healthy and the water levels ideal.
Brown trout are also beginning the spawning process. The headwaters and feeder creeks at Lake Moomaw should hold some huge fish if you can get to them.